In the late ‘forties and ‘fifties the Italian manufacturers were competing for a share of the motorcycle market with some, including Ducati, basing sales on the success of winning races such as the Motogiro D’Italia and Milano-Taranto race. The Motogiro D’Italia was for bikes up to 175cc and consisted of numerous stages held over a number of days on public roads. The Milano-Taranto race was for machines up to 500cc. The Giro started in 1914 with the peak years being the mid ‘fifties until a serious accident in the 1957 Mille Miglia (a race for cars) where 10 spectators along with the driver and navigator were killed, ended racing on public roads in Italy.
Ducatis weren’t overly successful in these events and in 1954 Ducati contracted Fabio Taglioni to design a race-winning bike. In 1955 the Taglionidesigned 98cc Gran Sport, also known as the Marianna, was released. The Gran Sport proved its worth in the 1955 Motogiro D’Italia with Degli Antoni easily winning the 100cc class, eclipsing the previous record with an average speed of just under 100 km/h and ensuring an outright place of fifth. The Gran Sport proved to be a very successful race bike winning numerous races over the years.
At this stage Ducati were directing their racing efforts to the Italian championships along with the road models
