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PRODUCT

EIGHT DREAM MOTORBIKES

IN THE SUMMER OF ITS 95TH YEAR, THE EAGLE BRAND (1921-2016) OFFERS A WIDE RANGE OF MOTORCYCLES TO SUIT DIFFERENT NEEDS AND TASTES. TRADITION AND MODERNITY, TECHNOLOGY AND DISTINCTIVE STYLE, A UNIQUE HERITAGE. HERE IS A SELECTION OF BEAUTIES MADE IN ITALY.

2016 NEW ENTRIES: V9 ROAMER AND BOBBER

MOTO GUZZI V9 BOBBER AND ROAMER – OFFICIAL VIDEO

THE MID-RANGE HI-TECH CUSTOM BIKES WITH STAR APPEAL, CAREFULLY CRAFTED, EASY TO RIDE. ROAMER: CUSTOM SOUL, TIMELESS STYLE. BOBBER: MUSCULAR, DETERMINED, ESSENTIAL LINES. THE V9s ARE AUTHENTIC DOWN TO THE LAST DESIGN DETAIL, IN HIGH-QUALITY RESISTANT STEEL AND ALUMINIUM, TOP-CLASS COMPONENTS, EASY RIDING AND THE EXCITING TORQUE OF THE NEW 850CC ENGINE.

N2016 NEW ENTRY: V7 STORNELLO

THE STORNELLO, A LEGENDARY NAME IN THE MOTO GUZZI FAMILY TREE, IS THE NEW “KNOBBY” VERSION OF THE V7 II, A POLYVALENT MODEL THAT CAN ACCOMMODATE SOFT OFF-ROAD RIDING. A TRUE “STANDARD SPECIAL”, PRODUCED IN A NUMBERED LIMITED EDITION. THE WIDE V7 II RANGE ALSO INCLUDES THE STONE AND THE SPECIAL, AS WELL AS THE SPORTY RACE (LIMITED EDITION).

CALIFORNIA 1400 TOURING S.E.

THE MOTO GUZZI FLAGSHIP IN A RICH EXCLUSIVE VERSION: UNBEATABLE COMFORT, OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE AND MANAGEABILITY. POWERED BY THE LARGEST V-TWIN ENGINE EVER PRODUCED IN EUROPE, THIS IS THE FIRST CUSTOM BIKE TO FEATURE ADVANCED ELECTRONIC CONTROL SYSTEMS, SUCH AS TRACTION CONTROL, ABS AND RIDE-BY-WIRE ACCELERATOR.

CALIFORNIA 1400 CUSTOM

Moto Guzzi California 1400 Custom - Official Video

A DRAG BIKE WITH ATTITUDE: A COMBINATION OF POWER AND PLEASURE. THE CUSTOM SOUL EXTENDS INTO THE RIDE-BY-WIRE TECHNOLOGY AND CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM, FOR A CHOICE OF POWER CURVES AND ENGINE PERSONALITY. THIS IS THE “BAD” SISTER OF THE TOURER: A DIE-HARD CRUISER, RIGOROUS FORM AND FUNCTION, COMBINED WITH TYPICALLY ITALIAN AESTHETICS.

MOTO GUZZI ELDORADO: THE MYTH IS BACK

Moto Guzzi Eldorado and Ewan McGregor

THE LUXURIOUS MODERN-DAY HEIR OF THE UNFORGETTABLE “850” WHICH PROVED SUCH A WINNER IN THE USA MORE THAN 40 YEARS AGO. CONTINUING A UNIQUE TRADITION, THE ELDORADO 1400 IS THE BEST EXAMPLE OF A HERITAGE OFFER FROM MOTO GUZZI, WHICH IS BROADENING ITS RANGE WITH A GREAT NEW VINTAGE CLASSIC.

MOTO GUZZI AUDACE: DARK SOUL

Moto Guzzi Audace and Ewan McGregor

A STRONG REBELLIOUS PERSONALITY IS THE PREROGATIVE OF THIS MUSCLE BIKE DESIGNED TO MAXIMISE THE FORMIDABLE CAPABILITIES OF THE 1400CC BIG BLOCK MADE IN MANDELLO, THE LARGEST V-TWIN ENGINE EVER MADE IN EUROPE. A PERFECT INTERPRETATION OF THE GENUINE MOTO GUZZI SPIRIT.

