• Rarest and most significant Ducati motorcycles to be assembled at London’s Honourable Artillery Company this June.
• Exceptional examples from the past 50 years will be united at the capital’s leading concours d’elegance event, charting the rich history of this most storied motorcycle brand.
• 4x World Superbike Champion and Ducati Ambassador, Carl Fogarty, will also appear at this summer’s event, in association with Bikesure
• Sixth annual London Concours to run from the 28th to 30th of June in the heart of the City.
• Tickets on sale now at londonconcours.co.uk/tickets from £35

London, UK (27th May 2022): The London Concours, presented by Montres Breguet, has announced that this June’s event will feature a selection of two wheeled stars from the most iconic and evocative motorcycle brand of all, with its ‘Ode to Ducati’ Ducati. Spanning close to 50 years of the Italian marque’s illustrious history, the remarkable collection of bikes will wow alongside the Concours’ breath-taking array of four wheeled machinery – from spectacular supercars to the finest classics - on the immaculate lawns of the Honourable Artillery Company in the heart of the City.

The wonderful selection of motorcycles from the Bolognese manufacturer will include an example of the rare 750 GT ‘Sandacst’ from late 1971. The bike, Ducati’s first v-twin cylinder machine, was born when Fabio Taglione, or “Dr. T” – Ducati’s longstanding chief designer and technical director - was tasked with building a 750 class bike to compete with the likes of Moto Guzzi, Laverda and of course the Japanese giants. The move into the 750 class was viewed as crucial to the success of the marque; a gateway to significant sales volumes in the USA. Taglione’s proposed low-cost solution was to blend two of Ducati’s well proven small capacity ‘singles’ onto a common crank case, creating a 90-degree V, or “L Twin” as he termed it. The 750 GT, widely praised by journalists in period for its smooth power and sharp handling, represents the genesis of Ducati’s illustrious lineage of V-Twin machines. In order to get production going as quickly as possible, the very early bikes had engines with sandcast cases and many other detail features not seen on the series production machines, which featured die-cast motors. Just 400 out of a total production of some 4,000 GT’s were built this way before the revised “square cased” engine was introduced in 1975. Relatively few of these early bikes have survived, with a small handful at most to be found in the UK. One not to miss.

This summer’s show will feature another ‘70s 750 – the Super Sport, or “Imola Replica” dating from 1974. This, the very first Ducati SS was conceived as a road going version of the race bike that made a stunning debut with the late, great Paul Smart on board, winning the famed 1972 Imola 200 on its first outing. With Smart’s teammate Bruno Spaggiari taking a close second place, Ducati found themselves catapulted from an unknown producer of lightweight single cylinder motorcycles to a major name on the world map of exotic sports machinery. Unsurprisingly, Ducati management, not least ‘Dr T’ were keen to build on this seismic victory with a road-going replica of the winning bike. A limited run of Imola replicas were sanctioned, the first prototypes emerging in late 1973. Following on from the prototypes, just 401 examples of the ‘Replica’ were ‘batch built’ in the spring of 1974 - all under the direct supervision of Taglione in Ducati’s race shop. At a heady £1650, the SS came in at 50% more than Kawasaki’s mighty Z1.

The 750 SS on display this June was one of perhaps 25 bikes at most delivered new to the UK - shipped to its first owner by air freight – and has been cherished ever since by a total of just four owners in 48 years. Often referred to as the “green frame” these 401 bikes were the only round case Ducatis to leave the factory with the iconic “Desmodromic” cylinder heads.

