Proud pedigree

Like Laurel and Hardy or salt and vinegar, the names of ‘Ducati’ and ‘racing’ come in tandem. And with my head tucked down on the tank of this month’s test subject, it took little imagination to picture myself leading the pack on Andy Rowett’s Mach 3 wide case 250cc single.

Andy will be recognised by regular readers of the magazine as I’ve featured several machines from his eclectic collection during the last two or three years, but unlike his previously tested Silk, DB32 Goldie and ex-TT 50cc Itom racer, this 1972 Duke is very much a ‘bitza’.

“There is no doubt that from any angle the Ducati looks like a refugee from the race track.”

During his five decades of riding, repairing and restoring motorcycles, Andy has previously owned eight other Ducati singles in all of their various 250 to 450cc capacities – the number including a Vic Camp replica; Camp was the UK’s leading 1960s Ducati tuner and parts supplier – and in doing so has managed to accumulate plenty of spares for the fabulous Bologna machines. These were very useful when he happened to see a frame for sale