The Ducati Story – 6th Edition: Racing and Production Motorcycles from 1945

Ranked among BookAuthority’s “94 Best Motorcycle Books of All Time,” The Ducati Story – 6th Edition is Ian Falloon’s definitive and fully updated chronicle of one of motorcycling’s most revered marques. This expanded edition brings Ducati’s remarkable journey right up to date, covering every model from the original 48cc Cucciolo to today’s high-performance Superbikes.

From humble beginnings in war-torn postwar Italy to becoming a global leader in racing and innovation, Ducati’s path has been one of resilience and brilliance. Initially under government control, the company endured turbulent decades marked by financial challenges and bold engineering breakthroughs. Central to its survival and success was the genius of engineer Fabio Taglioni – the creator of Ducati’s legendary desmodromic valve system – whose influence shaped iconic machines such as the Marianna, Desmo 125, Mach 1, 750, and Pantah.

The book traces Ducati’s racing dominance, from Paul Smart’s 1972 Imola 200 victory and Mike Hailwood’s iconic 1978 Isle of Man TT win to Tony Rutter’s four TT2 championships. It explores the Cagiva takeover in 1985, Massimo Bordi’s Desmoquattro engine that powered Ducati’s World Superbike success through the 1990s, and the brand’s renaissance with models like the 916 and Monster.

With ownership transitions to the Texas Pacific Group (1996), InvestIndustrial (2006), and finally Audi, Ducati continued to evolve—claiming its first MotoGP World Championship with Casey Stoner in 2007 and sustaining its reputation for performance, design, and passion.

This 6th edition adds a completely new chapter covering Ducati’s models and developments from 2012 to 2018, making it the most complete record of Ducati’s heritage and evolution to date.

Key

Features

• Comprehensive history from 1946–2018, covering all Ducati models
• Detailed accounts of Ducati’s racing triumphs and technological innovations
• Foreword by Fabio Taglioni, creator of the desmodromic valve system
• Coverage of landmark models including the 916, Monster, and modern Superbikes
• 349 photographs, including rare historical and factory images
• Insightful commentary by Ian Falloon, one of the world’s leading motorcycle historians
• Specifications
• Format: Hardback
• Dimensions: 21 × 27 cm
• Pages: 361
• Illustrations: 349
• Period Covered: 1946–2018
• Models Covered: All Ducati models since 1946
• An essential reference for Ducati enthusiasts, collectors, and historians
• The Ducati Story is the ultimate tribute to a brand that redefined motorcycle performance and style.