The Honourable Artillery Company will play host to another ‘racing replica’: a 1980 Ducati 900 MHR. The bike is closely affiliated to one of, if not the, greatest racers of all – “Mike the bike” Hailwood. At the age of 38, 11 years after retiring, Hailwood made a comeback appearance at the Isle of Man TT in the Formula 1 class. Riding a modified and specially prepared 900 SS Ducati, he won the 1978 race. This burnished his already god-like reputation among fans, and prompted Ducati to introduce what would become their best-selling bike of the late 70s and early 80s: the 900 “Replica” or MHR. The MHR that will be on display at the HAC this June recently made a pilgrimage to the Isle of Man for the Classic TT, following in Hailwood’s tyre tracks 40 years on from his stunning victory. Much of the credit for the race preparation for the 1978 race goes to Steve Wynne of Sports Motorcycles in Manchester. It’s a source of great satisfaction to the owner of all the bikes on show that it was none other than Steve Wynne who rebuilt the engine and cosmetically refreshed the 1974 750 SS “green frame” also on display.

A Ducati from the late 1980s will also be amongst the bikes on display, an 851 Kit Racer from 1988 – a fuel injected, water-cooled four-valve machine that moved the game on significantly for Ducati sports bikes. The 851 featured an evolved version of Ducati’s two valve, air-cooled ‘Pantah’ engine, revised by its original designer, Massimo Bordi, with a little help from a famed British engineering firm Cosworth. The resulting power plant laid the foundations for 30 years or more of Ducati Superbikes. The road going variant, the “Strada” was initially criticised for its unusual steering characteristics – on account of its 16” wheels - and lack of firepower when compared with Honda’s RC30. The ‘Kit’ rectified things, with power boosted to 120bhp, larger 17-inch magnesium wheels, a braced swinging arm and a close ratio gearbox, amongst other race shop only features. Only 207 examples were built, and the Kit Racer is viewed by some as the most thrilling and visceral of all Ducati’s sports bikes.

This June’s event will also host more modern machinery, including the Ducati D-16 RR of 2008. The 1000cc, four-cylinder D-16 RR - modelled on Ducati’s GP6 Moto GP racer – was a real weapon, offered only to select customers, promising nigh-on Moto GP performance for the road. In the view of the late, highly respected journalist Kevin Ash, Ducati delivered on this promise. Packing a 200bhp V4 (with four valves per cylinder and four cylinders, hence ‘Desmo- 16’) and revving to 14,000 rpm, the D-16 Race Replica offered a lucky few a glimpse of what it was like to pilot a Gibernau or Capirossi factory race Ducati of the period.

The collection of superb Ducatis will also include the 1199 Superlegerra of 2014 – the bike that heralded the end of the road for Ducati’s long line of twin cylinder superbikes. Whilst the v-twin is still found today in Ducati’s middleweight and sports touring models, Ducati waved goodbye to the v-twin Superbike with these exclusive limited-edition models. The Borgo Panegale factory pulled out all the stops, producing two batches of super exclusive “Superlight” ‘twins’ – the 1199 of 2014, and the 1299 of the following year. Just 500 numbered examples of each were delivered worldwide. The 1199 SL that will star at this June’s event retailed at £60,000, produced an eye watering 205bhp, and weighed just 155kg dry – a weight more typical for a 500 or 600cc middleweight sports bike. Packed with the latest in technology and rare materials such as magnesium, carbon fibre and even tungsten – the latter used for components within the engine - the SL was a furious performer. Autocar underscored just how furious by substituting an 1199 SL for a Ferrari La Ferrari when carrying out a supercar test with the McLaren P1 and Porsche 918. The Superleggera matched the 903bhp McLaren P1 and Porsche’s 918 right up to 180mph, even pulling ahead after a standing start, before the cars’ slippery aerodynamics and longer gearing gave them an edge. A rare opportunity to witness this remarkable machine in the metal.

These dramatic Ducatis, and more, will be on show at the Honourable Artillery Company this June, at the capital’s ultimate automotive extravaganza. Carl Fogarty, the 4x World Superbike Champion and Ducati Brand Ambassador, will also make an appearance, on behalf of Bikesure, the ‘Ode to Ducati’ class co-sponsor. Fogarty will be chatting with Dave Vitty and Jason Plato, from the Fuelling Around podcast on Wednesday 29th June.

Further class announcements will follow in the coming weeks, as we build towards the 6th edition of our unmissable event.