MOTO GUZZI STELVIO 1200 8V NTX

THE STELVIO IS THE MODEL THAT HAS RE-ESTABLISHED MOTO GUZZI AMONG THE TOP NAMES IN THE MAXI ENDURO SEGMENT. THE NTX IS THE “ADVENTUROUS” VERSION OF THE STELVIO 8V, BOTH POWERED BY THE FAMOUS 90° TRANSVERSE V-TWIN. THIS IS A BIKE FOR DEDICATED TRAVELLERS, A GUARANTEE OF COMFORT AND PERFORMANCE, WITH A WEALTH OF STANDARD FEATURES: ABS, ATC, PANIERS, CYLINDER COVERS, FULL-BEAM HEADLAMPS, SUMP GUARD, HANDGUARD, SPOKED WHEELRIMS, LARGE WINDSHIELD.

INFO MOTO GUZZI RANGE:
www.motoguzzi.com/en_EN

ALL ABOUT CUSTOMISATION OF THE V7 AND V9 ON:
www.garagemotoguzzi.com/en

Product

MY KIND OF APRILIA…

FROM THE POWERFUL ROAD BIKES TO THE NEW RSV4 “FACTORY WORKS” FOR THE RACE TRACK, AND THE POWERFUL TOURERS; FROM THE NIMBLE “MID-RANGERS” PREFERRED BY THE LADIES, TO THE “SMALL” MODELS FOR NOVICE RIDERS, ON AND OFF THE ROAD. WITH ITS BROAD RANGE OF IMPRESSIVE TWO-WHEELERS, THIS IS THE “SPORTIEST” CHOICE OF MOTORCYCLES ON OFFER, CREATED FOR RACING, ALL PRODUCED IN ITALY BY THE NAME THAT BOASTS 54 WORLD TITLES AND A RECORD NUMBER OF MOTOGP WINS AMONG EUROPEAN MANUFACTURERS. TECHNOLOGY AND PERFORMANCE OF THE FINEST ORDER.

APRILIA RSV4 – OFFICIAL VIDEO

The RSV4 “Factory Works”: more than 230 Hp.

ROADSTERS AND TOURERS

Aprilia customers: racers rather than bikers! Test rides at the Mugello circuit for the RSV4 RF and the Tuono 1100 RR.

The Caponord 1200 Rally: DECLARATION OF INDIPENDENCE.

APRILIA CAPONORD 1200 RALLY – OFFICIAL VIDEO

From left: the Tuono V4 1100 Factory and the Tuono V4 1100 RR: “POWER IN THEIR DNA”.

APRILIA TUONO V4 – OFFICIAL VIDEO

THE “MID-RANGERS” PREFERRED BY THE LADIES

(Misano Circuit, Snap Shot photo).

Aprilia Shiver: the naked best in class.

APRILIA SHIVER 750 – OFFICIAL VIDEO

NOVICE BIKERS, ON- AND OFF-ROAD

Aprilia RS4 50 “Replica”: THE FIRST REAL MOTORBIKE FOR YOUNG CHAMPIONS.

WEB STAR. Young Pierre on his Aprilia RSV4 50cc:
more than 350,000 views!

aprilia RS4 50cc

EVERYTHING ABOUT THE APRILIA RANGE:
www.aprilia.com/en_EN

THE COMMUNITY:

bearacerclub.aprilia.com/en

TECHNOLOGY
EUROPEAN PROJECT WITH ACEM AND PRODUCERS

SAFETY: MOTORCYCLES OF THE FUTURE
WITH THE E-CALL SYSTEM. YES, BUT WHICH ONE?

WHAT SHOULD BE THE CHARACTERISTICS OF AN EMERGENCY CALL SYSTEM ON A MOTORCYCLE? THE LEADING CONSTRUCTORS, INCLUDING THE PIAGGIO GROUP, ARE LOOKING AT SPECIFIC ANSWERS AND SOLUTIONS UNDER THE I_HEERO PROJECT. MOTORCYCLISTS HAVE AN IMPORTANT VOICE: THEY CAN TAKE PART IN THE ONLINE SURVEY BY FILLING IN A QUESTIONNAIRE.

The motorcycle industry, together with other partners, has started investigating how an embedded eCall system could work on motorcycles. eCall technology enables an emergency call to be made from a vehicle, either automatically or manually, immediately after a road accident has occurred. This advanced safety technology is already available on some automobiles. However, since motorcycles have very different and more complex dynamics, specific solutions are needed for powered-two wheelers.

