2001 Ducati 750 SuperSport at Bonneville

Please mark down this name: Alberto Cecotti, he might become the new world speed record holder in the “750cc, two-valve, air-cooled twin-cylinder” class, gassing the “DuSalt” he and his team are entering in the 2016 Bonneville Speed Week.

At this moment he is about to set foot on the legendary Bonneville Salt Flats and take his bike and his equipment through the final checks and inspections, and then fall in line and wait for his runs. Alberto, 49, is a wonderful guy, a very good professional media colleague, a fast and competent rider, tester, and riding instructor. And a very good friend of mine.

He will run down the Salt Flats on a 2001 Ducati 750 Supersport that as of last January was not much more than a scrap bike purchased for the modest amount of 1,000 euros. It belongs to the last generation of Ducati Supersport models that failed in the market because of its terrible styling. But the rest was good. Its 88 x 61.5mm air-cooled, SOHC V-Twin was the fuel-injected (Weber-Marelli) evolution of the great Dr. T's Pantah Twin. With a moderate 9:1 compression ratio it delivered 64 hp at 8,250 rpm, adequate to hit the magic 200 kph (124.3 mph) top speed limit.

The stock chassis was also rather good, featuring a state-of-the-art, 24 degrees of rake, good weight distribution for great agility and solid handling. It was also fairly light at about 400 lbs. The scrap bike was delivered to the Scuderia del Sale (Ecurie of Salt, a rather appropriate name) located near Bologna, who has a lot of experience tuning Ducati engines and bikes. The old 750 SS was completely taken apart, only the cantilevered rear suspension was retained, while the frame was extensively beefed up and modified, with front-end geometry altered with a steering axis rake increase to 30 degrees. Additionally, to increase stability from the front wheel, and modify trail in the process, the 17 in. front wheel was replaced by a 19 incher. New and massive yokes solidly clamp the front fork. The bike has been lowered and stiffened, the front brake has been removed and its lever on the right clip-on now actuates the single piston rear disc brake.

The bike’s weight has been slashed down to 330 lbs. The Ducati 750 SS Twin has been reworked, its runners, inlet and exhaust ports modified, while tungsten buttons have been inserted in the crankshaft’s flywheel to increase its inertia, the compression ratio has also been significantly increased. Most importantly, the Weber-Marelli fuel-injection system has been replaced by a state-of-the-art system by EFI Technology (also located in Bologna) that is capable of continuously adjusting injection and ignition in relation to the amount of air inhaled by the engine. This is a critical point, because the old style top fairing fitted to the bike features a big, rounded air intake on its nose that force-feeds a huge airbox that in turn force-feeds the two throttle bodies. Since the amount of forced induction will increase with speed, an injection/ignition system that would adjust its functions “on the fly” was mandatory, as has been learned from F1 and other racing car engines breathing through properly positioned air-scoops.

Alberto will soon be riding this semi-nostalgic iron, put together with great passion for an adventure that I have a feeling was strongly inspired by that of Burt Munro and his legendary Indian. Go for it Alberto! Stay tuned, more about him and his Bonneville Special "DuSalt" Ducati 750 SS.