This limited-production Ducati was developed as a modern tribute to Mike Hailwood’s famous Isle of Man comeback and carried a name that linked the project to both Hailwood and Ducati’s 900cc heritage. The bike was unveiled as a striking retro-styled special that translated Pierre Terblanche’s design into a production motorcycle, closely echoing the look and spirit of the original concept while remaining a contemporary Ducati in its engineering. It is remembered as one of the company’s most distinctive early-2000s collectibles and as an important bridge between Ducati’s classic racing imagery and its newer design direction.
Although the model was first shown before production began, the road bike itself was delivered as a very small numbered run for the 2001 model year and continued into 2002. It was also notable for being sold directly online, an unusual move at the time and one that helped make it a landmark in Ducati’s marketing history as well as in its model lineup. The machine’s limited availability, unusual purchasing method, and association with one of motorcycling’s most revered racing stories gave it immediate enthusiast appeal.
The nameplate did not return in a later revival, so its history is a single, short production chapter rather than a multi-era model line. Today it stands as a cult Ducati: part tribute bike, part design statement, and part early example of how the company used heritage themes to create modern collector motorcycles.