The chief designer of most Ducati motorcycles in the 1950s was Fabio Taglioni (1920–2001). His designs ranged from the small single-cylinder machines that were successful in the Italian 'street races' to the large-capacity twins of the 1980s. Ducati introduced the Pantah in 1979; its engine was updated in the 1990s in the Ducati SuperSport (SS) series. All modern Ducati engines are derivatives of the Pantah, which uses a toothed belt to actuate the engine's valves. Taglioni used the Cavallino Rampante (identified with theFerrari brand) on his Ducati motorbikes, Taglioni chose this emblem of courage and daring as a sign of respect and admiration for Francesco Baracca, a heroic World War I fighter pilot who died during an air raid in 1918.^[15]

1950s[edit]Current engines[edit]

• Desmodue: Desmodromic two-valve, air-cooled, 60° included valve angle (Monster 696/796)
• Testastretta 11°: Desmo four-valve, liquid-cooled, 11° valve overlap angle (Streetfighter 848, Hypermotard/Hyperstrada, Monster 821)
• Testastretta 11° DS: Desmo four-valve, liquid-cooled, 11° valve overlap angle, dual ignition (Multistrada 1200 DS, Monster 1200, Diavel MY'15)
• Superquadro: Desmo four-valve, liquid cooled (1199 Panigale, 899 Panigale)