Andrew Evans, London Concours Director, said:
“It gives us great pleasure to reveal this latest exciting class, which will bring the most spectacular bikes from the most evocative motorcycle manufacturer of all to the heart of London. Ducati is a magnetic brand that holds great allure for anyone with a drop of petrol in their veins. The superb selection, along with the fantastic array of supercars and iconic classics, is set to make this June’s show the most special yet.

“Guests to the Honourable Artillery Company will be treated to a truly special array of cars, along with a decadent range of food and drink options, and a carefully curated line-up of luxury brands and boutiques. London Concours 2022 is set to be another occasion of total automotive indulgence.”

The British Motor Museum will be hosting six fantastic motoring shows in July which will include the Wythall Busfest on 2 July, the Electric Vehicle Festival on 3 July, the BMC & Leyland Show on 10 July, the Old Ford Rally and Rootes Heritage Day, both on 17 July & the Big MINI show on 24 July.

The Wythall Busfest is arranged in partnership with the Transport Museum Wythall and will feature restored, vintage, and modern buses and coaches. Fuzz Townshend from Car SOS will open the show which will also celebrate 50 years of the Leyland National Bus and National Express Coaches, with several working examples on display. There will be a Q&A with Leyland National celebrities from across the bus industry and a stunning photo portfolio of the Leyland National.

The Electric Vehicles Festival, which began in 2019, will give visitors the opportunity to see hundreds of electric vehicles in one place. All owners of a fully electric vehicles are welcome to join the show and display their vehicles be it an Electric Car, E-Commercial, E-Bike, E-Scooter, E-Boat, E-Motorbike, E-Buses and E-Coaches. The festival is also the perfect place for those thinking about 'going electric' with an array of different makes and models on display as well as the opportunity to talk to the owners.

The BMC & Leyland Show will feature a huge range of British marques that were produced by the British Motor Corporation, British Leyland and The Rover Group. Hundreds of vehicles will be lined up outside the Museum from Minis and Morris Minors, to the larger Rover 800s, Montegos and Maestros as well as vans and lorries. 2022 marks 60 years of the Austin/Morris 1100/1300 and the organisers are appealing for owners of those makes to come along and display their cars. The organisers will also be welcoming the TR Drivers Club who hold their National Rally the day before the show.

The Old Ford Rally will enable fans to see around 400 classic Fords, many of which are aged between 50 – 100 years old. Visitors can see a huge range from Model Ts to the cars of the pre-war austerity years as well as the more luxurious post-war Zephyrs, Zodiacs and Granadas. There will also be the popular Anglias, Mk1 and Mk2 Cortinas, Capris, Escorts and Fiestas. The Capri 280 Group will be celebrating their 35^th anniversary and forming the largest gathering of Capri 280s since their production.

Taking place alongside the Old Ford Rally, the Rootes Archive Centre Trust will be holding their first ever Rootes Heritage Day, celebrating of all kinds of Rootes classics, from earlier Hillmans, Humbers, Sunbeams and Singers to the later Chryslers, Simcas and Talbots. Ticket holders on the 17 July will be able to enjoy both the Old Ford and Rootes shows as well as entry to the Museum all with the one ticket.

The Big MINI show is a major show for MINIs post 2000 and showcasing the JCW Owners.  With so many enthusiasts embracing the reimagining of the iconic marque, a show for Modern MINIs has been long overdue. The launch of JCW National Day in 2021 proved to be a great success whether modern or classic, anything MINI or Mini goes! There will be a special guest section where original Minis will be invited to go on display. Clubs attending the show will include Minibitz, R53OC, R50 soundkit register and many more JCW pages and registers. Former MINI John Cooper challenge race drivers will also be reuniting at the show as well many regional groups from around the UK. 

Tom Caren, Show Manager at the British Motor Museum stated “We have a wide range of fantastic motoring shows for our visitors and enthusiasts to enjoy in July. With so much choice there’s something for everyone from fans of classic cars to modern MINI’s. This year  many of our shows are also enjoying celebrations to mark milestone anniversaries!”

