Ducati remembers engineer Fabio Taglioni [VIDEO]

One hundred years after the birth of Fabio Taglioni, Ducati traces the career of the engineer from Romagna. Among his projects, the work on the desmodromic distribution system stands out, a work that links him to the history and sporting successes of the Emilian brand.

The memory

Life and professional career were at the center of an evening dedicated to memory which took place on Wednesday September 9th in the Pavaglione of Lugo di Romagna. An event sponsored by the Romagna municipality with the presence of the Curator of the Ducati Museum Livio Lodi, during which the fundamental stages of the collaboration between Taglioni and the Borgo Panigale brand were retraced. Also present were the Mayor of Lugo Davide Ranalli, the regional tourism councilor Andrea Corsini, the journalist Luigi Rivola, the lawyer Carlo Costa son of “Checco” Costa, the pilots Baroncini, Lega and Proni and the well-known comedian Giuseppe Giacobazzi.
In recalling the engineer's story, the dedicated miniseries is being published on the Ducati YouTube channel “Fabio Taglioni – A Life of Passion”.

A path of research and success

Fabio Taglioni he has collaborated with the Borgo Panigale manufacturer since 1954 al 1984. Originally from San Lorenzo di Lugo, he was born on 10 September 1920. He obtained a degree in mechanical engineering in 1943 and began working at Ducati in the role of Technical Director from 1 May 1954. In just 40 days of activity, Taglioni set the signature on Gran Sport 100. The equally well-known “Marianna”, fast in the Italian Gran Fondo trials.
Given the triumphs signed with Gran Sport 100 e 125, the engineer committed himself deeply to sporting activity, taking an interest in an interesting project: a desmodromic distribution system. The future “desmo” was considered until then “a technical gamble” and had engaged several major planners without success. Taglioni studied the issue thoroughly, then perfected the concept and led it to success. There 125 GP Desmo it was the first creation with this system and the first triumph came a month after the debut, becoming then “the fastest 125 in the world”.

Subsequently Taglioni also took part in the industrial rebirth of the brand, involved in projects such as the 175 Gran Turismo and the iconic Ducati Scrambler. An area where, together with speed, reliability and consistency also count. And then he returned to dedicate himself to other ideas, preparing Ducati's return to competition. This happened in 1971 by introducing the 500 GP, while in 1972 the 750 GT. The brand's first production twin-cylinder with a 90° longitudinal two-cylinder unit. A specimen with high potential remembering the 750 Imola, series derivative of the GT. Continuing to experiment in the sporting landscape, Taglioni also put his signature on pantah 500 e 750 F1, as mentioned.

Image, photo and video: Ducati