The Ducati Supermono is the rarest of all modern Ducatis with only around 70 examples of this exotic racer being made. Extremely light at just 122kg (269lb), the bike ultimately produced 81 bhp at 10,000 rpm.
The innovative doppia bielletta or ‘double con-rod’ single cylinder engine made it possible to achieve good balance by almost fooling the motor into thinking it was a twin and operate the 572cc machine at engine speeds of up to 10,500 rpm. Produced between 1993 and 1995, the racer won almost every sound of single race around, including the Isle of Mann TT at a an average speed of more than 111 mph. Since it revved so high, the sound was nothing like a traditional single as you can hear for yourself below.
Rather ironically given the howling reception to the Ducati 999 years later, the Supermono was styled by Pierre Terblanche. No-one complained about how this bike looked. The combination of a short 1,360 mm (53.5″) wheelbase and aggressive steering geometry when coupled with a high revving 80bhp meant the Supermono was a weapon on the track. I had the misfortune to race against one in New Zealand. As a result of the Formula 3 class rules it competed against highly modified 4 cylinder bikes and 500cc twins. It simply blew everything away offering performance similar to a 600cc multi.
For some time it was rumored that Ducati would put the bike into limited production but this didn’t occur and is unlikely now. Unfortunately most of us will never see one in action but you can watch one being ridden around Assen and revel in the technical achievement that was the Ducati Supermono.
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