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Ducati 750 Sport – the early days (by Ian Falloon, May 2022) ![]() V-twin
legend
Long before that
eventful day at Imola on April 23, 1972 (when Ducati won the race
with the 750 racers),
Ducati directors Milvio and Spairani sanctioned the
development of a more
sporting 750. Almost as soon as the
750 GT went into limited production in July 1971, a
750 Sport was on the
drawing board. The first version, also titled the
“Bruno Spaggiari Special” was
shown to the delegates at the annual Italian dealer
convention (L’annuale
riunione dei concessionari) in Milan in September
1971. Ostensibly this was a
cosmetically modified 750 GT, but it laid the path
for the first 750 Sport (the
Z-stripe). Work proceeded very
quickly on the 750 Sport, and another prototype
appeared at the sixth Salone
delle Vacance di Torino. With unfiltered Amal
carburetors and black-painted
engine covers, this example featured Nippon Denso
instruments, curved Conti
mufflers, a white-painted frame, black fuel tank,
and a rear Lockheed disc
brake. Early in 1972 a
further prototype, now with a half fairing and
painted ochre with black
“Z-stripe” colors, appeared and was displayed to the
Italian press. This
example was also tested with high-rise exhaust pipes
alongside three 500 Grand
Prix machines at Modena. Another version was
produced after Imola. This differed in small details
to the eventual production
versions, including a two-piece fiberglass rear
fender, leather upholstered
seat, different seat mounts, a headlight shell with
cable detents, and a twin
leading shoe rear brake.
![]() In July 1972,
following its use as a show and test bike, it was
presented to factory rider
Bruno Spaggiari. This story is continued in detail
in the book on the Ducati
750 Sport. ------------------------------------------------- Produced by AllMoto abn 61 400 694 722 |
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