1984 Ducati 750 Race Bike
Miles: n/a
Starting Bid: $20,000
Auction ends: April 16th, 2025
Reserve Not Met
The seller of this Isle of Man-spec’d Ducati 750 race bike refers to it as a “SuperSport,” but Ducati wasn’t really building a SuperSport in 1984 and, if they were, it would likely have been powered by the company’s older bevel-drive twin. The belt-drive Pantah engine that powers this machine had been in production since 1980, and was found in their roadgoing F1 and racing TT1 and TT2 models but, for a while it was sold alongside the bevel-drive 900S2 that was really the successor to the classic 900SS. The frame of this race bike appears to be superficially similar to the Verlicchi unit used on the TT1, although the swingarm looks very different. It’s also interesting to note that, in addition to the endurance-racing headlights, a speedometer and taillight are fitted, as well as turn signals and a license plate. Was this an F1 road bike converted for racing? Was it a custom frame patterned after the TT1/TT2 units? In any guise, the F1/TT1/TT2 bikes were all very lightweight machines, with excellent handling and giant-killing performance.
About this vehicle
Built October of 1984 by Steve Wynn of Sports Motorcycle Racing UK for Isle of Man races
Vehicle Details
Sports Harris Ducati Racing Motorcycle 750cc
Frame # HPD 53
Engine # 453
The seller’s description is unfortunately very short on any real information about this Isle of Man racing Ducati 750 and its likely interesting history and configuration. Possibly the seller assumes “if you know, you know” and figures it will help filter out the punters from the serious buyers. The listing does mention that the bike was built by Steve Wynn, a noted figure in the British racing scene of the era who specialized in Ducatis and had a hand in the famed Mike Hailwood’s return to the Isle of Man TT. Possibly a very cool opportunity for a knowledgeable collector. If anyone knows more about this machine, please feel free to share in the comments.
-tad
Well if the seller can’t even get Steve Wynne’s name spelt properly, what else is wrong?
TT2 or Formula 2 race bikes were indeed built in this period, 600cc engines, raced by Tony Rutter who won the Formula 2 World Championship on such machines, Verlicchi frames etc, but what a race bike has lights for begs a question.
Steve Wynne had more than a hand in Mike Hailwoods return and victory in the 1978 TT Formula One race, he bought and built the bike from his own pocket, that particular victory saved Ducatis commercial ass at the time, sudden demand for a Mike Hailwood Replica meaning a big jump is sales for the perennially near-broke factory.
Once the Formula 2 race class petered out the 600 Ducatis, some withHarris chassis, became of little value for many years, despite being things of beauty.
Genuine bikes from the period have a serious value, but you need to provide some provenance, and in this case we see little.
Why would an I.o.M. TT race bike have headlights and a tail light? Didn’t know the I.o.M. HAD endurance races that ran into the night. Blue and yellow colors, like the “Ranchers Supply” cattle hauling trucks (cheap plug).