Ducati celebrates 100 Years at Eicma 2026: Nico Cereghini explores the motorcycles that built a legend
From the Cucciolo to Bagnaia's Desmosedici, via the legendary Imola 750, Mike Hailwood and Fogarty's 916. A journey through Ducati's first century, featuring iconic motorcycles, racing triumphs and the exclusive Collezione 100
One hundred years of Ducati, one hundred years of motorcycles that have made history. At EICMA 2026, the legendary Borgo Panigale manufacturer celebrates its centenary with an exhibition bringing together some of the most significant motorcycles in its history. Nico Cereghini takes us on this journey, sharing memories, anecdotes and extraordinary examples of engineering.
The exhibition begins with the postwar Cucciolo, continues through the Gran Sport Marianna and the original American-market Scrambler, and reaches the legendary 750 Imola Desmo, which secured a historic one-two finish at the 1972 Imola 200 Miles with Paul Smart and Bruno Spaggiari.
Other highlights include Mike Hailwood's Ducati, winner of the 1978 Tourist Trophy after his remarkable return to racing, alongside the TT2 and 750 F1, two milestones in Fabio Taglioni's engineering legacy.
The journey continues with Raymond Roche's 851, the original 1993 Monster and Massimo Tamburini's unforgettable Ducati 916, forever associated with Carl Fogarty's racing achievements.
Then come Troy Bayliss's World Superbike machines and Ducati's MotoGP adventure, from the first Desmosedici in 2003 to Casey Stoner's championship-winning GP07 and Francesco Bagnaia's GP22, which brought the MotoGP World Championship back to Ducati in 2022 after a fifteen-year wait.
Bridging Ducati's past and present is Collezione 100, featuring ten contemporary motorcycles with special liveries inspired by iconic models from the company's history. Each edition is limited to just 100 numbered examples, accompanied by artwork created by Italian artist Ugo Nespolo.
From the Panigale V4 S celebrating the 1972 Imola victory to the Diavel V4 RS honoring Mike Hailwood, as well as special versions of the Monster, Scrambler, Multistrada and DesertX, the collection reinterprets a century of racing success and distinctive design.
The exhibition culminates with the extraordinary Superleggera V4 Centenario Tricolore, itself limited to 100 examples.
A celebration that goes beyond nostalgia, showing how racing, technology and design have shaped Ducati's identity, transforming a small Bologna-based company into one of the world's most admired motorcycle brands.