The Sunday Ride Classic, or SRC, an unmissable event stormed by enthusiasts, is back on the weekend of May 18 and 19, 2024 for an edition which already promises to be exceptional; with, the celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Ducati 916. From year to year, the nectar of old motorcycles comes together at the no less legendary Paul Ricard, in the Var, to celebrate our favorite machines. And, good news, the ticket office is open!
Everyone has the line of the Ducati 916 in mind. Thanks to the Ducati Club de France, come and relive its history on a no less legendary track: the Paul Ricard. To get you into the swing of things, here’s something to interest you about the 916.
The myth before your eyes
The 888 era is coming to an end. At the beginning of the 1990s, Ducati launched a series of sports motorcycles and quietly prepared its new weapon; the 916. This number simply symbolizes the displacement of the famous V-twin Desmofour used at its heart. This masterpiece is not even the reason for its popularity at the time of its release in 1994.
The creation of Massimo Tamburini is simply sumptuous. What stands out, beyond its characteristic bright red color in many of its configurations, is first of all this rear single-sided swingarm, developed in the Cagiva workshops in San Marino. These three-spoke rims, also, and above all, this double exhaust outlet under the saddle. We can also see this beautifully sharp tubular frame.
It is a gem and for many, one of the most beautiful motorcycles ever designed. After his essay, the journalists couldn't believe it: “it changed the world of sports motorcycles in a way only the original Suzuki GSX-R750 had managed to do until now”. All the models planned for the American market were sold before even one had landed in Uncle Sam's country. Incredible.
And obviously, in the Superbike world championship, it hits the mark. With Carl Fogarty and Troy Corser at the helm, the 916 triumphs in WSBK in 1994, 1995, 1996 and 1998. Until its replacement by the 996 and the 998.
His legacy is timeless. In 1998, the 916 joined the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York because of its beauty., in the iconic exhibition The Art of the Motorcycle, along with other exceptional creations.
The 916 is all of that at the same time, but to discover it, there's nothing better than the Sunday Ride Classic! Don't miss this exceptional meeting on May 18 and 19 on the Paul Ricard circuit!
Find the SRC on social networks:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SundayRideClassic
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sundayrideclassic/?hl=fr
Ticket office: click here.
Photo: Klaus Nahr
