In the history of motorcycle racing, some machines stand out as revolutionary innovations that pushed the boundaries of performance and technology. These machines have carved out a niche as fine examples of progress, and some of these examples stand out for starting a new chapter and rewriting what is possible to become legends now.
Among these legends is the 1965 Ducati 125cc Four Cylinder Grand Prix, a racing bike that redefined what was technologically possible at the time. It’s a bike that few would have heard of or even considered the most expensive Ducati, considering the cubic capacity of a modern travel bike, let alone a bike from the famous Italian brand. But on the other hand, it’s such a unique bike that spending more than 500,000 dollars might not be enough.
A trip down memory lane in the electronic archives would tell you that Ducati was already making a name for itself in the racing world in the 1960s, thanks to its success in smaller displacement classes. The 125 cc four-cylinder Grand Prix was a testament to Ducati’s engineering skills and its determination to compete at the highest levels of motorcycle racing at the time. Equipped with a revolutionary four-cylinder engine, the Italian manufacturer made a bold bet. The engine’s compact size and high-revving nature gave the 125 cc Ducati a significant advantage in terms of power and overall performance. But what really makes it so precious as to fetch the highest price ever for an old Ducati?
The 1965 Ducati 125cc Four Cylinder Grand Prix came about after years of development of single-cylinder and twin-cylinder engines. In 1954, Ducati recruited engineer Fabio Taglioni to oversee its racing and development programs. Taglioni designed Ducati’s first single-cylinder racing machine, the 100 Gran Sport, which was launched the following year. What set this bike apart was the cam at the head of the engine, which was driven by a vertical shaft and bevel gears.
Increasing the engine’s performance, this technology was then carried over to Ducati’s 125 cc twin- and triple-cam racing bikes. The triple-cam bike also featured Taglioni’s famous “Desmodromico” valve drive, a piece of technology that practically defined the Italian manufacturer’s later engine designs.
As the story progressed from Taglioni’s early years with Ducati, it was in 1958 that Ducati introduced a 125 cc twin-cylinder engine at Monza, during the final round of the World Championship. These two-cylinders could produce results, winning Grand Prix, but they couldn’t keep up with the consistent success of the MVs. In the 1960s, the Japanese manufacturers raised the bar even higher by bringing multi-cylinder technology to the lightweight classes. This led Taglioni to develop a 125 cc four-cylinder engine.
With the engine rediscovered in 1989 and the frame a little later, Giancarlo Morbidelli and his team set to work rebuilding the Ducati 125cc Four Cylinder Grand Prix. Morbidelli himself rebuilt the fuel tank and more parts, while the brakes, forks and discs were similar to the originals. Around 2000, the fully restored Ducati 125 Four was put on display and used again and again.
It’s not just the uniqueness and rarity of this bike, but also the adventurous history of its creation, which was almost lost and fully restored many years later, that makes the Ducati 125cc Four Cylinder Grand Prix special. It also represents some technological firsts for the Italian brand. The bike was Ducati’s first four-cylinder motorcycle and the brand’s first to use four valves per cylinder. Given its high rev range, it was also equipped with an eight-speed gearbox.
Bonhams estimates the value of the bike at between £400,000 – £600,000 or the equivalent of $500,000 – $760,000. This is the highest valuation any Ducati has ever achieved.