A simple history of Ducati motorcycles...

1946: Ducati introduces a 4-stroke 48cc clip-on engine for bicycles, the "Cucciolo" or "pup" in Italian.

1954: Ingegnere Fabio Taglioni starts work at Ducati.

1955: The Tagioni designed 100cc single-cylinder Gran Sport is intoduced and wins numerous long-distance events.

1956: Ducati introduces the desmodromic engine. The 125cc factory GP racer is ridden by Gianni degli Antoni and wins the Swedish GP, it's first race.

1966: Carl's Mach 1 comes off the Ducati assembly line! Carl is only 4 years old, but the bike is destined to be his!

1970: Ducati builds it's first V-twin engine, the 90x 750 GT, with bevel-drive cams. "Bevels" become revered by enthusiasts everywhere.

1972: Ducati introduces the V-twin desmo, the 750 SuperSport. Bikes ridden by Paul Smart and Bruno Spaggiari take 1st and 2nd in the 750SS debut.

1974-82: Ducati builds vertical twins. These are never accepted by the Ducatisti.

1978: Mike Hailwood returns from retirement to race a 900 SS and wins the Isle of Man.

1978: The famous Pantah engine is introduced. This 500cc desmo V-twin engine, designed by Ing. Taglioni, features belt driven cams. The "rubber band" engine is the foundation of a new line of V-twins from Ducati.

1978: Ing. Massimo Bordi is hired by Ducati.

1981: Carl buys his first motorcycle, a 1976 Kawasaki KH 250 two stroke triple. (Why is this in Ducati history?)

1982: Ing. Taglioni retires after a fabulous career.

1982: Carl sells his KH250 to his dad and upgrades to a 1977 Kawasaki KH 400... bigger, but still not a Ducati...

1983: Carl totals the KH400, is uninjured, and gets a brand new old stock 1981 Suzuki GS450E, a sporty 4-stroke twin. Still not a Ducati...

May 1, 1985: Cagiva buys Ducati. The Castiglioni brothers take control.

1985: The Paso is introduced. Styled by Massimo Tamburini and designed by Bordi it receives many awards for its revolutionary appearance.

1986: Carl buys a 1984 Yamaha RZ350 two stroke, and goes racing! Its not a Ducati, but but it howls like a banshee!

1987: The hot 851 with Ducati's first 4-valve desmo engine is introduced. Ing. Bordi's new engine also features fuel injection and water cooling.

1988: In the 851's debut Superbike World Championship race, Marco Lucchinelli finishes second.

1988: Carl sells the old Suzuki to help suport the racing habit.

1989: Riding a Ducati, Raymond Roche takes second place in the Superbike World Championship.

1989: Carl buys a 1987 Honda CBR600 Hurricane street bike. Fast, but STILL not a Ducati!

1990: Riding a Ducati, Raymond Roche wins the Superbike World Championship.

1990: Carl retires from roadracing, after thousands of mis-spent dollars, and one too many hard crashes. Ducati misses out on a rising star talent, and has to make do with Doug Polen for 1991.

1991: Riding a Ducati, Doug Polen wins the Superbike World Championship.

1991: Carl moves from Boston to sunny California, where the riding is always warm.

1992: Riding a Ducati, Doug Polen wins the Superbike World Championship.

1993: Carl sells his old RZ350 race bike.

1993: Riding a Ducati, Carl Fogarty takes second place in the Superbike World Championship.

1993: Carl is reborn into the Italian motorcycle world and buys his 1992 750SS! The old Hurricane is soon sold off.

1993: Riding a Ducati, Doug Polen wins the AMA Superbike Championship.

1994: Riding a Ducati, Carl Fogarty wins the Superbike World Championship.

1995: Riding a Ducati, Carl Fogarty wins the Superbike World Championship.

1995: Carl buys his 1966 Mach 1 project bike! Will it ever be completed?

September 30, 1996: The Castiglioni brothers sell 51% of Ducati to the Texas Pacific Group. But they keep the option to buy back 2%. The compani is renamed DucatI Motor SpA.

1996: Riding a Ducati, Troy Corser wins the Superbike World Championship.

1997: Carl still at work on Mach 1 project bike...

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