MIKE HAILWOOD REPLICA 

The success of the “Imola” replica 750 Super Sport of 1974 had shown Ducati the marketing benefits of race replicas. Even building relatively few 750 Super Sports had proved a useful tool in promoting the entire range. Landmark race victories were rare for Ducati in the 1970s and when the Mike Hailwood won the Formula One race at the Isle of Man it was the most important race win for Ducati since Imola 1972.

As had happened with the “Imola” replica it was over a year before a production Mike Hailwood Replica appeared, and this was displayed at the London Show in 1979. the MHR would become the most successful Ducati model over the next few years. With the Mike Hailwood Replica, Ducati took many more liberties with the term “replica” than they had with the 1974 Super Sport. In their first documentation relating to the Mike Hailwood Replica in 1979 the factory was almost apologetic for the unremarkable specification. Their press release said, “It does not represent a new design since, even if the factory made a true reproduction of the T.T. machine, the strict and rigorous race regulations imposed by the English authorities for this class must be followed.” Due to these regulations the cycle parts and engine were identical to the 900 Super Sport and the Mike Hailwood Replica was ostensibly a cosmetic variation of the 900 Super Sport.

Like the black and gold 900 Super Sport, when the Mike Hailwood Replica was first released it was destined primarily for the UK market. The 1979 show bike featured a one-piece fairing with large “Mike Hailwood Replica” lettering on the sides above the white stripe, and a fibreglass cover over the steel Super Sport fuel tank. Originally it was intended to market the Mike Hailwood Replica with a fibreglass tank with an “Imola” style clear strip for fuel level reading. As the bike was built primarily for the UK market where fibreglass fuel tanks were now banned, the tank was changed for both the show and production versions. The dual seat came with a removable cover and the Nippon Denso instruments and switches, and magnesium Speedline wheels were from the Darmah. The frame was red and styling followed that of the NCR racers, without bodywork side covers. Colours of red, white, and green replicated the Castrol colours of Hailwood’s 1978 bike. When they appeared, the first Mike Hailwood Replicas of 1979 were very similar to the London show bike.

For the first time all series of Mike Hailwood Replicas are catalogued, and the first series was actually produced in fewer numbers that originally thought. Hard cover 8x10 72 pages high quality colour photos throughout. 

The delivery time is approximately 4 weeks.