It’s been 20 years since Ducati released the Sport Classic range and lit a fire under the modern retro scene, and two decades later, the flames are still raging. Try buying one now and you’ll be coughing up twice the original sticker price. So why hasn’t Ducati brought it back? No one knows. But one Frenchman wasn’t going to sit around waiting for Bologna to get nostalgic. Jérémie Duchamp, the sharp mind behind Jerem Motorcycles, took matters into his own carbon-covered hands. Drawing inspiration from the Paul Smart and Hailwood specials, he’s built a neo-retro missile based on the Ducati 950 SuperSport. It’s equal parts performance and poetry, with enough custom swagger to make even Tamburini raise an eyebrow.
This machine isn’t just a nod to the past; it’s a full-bore reinterpretation. Jérémie’s mission was clear: capture the spirit and silhouette of the 2007 Ducati Sport 1000S, but infuse it with modern performance, precision, and a heavy dose of handmade cool. The build starts with a fresh Ducati SuperSport 950 straight from the showroom floor, zero kilometres on the clock and ready for its overhaul. And there is a big advantage to choosing a new bike for a custom build, there’s nothing to fix or repair, no failing old school tech, and you even get the benefit of a two-year warranty.
Starting with the modern SuperSport meant there was a lot of disassembly to be done and a huge amount of bodywork and other bits and pieces to come off the bike. Then, before Jérémie could even think about a design, he had to work out how he’d make all of the new parts fit, what mounts would be required and how to ensure every piece of the puzzle would slot together perfectly. The front steel trellis frame remains largely stock, but the subframe has come in for some extensive modifications, with the tail shortened, the inner fender modified and a custom number plate holder added.
Then it was out with a pen to design all of the totally one-off bodywork to truly transform the Ducati into Jérémie’s dream. The front end’s design is that MV-esque modern retro take, with round lines rather than aerodynamic angles, all used to create a unique look. The side panels blend in beautifully with the modern tank, and the lower sections clearly pick up on that inspiration from the Ducati Sport. The rear end then mixes hints of modern racer and old school cafe bike to bring it all together. Creating each panel is carbon fibre magician Max, tasked with perfecting the Jerem design.
It all hugs the frame like a Savile Row suit, which is made possible by all the mounts and fittings that you can’t see, and the extensive collaboration between designer and craftsman. But to really bring it to life, it needed a racer-like custom paint finish, and that work was handled by the enigmatic spray gun star, Freddy! A hand-stitched leather saddle by Yaya Brush Sellerie completes the cockpit, and not only does it look a million dollars, but it provides for an even more comfortable place to be than the stock unit could ever hope for.
But this isn’t just a show pony. Under the skin, the bike is packing serious kit. Up front, you’ll find Öhlins forks clamped into billet triple trees machined by USV-Racing. At the back end, you have a stunning single-sided swingarm, which is all beautifully controlled by an Öhlins shock. The braking is impressive from the factory, with big 320mm floating discs, but the calipers get upgraded to the meatier Brembo M50s, and a set of GP-style ducts, ensuring cool air is blasted over all of the braking components, to keep the lever consistent and firm.
Power comes from one of Ducati’s all-time great engines, the Testastretta 11° is a liquid-cooled, 4-valve twin, with desmodromic timing. Its cubic capacity informs the bike’s 950 name, and now pushing around 120bhp, it’s all you’ll ever need to ride incredibly fast on the street. Helping to up that figure is the header back IXRace exhaust system, with heavy development coming from their race program, giving a booming sound and a seriously sharp look. The custom engine cover finishes off the powerplant, with perspex covers to let you see the belts and cams spinning.
The lighting is subtle but sharp. A round LED headlight leads the charge, complemented by clean front and rear indicators, a slim tail light, and plate lighting, all seamlessly integrated. It’s sleek, minimal, and unmistakably modern, just how a 2025 café racer should look. The result? A machine that Ducati should be building, but isn’t. One that blends café racer charm with superbike bite. And the best part? It’s brand new, untouched and for sale. Which means if your garage has a Ducati-shaped hole in it, and your taste leans toward carbon, clip-ons, and cult-status, this might be the unicorn you’ve been waiting for.
