The man who created the Ducati 916 – the sexiest motorcycle of the last century – has died in a head-on crash with a truck.
Motorcycle designer Sergio Robbiano, 46, worked on the Ducati 916 alongside his mentor, Massimo Tamburini, who died in April after a long battle with lung cancer. He was 71.
Sergio died when he lost control of his motorcycle and ran into a truck while out riding in the Genoa region. Police are investigating the accident.
Ducati 916Massimo and Sergio worked together in San Marino on the 916 which has been hailed as the most beautiful bike of the 20th century.
Sergio is responsible for the design of the Cagiva Mito Ev 125, Bimota 500 V2 and DB5, and several Aprilia and Husqvarna motorcycles. He also designed some AGV helmets.
He was born in Palermo, but lived in Genoa.
Massimo also worked on the 916 as well as the MV Agusta F4, both of which were highlights of the New York Guggenheim Museum’s The Art of the Motorcycle exhibit of 1998-1999.
The two designers are responsible for the explosion of undersea exhausts, single-sided swing arms and lightweight motorcycles.
Massimo is also credited with designing or playing a major part in their design of the Bimota Tesi 1D, KB2 and DB, Ducati Paso, 916, 748, 996, 998, Cagiva Mito, and MV Agusta F4, Brutale and F3 675.