In 1954 the first edition of the Italian Endurance Championship was ridden, the entire main Italian bike – manufacturers took part into the competition, 17 Factory Teams (representing 13 different brands) competed to win the title.
Ducati was present with two different teams and prevailed from the very beginning thanks to its light but fast 98.
At the first trial, it ranked first ex aequo, with no penalties together with other five competitors Rumi, MiVal, Parilla, Bianchi and Motom.
In the 100 class, all the six Ducati’s racers, Franco and Alberto Farnè, Zitelli, Bertolotti, Malaguti and Gandossi, turned first ex aequo with no penalties.
The second trial, named “The Southern Shield”, locating around Foggia, was a three-days race in which the racers rode through Bari, Potenza, Salerno, Avellino, Benevento, Matera, Taranto and Campobasso.
The race turned out to be very demanding, on difficult, dangerous roads, which, anyway could not stop the men’s rush and the already evidenced power and resistance of the machines.
At the end of the three days, the number of the competitors with 0 penalties was even less; Ducati team A ranged first, once more, ex aequo with Mi-Val and Rumi.
The third trial, the terrible Valli Bergamasche (Bergamo Valleys competition), on its 7th edition, raced from Bergamo, to Clusone and Lovere on the 28th and 29th of June 1954, turned out unsuperable for the Bologna manufacturer.
Alberto Gandossi, 6th, and Alberto Farnè, 20th, reached the best results, which anyway led Ducati to leave off every possible hope for victory.
Franco Farnè, riding a 98, was called to join the Italian team A (together with Riva and Carissoni) competing for the Silver Vase, in the English Six Days held in Llandrindod Wells.
Malagutti conquered another silver medal riding a Ducati 98 too.
1955 – In 1955 Taglioni focused his studies on a 100 cc motorbike featured with a single overhead camshaft and a conic torque, which resulted into the Gran Sport 100, called Marianna, which was soon joined by the increased 125 cc version.
From the very beginning, the Gran Sport showed its value winning its first race and keeping at the top on the long run trials.
Giovanni Degli Antoni was the best of the year, riding this new bike he ranked 3rd at the Motogiro and 1st in the class of the Milan-Taranto. Giuliano Moggi ranked first too in the class 125 of the same Milan Taranto race.
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