One of the most important motorcycles in Ducati’s racing history will be offered to the public at a rare auction during Monterey Car Week 2026 in California. Mecum Auctions will bring a 1972 Ducati 750 Imola Racer to the event, a model directly connected to one of the most decisive chapters in the Italian brand’s motorsport legacy.
The auction will take place from August 13 to 15 at Del Monte Golf Course in Monterey, with the motorcycle scheduled to cross the block on Saturday, August 15. The significance of this lot goes far beyond the Ducati name or the machine’s age. According to the auction house, this marks the first time a 750 Imola Racer of this historical importance has ever been offered for public sale.
What makes this motorcycle especially remarkable is how exclusive it is. Only eight examples were ever built, and seven of them were entered by Ducati in the 1972 Imola 200 race. That event became a turning point for the manufacturer, helping establish Ducati as a true force in high-performance motorcycle racing.
According to historian Ian Falloon, one of the world’s leading authorities on classic Ducatis, this example is among the most authentic in existence. It is considered the sister bike to the Ducati ridden by Paul Smart to victory at Imola, which is now preserved at the Ducati Museum in Bologna, Italy.
Its greatest highlight is its extraordinary level of originality. The 750 Imola Racer retains its original factory fairing, fuel tank, seat, and tail section. Even more impressively, it is one of only three known examples that still have their original engine cases. According to Mecum, the motorcycle has never been crashed, never modified, and remains in an exceptionally authentic configuration, closely matching its original racing-period specification.
For the average enthusiast, it is worth understanding why this model matters so much. Before becoming synonymous with sophisticated sport motorcycles and highly desirable superbikes, Ducati had to prove itself against larger and more established rivals. Its 1972 Imola campaign helped change that perception. That is why this motorcycle is more than just a collector’s item—it is a mechanical document representing one of the brand’s defining historical moments.
The 750 Imola Racer will not be alone. Mecum will also offer a 1974 Ducati 750SS Green Frame, another model that is highly sought after by collectors. Only 401 Green Frame motorcycles were built, and the example offered at auction has had just two owners since new. Also evaluated by Ian Falloon, it is considered one of roughly ten surviving examples worldwide preserved with this level of originality and such low mileage.
Visually, the Green Frame stands out because of its green-painted frame, the feature that gave the model its name and one of the most recognizable signatures among classic Ducatis. For collectors, details like this are just as valuable as technical specifications. It is not simply about horsepower or speed, but about authenticity, provenance, and preserved history.
Both motorcycles will be part of the larger Mecum Monterey 2026 catalog, which is expected to feature around 600 classic and collector cars alongside several other significant motorcycles. At an event usually dominated by Ferrari, Porsche, muscle cars, and historic prototypes, the presence of this Ducati duo highlights how racing motorcycles and limited-production models have become increasingly important assets in the collector vehicle market.
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Source and images: Mecum Auctions. This content was created with the assistance of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
