When Fabio Taglioni, freshly holding a doctorate in mechanics, introduced desmodromic valve control at Ducati, he had good reasons to seek to develop such a system: the valve springs broke more quickly as the engine speed increased. was increasing. In the 1950s, Mondial brand 125s reached 13.000 rpm. Something better than metal springs was needed and Ducati, in 1958, introduced the desmodromic system in competition, which allowed the Borgo Panigale factory to push the boundaries of physics.
This success allowed Ducati to embark on a path that it has never left. When we ask Claudio Domenicali, who was Manager of Ducati Corse and is now CEO of Ducati, why only his brand uses the desmodromic system in MotoGP, the answer is simple: “Because it’s the system we know best. » Like its competitors, the Bolognese company was interested in air spring recalls but understood that the development would cost a lot of money, and that they would start from scratch in terms of feedback.
As in an engine with conventional distribution, a cam lobe allows the opening of the valve. But the desmodromic control of the valves no longer entrusts springs with the closing of the latter, but controls this closing by a second cam cut on the camshaft. Thus, a cam for opening and one for closing, with latches or rockers to transmit the movement of the camshaft to the valve, which allow total control of the distribution diagram by facilitating high engine speeds, a better cylinder filling and more engine torque.
Furthermore, due to the elimination of the return springs, the mechanical stresses on the components intended for opening the valves are significantly reduced, thus the energy consumed to operate this type of distribution is also reduced.
Ultimately, Ducati uses the desmodromic system because it knows the system since it developed it – it was in 1955 at Ducati that chief engineer Fabio Taglioni (aka Papa di Desmo) developed the desmodromic distribution which made it famous – but also because it is part of the charm of the Italian brand.