Advance show tickets cost £14.50 per adult, £9 per child, £12.50 per concession and £40 for a family. Anyone wishing to enter a vehicle into a show can do so online. Camping is also available some of the shows. Tickets on the day cost more. To find out more information about the shows please visit the website at https://www.britishmotormuseum.co.uk/whats-on or call 01926 895300.

APRILIA RACING ARRIVES AT THE ROUND ITALIAN FANS HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR AS A PROTAGONIST

ALEIX IS SECOND IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS FOUR POINTS BEHIND THE LEADER AND MAVERICK IS READY TO BE PUT TO THE TEST ON ONE OF THE MOST SPECTACULAR TRACKS

APRILIA RACING, FIRST IN THE TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS, ALSO TAKES THE THIRD RS-GP ON THE TRACK WITH WILD CARD LORENZO SAVADORI

MotoGP 2022’s arrival in Italy coincides with the most exciting time in Aprilia’s history in the World Championship GP Motorcycle Racing premier class. An Aleix in a state of grace, with the outstanding support of the new RS-GP, is headed to Mugello as a great protagonist in the championship where he is lying second, just four points behind the leader, and with the further motivation of what feels like a “home” race.

The weekend on the extraordinary Tuscan track will be Maverick Viñales’ chance to continue his work getting comfortable on the bike, the results of which are beginning to shine through, as is the potential of the Italian-Spanish duo.

Completing the trident will be Lorenzo Savadori who, thanks to his third wild-card appearance of the season, will be taking the third RS-GP onto the track. It will be yet another extremely important moment in the growth of Aprilia’s MotoGP project, thanks to the testing in the race of new development solutions. Thanks in part to this work, all three riders will benefit from a range of technical upgrades, a tangible sign of the great effort the Veneto-based racing department continues to bring to the table.

ALEIX ESPARGARÓ
"In the next two weeks, I’ll have... the two home races! In fact, Mugello and Barcelona represent my two families and that is why these rounds have a particular flavour to them. We have demonstrated that we are fast and that is no exaggeration, but consistency is also what will make the difference this year. There are a lot of strong riders, bikes that are hard to stay ahead of, and every result is the fruit of practically perfect labour. We need to keep it up."

MAVERICK VIÑALES
"With hard work, we are constantly finding the answers we are seeking, even if it isn’t easy. We are all battling at an extraordinary level where the devil is in the details and adapting to a new bike and a new team is no simple thing. But I have faith. The potential of the RS-GP is clear and in some situations I am able to exploit it, whereas we still need to work out a few phases of the weekend to take a definitive step forward."

LORENZO SAVADORI
"Racing in Mugello, a magnificent track, with the support of the fans, will be a great thrill. We’ll continue our work on an experimental bike with the goal of helping Aleix and Maverick in this extremely demanding championship. My wild cards are complementary to the tests. Non-stop development is necessary because we are fast but the competition won’t let us relax!"

• Ducati and Bulgari sign a new partnership based on shared values of lightness, technology, design and passion for beauty
• The Bulgari Aluminium Ducati Special Edition chronograph redefines the standards of luxury sports watches with unconventional materials and exclusive colors
• Produced in a limited series of one thousand pieces, the watch is personalized with the Ducati brand and carries an engraving on the case back

Borgo Panigale (Bologna, Italy), 19 May 2022 - Ducati and Bulgari announce a new partnership, a collaboration between two Italian icons in their respective worlds who share a common vision of innovation and design, as well as a great passion for beauty.

The collaboration gives birth to the Bulgari Aluminium Ducati Special Edition chronograph, an elegant sports watch produced in a limited edition of 1,000 pieces that celebrates the union between the jewellery Maison and the iconic Italian motorcycle manufacturer. A combination of excellence, performance and passion.

The Bulgari Aluminium Ducati Special Edition redefines the standards of what a luxury sports watch can be. The chronograph presents a stunning dial in Ducati red color and three counters with a sporty style inspired by the Ducati rev counter graphics: black background, white indexes, red sphere. The hour markers also refer to the aesthetics of the Italian motorcycle manufacturer.

