In its landmark centenary year, Ducati has unveiled the Formula 73, a limited-edition motorcycle that blends modern engineering with one of the most defining chapters in the brand’s racing and road-bike legacy. Produced in a numbered series of just 873 units globally, the Formula 73 will make its way to Indian dealerships in the fourth quarter of 2026, signaling Ducati’s growing focus on collectors and premium lifestyle motorcycling in the market.
The Formula 73 pays tribute to the iconic 750 Super Sport Desmo, Ducati’s first road-going motorcycle to feature its signature desmodromic valve timing system, a technology that remains central to the brand’s engineering philosophy. The original Super Sport was derived directly from the 750 Imola Desmo, the race-winning machine ridden to victory by Paul Smart and Bruno Spaggiari at the 200 Miglia di Imola in 1972.
That historic win marked Ducati’s entry into production-derived racing, a discipline that would later evolve into Superbike racing and deliver the manufacturer more than 400 victories, 16 rider titles and 21 manufacturer championships over the decades.
The original 750 Super Sport Desmo emerged during the culturally vibrant and disruptive 1970s, a decade that reshaped design, music, fashion and social expression. Ducati says the Formula 73 channels the same spirit of individuality and renewal, targeting riders who value craftsmanship, authenticity and distinctive design over mass conformity.
While rooted in tradition, the Formula 73 is firmly a modern motorcycle. Power comes from an 803 cc Desmodue L-twin engine, Euro5+ compliant, delivering 73 horsepower at 8,250 rpm. Ducati describes the engine not just as a performance unit, but as a defining element of the motorcycle’s personality.
The exhaust system has been developed in collaboration with Termignoni, while Ride-by-Wire throttle technology ensures smooth, progressive power delivery. Electronics further bridge heritage and modernity, with traction control, cornering ABS, Ducati Quick Shift, and two riding modes making the Formula 73 suitable for both urban riding and long-distance touring.
The motorcycle also features in the short film A Piece of Timeless, starring Italian actor and Ducati enthusiast Stefano Accorsi, who draws parallels between the emotional discipline of acting and the experience of riding a machine steeped in motorsport history.
For Ducati, the Formula 73 is more than a commemorative model. It reinforces the brand’s strategy of leveraging heritage-driven storytelling, limited production, and high-margin collector motorcycles, an approach that resonates strongly in premium markets like India, where brand legacy and exclusivity increasingly influence purchase decisions.
As Ducati celebrates 100 years, the Formula 73 stands as a rolling statement of how racing heritage, design philosophy and modern engineering continue to shape its future.