With the desmodromic valve system in 1957, Ducati single cyclinders reached the height of their development. In this sense, the 125 Triple Camshaft Desmo marks the first truly recognizable Ducati. Its creation was a defining moment in the history of motorcycle engineering. Taglioni was quoted in Motociclismo magazine as remarking, “The main purpose of the system is to force the valve to follow the distribution diagram as closely as possible. Energy losses are virtually negligible, performance curves are more uniform and reliability is improved.”
The engine and frame of the triple camshaft twin cylinder 125 constitutes a rare example that perfectly sums up the historical context of its origin in the 50s. From a technical perspective, this was one of the most fertile periods in the history of motorcycle racing. In fact, the international regulations, unlike those of today, gave a free hand to designers, who were able to try out every conceivable approach.
In 1958, just one year before its withdrawal from official participation in competition, the Bolognese manufacturer not only came out with its fantastic triple-camshaft single-cylinder desmo 125, but also developed the twin-cylinder which came in third at Monza. At the same time, Taglioni was designing a double-camshaft four-cylinder!
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