125 GP Desmo

Designed by Fabio Taglioni, the 125 GP Desmo was the first Ducati to be equipped with desmodromic timing and the first race bike produced by the Bolognese firm to have no fairing.

It made its debut in 1956, before Gianni Degli Antoni powered it to victory in the Swedish GP at Hedemora later that same year. In subsequent years, Ducati came close to securing the world title, winning three races, with Alberto Gandossi in Belgium and Sweden and with Bruno Spaggiari in Italy.

In 1959 a young Mike Hailwood dominated the Ulster GP and concluded the 125 World Championship in third place overall.

The Trialbero Desmo 125 was the first truly recognisable Ducati. Its creation represented a fundamental step in the history of motorcycle engineering.

The engine and frame of the 125 Trialbero single-cylinder exemplified the historic context of the motorcycle’s 1950s origins. From a technical standpoint, this was one of the most fertile periods in the history of motorcycle racing. In effect, the international regulations of the time gave designers free rein to try every possible approach, unlike today.

In 1958, just a year before its official withdrawal from racing, the Bologna-based firm not only proposed its wonderful Trialbero Desmo 125 single-cylinder, but also developed the twin-cylinder that placed third at Monza with Francesco Villa.