Today in motorcycle history, April 23, 1972

 

 

  Paul Smart wins the Imola 200, at age 29, with Ducati's new 750.

 

  The 200 Mile was first run in Italy in 1972, at Imola.  Ducati prepared eight 750 cc bikes for the event.  Paul Smart, Bruno Spaggiari, Ermanno Giuliano, and Alan Dunscombe were secured as riders.  By now racing in Italy was at a fever pitch, from the local bakery to the bicycle shop and the factory never wanted to win more.  The bikes had newly designed Fabio Taglioni frames and 750cc V-twin engines.  Taglioni also made sure that the bikes were trimmed of all their un-needed weight wherever possible.  He had new 40 mm Dell'Orto carburetors added which helped these engines deliver 80 hp at 8,500 rpm.

 

  In that Imola 200 held in April, Smart and Spaggiari came in first and second.  Joy spread across the land.

 

  1973, Ducati commemorated its 1972 win at the Imola 200 with the production model green frame Ducati 750 SuperSport.  Bee-u-tee-full.

 

  Coincidently, it was also Paul Smart's birthday (born April 23, 1943).