Andrea Ferraresi, Ducati Centro Stile Director: "The collaboration with Bulgari is based on many elements that we have in common, first and foremost the fact that it is another Italian brand for which design is much more than a corporate asset, it is a true raison d'être. The quest for lightness, obsessive attention to detail, the use of fine materials and the creation of a distinctive and immediately recognizable design are the values that have inspired us in this project. Working on this project with Fabrizio Buonamassa Stigliani, Bulgari's Product Creation Executive Director, whom I have known for 15 years, was a way of bringing together our passions: motorbikes and high-end watchmaking."

Fabrizio Buonamassa Stigliani, Bulgari's Product Creation Executive Director: "I had a great pleasure to visit once again the Ducati factory in Borgo Panigale in Italy and exchange with Andrea Ferraresi, discussing the many parallels between motorbikes and watches, our common passion for the beauty of the mechanics and the Italian design approach. For this special collaboration the Bulgari Aluminium model was a natural choice due to its combination of materials, sporty character and iconic look. The red color and the recognizable font that we use for the numerals on the dial are a nod to the captivating universe of Ducati motorbikes."

Made of unconventional materials, the watch features a 40 mm diameter aluminum case with the iconic bezel and bracelet in black rubber, while the crown and chronograph pushers are made of titanium. The chronograph is water-resistant to 100 meters and the mechanical automatic BVL 130 movement, beating inside at the rate of 28,800 vibrations per hour, ensures tenth-of-a-second accuracy.

The titanium case back, with anti-wear DLC treatment, is personalized with the Ducati brand and production number, to attest to the uniqueness of the limited edition piece. The watch is delivered in a special anodized aluminium case with rubber interior and soft touch finish, bearing the signatures of the two brands Ducati and Bulgari.

For Ducati the collaboration with another Italian brand such as Bulgari is an occasion to celebrate the excellence of Made in Italy. At the same time, this represents an opportunity to offer to passionate Ducatisti experiences and products outside of the motorcycling world that enhance beauty, technology and passion.

The Bulgari Aluminium Ducati Special Edition chronograph is already available for sale in Bulgari stores and with authorized retailers as well as on the brand's website.

The British Motor Museum has plenty of ideas for Father’s Day on Sunday 19 June, whether it’s a special day out or a unique gift that you are looking for. Those visiting the Museum on Father’s Day itself, can enjoy the spectacle of 500 vintage and veteran motorcycles at the annual Vintage Motor Cycle Club's Banbury Run. It’s the biggest gathering of motorcycles and three-wheelers produced before 1931 and makes for a wonderful spectacle.  

Why not treat Dad to an annual Membership at the Museum so he can enjoy admiring over 400 British classic cars and attending all the motoring shows. Membership starts from £42 a year and not only includes free entry to the Museum and its events, but also special Member only events including ‘Museum on the Move’ where you get to ride in a selection of the Museum’s cars. Find out more at britishmotormuseum.co.uk/membership.

If you’re looking for the ideal gift for an owner of a cherished classic car, then take a look at the Heritage Certificate products. Heritage Certificates are the official ‘Certified Copy of a Factory Record’ for a classic car showing the car’s specification as it left the production line. For more information visit britishmotormuseum.co.uk/archive/heritage-certificates. Orders placed by 31 May can be prepared in time for Father’s day.

The Museum’s online shop also stocks a range of gifts from novelty motoring themed items such as ‘Dads Garage’ and ‘Man Cave’ tin signs, to motoring cuff links, hip flasks, mugs, and memorabilia as well as many unique marque products. To find more Father’s Day gift ideas please visit britishmotormuseum.co.uk/shop.

Museum entry is just £40 for a family in advance or £44 on the day, £14.50 for adults in advance or £16 on the day, £12.50 for concessions in advance or £14 on the day, £9 for children (5-16 years) in advance or £10 on the day and under 5s are FREE. There is also the option to Gift Aid or donate your entry fee and get an Annual Pass in return, at no extra cost.