more images | Ducati UK 90s
In 1993 the Argentine Miguel Galluzzi conceived the idea of the Monster. Before the eyes of enthusiasts appeared a truly singular Ducati. The bike was stripped of all inessentials. It represented a unique interpretation of the fun bike category, and it rapidly became a legend.
The great Ducati sports tradition continued with the birth of the 916 in 1994. It was another Ducati- inspired revolution, this time in the high-performance sports motorcycle category. With the 916, technology and style, performance and symmetry reached maximum levels. Ducati once again managed to create a perfect harmony of form and function, logic and emotion. From the world’s most prestigious bike magazines, the 916 received the title “Motorcycle of the Year”. The Supermono, one of the most eminent examples of motorcycle design in motorbike history, was also realized at this time.
Ducati enters the Sport Touring segment in 1996.
In 1995, despite product innovation and racing successes, Ducati entered into a deep financial crisis. Its cash was drained by unsuccessful ventures of sister companies within the Castiglioni group.
In 1996 Ducati was taken over by Texas Pacific Group, an American investment firm that brought much needed cash and a new group of international managers. Simultaneously, the launch of the ST family allowed Ducati to enter the Sport Touring segment of the market.
The new management team, together with the old group of engineers responsible for product development, turned the company around posting quarter after quarter of record sales and profits.
The great success of this period was the Monster Dark, which was the best selling motorcycle in Italy in 1998 and 1999.
Ducati started changing from a purely manufacturing company to an entertainment company. It now provides a full motorcycling experience, centered on the technical excellence of its motorcycles but also extending to racing, heritage, accessories and apparel.
The first World Ducati Weekend underlined the newly found sense of the Ducati Community, bringing together in Misano 10,000 Ducatisti from all over the world.
The turnaround era culminated on March 24, 1999 with the listing of Ducati Motor Holding at the New York and Milan Stock Exchanges.
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