A Ducati 750 Imola Desmo with which Paul Smart raced will be auctioned. There is talk of a record price for a motorbike: £600,000!
May 3, 2024
CAs reported by our colleagues at Visor Down, a truly interesting Ducati will go up for auction by the end of the month, as it is the Ducati 750 Imola with which Paul Smart won the Imola 200 Miglia in 1972. Or so it would seem, since the bike has the same number 16 that Smart raced in ’72, but an identical bike is on display at the Ducati Museum in Borgo Panigale.
Of the 8 bikes built in this technical configuration to participate in the race, two were certainly entrusted to Smart, the others were entrusted to Bruno Spaggiari, Ermanno Giuliano and Alan Dunscombe.
We have no doubt that the motorbike could be original, also because it has an auction estimate starting from £600,000we believe that due checks on originality have been carried out.
What is certain is that if the motorbike is sold for this figure, or more likely for a higher one, it will be a historic sale!
Lhe 200 Miglia di Imola that year is remembered as one of the most spectacular races in history, but above all it marked Ducati’s return to the world of racing, with motorcycles derived from the series.
This 750 was also strictly derived from the production bike, but thanks to general lightening work the weight was 163 kg, while the engine, powered by new Dell’Orto carburettors, delivered 85 hp, allowing a maximum speed of 250 km/ h.
