At the beginning of the 1980s, world motorcycle sales were decreasing and the public was losing interest on Ducati V-twins models.
They wanted to produce higher range bikes, while the Japanese manufacturers were moving toward smaller 750 cc engines.
Instead of investing money for a new range of bikes, they wanted to turn the Borgo Panigale factory into an engine supplier for other motorcycle manufacturers.
Bipantah was the most "oversquare" engine he designed (78mm bore x 52mm stroke = 994cc displacement), in order to reduce overall length and height for a better accommodation inside the frame.
[1] Other engine features were desmodromic valves, timing belts, two valves per cylinder (Taglioni did not love multi-valve), two-segment pistons (to reduce friction), a bearing type single-piece crankshaft with coupled connecting rods, and four 40mm Dell'Orto carburettors installed on long inlet manifolds between the cylinder banks.