Imola 200

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Paul Smart ahead Ducati's teammate Bruno Spaggiari in the Imola 200 inaugural race (1972)

The Imola 200 (also known as the 200 Miglia) is a 200-mile (320 km) motorcycle race held annually at Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari of Imola, Italy. The race originally ran as a modern motorcycle race from 1972 to 1985.[1] In 2010, the Imola 200 Miglia Revival began as a classic bike race.[2]

Background[edit]

In response to the popularity of the Daytona 200, it was decided to create a "European Daytona" with the best riders from the Grands Prix, European, American and Italian championships competing together.[3]

Inaugural race[edit]

The inaugural race was held in 1972, being won by Paul Smart.[4] He was riding a Ducati 750 Imola Desmo.[5] This bike is considered the first V-twin engine with desmodromic valve system for Ducati.[6]

Influence[edit]

This race was considered a major step in the notoriety of Ducati.[7]

Imola 200 race results[edit]

Source:[8]

Season Date Race Results
1972 April 23 1) United Kingdom Paul Smart (Ducati)
2) Italy Bruno Spaggiari (Ducati)
3) Italy Walter Villa (Triumph)
1973 April 15 1) Finland Jarno Saarinen (Yamaha)
2) Italy Bruno Spaggiari (Ducati)
3) Italy Walter Villa (Kawasaki)
1974 April 7 1) Italy Giacomo Agostini (Yamaha)
2) United States Kenny Roberts (Yamaha)
3) Finland Teuvo Länsivuori (Yamaha)
1975 April 6 1) Venezuela Johnny Cecotto (Yamaha)
2) France Patrick Pons (Yamaha)
3) United States Steve Baker (Yamaha)
1976 April 4 1) United States Steve Baker (Yamaha)
2) France Michel Rougerie (Yamaha)
3) United Kingdom Barry Sheene (Suzuki)
1977 April 3 1) United States Kenny Roberts (Yamaha)
2) United States Steve Baker (Yamaha)
3) Italy Giacomo Agostini (Yamaha)
1978 April 2 1) Venezuela Johnny Cecotto (Yamaha)
2) United States Steve Baker (Yamaha)
3) Italy Giacomo Agostini (Yamaha)
1979 No race held
1980 April 13 1) Venezuela Johnny Cecotto (Yamaha)
2) Italy Marco Lucchinelli (Suzuki)
3) United States Kenny Roberts (Yamaha)
1981 April 4 1) Italy Marco Lucchinelli (Suzuki)
2) United States Kenny Roberts (Yamaha)
3) Netherlands Boet van Dulmen (Yamaha)
1982 April 4 1) New Zealand Graeme Crosby (Yamaha)
2) Italy Marco Lucchinelli (Honda)
3) Italy Graziano Rossi (Yamaha)
1983 April 10 1) United States Kenny Roberts (Yamaha)
2) Italy Franco Uncini (Suzuki)
3) United States Eddie Lawson (Yamaha)
1984 April 1 1) United States Kenny Roberts (Yamaha)
2) Italy Lorenzo Ghiselli (Suzuki)
3) United Kingdom Steve Williams (Yamaha)
1985 April 14 1) United States Eddie Lawson (Yamaha)
2) United States Randy Mamola (Honda)
3) Japan Takazumi Katayama (Honda)

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Imola 200 Revival: Reliving Ducati's Greatest Day - Classic Motorcycle Touring - Motorcycle Classics".
  2. ^ "Yamaha celebrates 50 Grand Prix years at the '200 Miglia di Imola Revival'".
  3. ^ "Archives: The Imola 200 - Cycle News". cyclenews.com. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
  4. ^ Smart, Paul. "Paul Smart's Imola 200 victory".
  5. ^ "40 years later, Paul Smart remembers the Imola 200 - RideApart". RideApart.
  6. ^ "Historically-significant Ducati V-twin Imola Racer goes under the hammer". newatlas.com.
  7. ^ "Return to Imola". cycleworld.com. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
  8. ^ "Imola 200 race results". racingmemo.free.fr. Retrieved 1 January 2018.