Mario Carini and Santo Ciceri: On November 5th, 1956, two private riders recruited by Ducati, Mario Carini and Santo Ciceri, broke a variety of world speed records using a specially adapted GS 100. That bike was the Siluro (meaning torpedo), which, with its distinctive “flatfish” fairing, claimed the precious novelty of 44 speed records over distances ranging from 1 to 1000 kilometres. A vastly experienced specialist from Milan, Carini had ridden a Vespa in trials while plying his trade as a sprint rider on a Mondiale 125 and 175. The younger Ciceri had shown excellent promise riding a Ducati 100 in the Trofeo Cadetti, which previously Carini won on his very first outing. Carini and Ciceri were two daring pilots who, in spite of unfavourable weather conditions, set 13 records in the 100cc class, 13 in the 125cc class, 13 in the 175cc class and a remaining 5 in the 250cc category. Clocking a fastest lap of over 170 km/h and an astounding average of almost 160km/h over a 1000km stretch, Carini and Ciceri were the adrenalin-magnates of their day, initiating one of the crowning events of the “Golden Age” of the Ducati-riding ethos.

Leopoldo Tartarini: For some riders, the Gran Fondo races weren’t punishing enough. The Ducati-riding ethos meant breaking the limits, and local Bolognese rider Leopoldo Tartarini was determined to prove as much to the world at large. In 1957, Tartarini undertook a grueling round-the-world odyssey with his boyhood friend, Giorgio Monetti, crossing five continents and forty-two different countries. The pair encountered numerous adventures – including a perilous proximity to the Iraqi revolution which saw King Feisal deposed. This was quite an accomplishment and the statistics speak for themselves: Departure: September 30, 1975; return: September 5, 1958; distance covered: 60,000 kilometers (37,000 miles); and tires changed: over 30. Epic treks aside, Tartarini had originally ridden for Benelli, winning the 1953 Motogiro on a Benelli 125, before joining Ducati in the mid-fifties, where he quickly became one of the foremost players of the “Golden Age” period.

Alberto Gandossi: 1956 was an exceptional year for this young rider who completed a marvellous double, winning both the Motogiro and Milano-Taranto races in the 100cc GS category. That rider was Alberto Gandossi, whose subsequent endeavours on the track in the 1958 World Championships brought Ducati within a whisker of landing its first world title. Having won the Italian title easily, Gandossi set his sights on the World Championship in Ireland, the “Holy Grail” of international racing. Success in Ireland would have sealed a more than merited Championship victory. But a fall, which saw Gandossi slip from 1st to 4th position, left space for Ubbiali to clinch the title on his MV Agusta. In spite of Gandossi’s heroic defeat, he later claimed 2nd position in the famous Ducati whitewash of the Nations Cup at Monza, the last Grand Prix of the season in which Ducati snatched the top five places.

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Mario Carini e Santo Ciceri.

Leopoldo Tartarini.

Alberto Gandossi.