I_Heero eCall Czech pilot

Within the I_HeERO project (where “I” stands for Infrastructure), a working group will be investigating the requirements necessary for an eCall system that could be realized for powered-two wheelers. This group brings together a large number of stakeholders including several motorcycle manufacturers (BMW Motorrad, Honda, KTM, Piaggio and Yamaha). Ongoing activities cover aspects such as in-depth analysis of real-world accident data, defining exactly when an eCall needs to be made, and the functional and hardware requirements that mean such a system can be easily understood and instantly recognised even when switching between motorcycles of differing manufacturers. The consortium partners expect to develop a safety solution that keeps complexity to a minimum level to ensure adequate market deployment and consumer acceptance.

GIVING MOTORCYCLISTS A VOICE: EUROPEAN SURVEY.

In order to better understand users’ expectations on eCall systems, the PTW cluster of the project has launched a new online survey across Europe. The survey will be available until the end of July 2016 and will provide the partners with insights in motorcyclists’ opinions on possible eCall solutions for motorcycles. Prior to that, a first round of surveys in a selected number of countries received more than 1,000 replies and provided data which is currently being analysed. Building on this successful first experience, a Europe-wide survey will ask motorcyclists their opinions on a possible eCall system to get the full picture. Those interested in eCall systems and motorcycle safety in general can find the survey online at:
iheero.hreconnect.eu/s/A3C01

The survey is published via a secure online platform and does not ask for any personally identifying data. It is available in 7 languages: English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Greek and Polish.

THE COMMENTS OF THE EXPERTS. Commenting on the project, Andy Rooke, I_HeERO technical implementation officer, said he was certain that the involvement of the motorcycling community would be extremely useful for a better understanding of what they expect from an eCall system for motorbikes, and any possible downsides. In order to develop future motorcycle safety technology, Rooke said it would be essential to hear motorcyclists’ opinions from all over Europe. Antonio Perlot, ACEM Secretary General, said it was necessary to define common European standards for motorcycle eCall systems, and that the purpose of the project was also to come up with a solution to this problem, adding that the motorcycle industry was confident that the work carried out would be instrumental in addressing this and other relevant technical challenges.

WHAT THE EU REGULATION SAYS. Under EU Regulation 2015/758 all cars type-approved in Europe as of April 2018 will have to be fitted with an eCall system. This Regulation also establishes that the European Commission should assess the possibility of extending the application of the 112-based eCall in-vehicle system requirements to other types of vehicles including powered-two wheelers. In this scenario, the analysts of the I-HeERO project will investigate the technical requirements necessary for an eCall system for PTWs. Project participants include ACEM (the European Association of Motorcycle Manufacturers), BMW, Bosch, Catapult, CEIT, CETEM, Honda, ICCS, ICOM, ICOOR, KTM Sportmotorcycles, Piaggio, Polytechnic of Milan and Yamaha. The project is set for completion in December 2017.

(Source: ACEM Press Release – The Motorcycle Industry In Europe – Brussels, 16 June 2016).

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
A basic description of eCall technology: iheero.eu/about-ecall
A list of the I-HeERO project partners: iheero.eu/about-iheero/partners
More information about I_HeERO is available at: iheero.eu/about-iheero

EVENT

ROME: THE NEW MOTO GUZZI CALIFORNIA 1400 PRESENTED TO ITALIAN PRESIDENT
SERGIO MATTARELLA

Rome, 26 May 2016 – The President of the Italian Republic, Sergio Mattarella, received the senior officers of the Piaggio Group at the Quirinale Palace. Making up the Piaggio Group delegation were the Deputy Chairman, Matteo Colaninno, Board Director Michele Colaninno – who is also CEO and Chief Operating Officer of the Immsi holding –, Italy Market VP Maurizio Carletti and Group Product Marketing VP Leo Mercanti.

THE VIDEO OF THE EVENT: THE MOTO GUZZI
FOR THE “CORAZZIERI” REGIMENT

During the meeting, the Piaggio Group managers presented Mr. Mattarella with the twenty Moto Guzzi California Touring 1400 motorcycles that will be used by the Corazzieri, the regiment that forms the Guard of Honor and security corps of the President of the Italian Republic.

The new California Touring 1400 bikes, produced in a special version for the Corazzieri, were manufactured in the factory in Mandello del Lario where the Moto Guzzi company – which became part of Roberto Colaninno’s Piaggio Group in 2004 – was established in 1921.

The MG California 1400 motorcycles presented to President Mattarella continue the long tradition between Moto Guzzi and the “Corazzieri”. At the regiment’s “Maggiore Alessandro Negri di Sanfront” barracks, the historical motorcycle hall exhibits a large number of vintage Moto Guzzi motorcycles, used over the years by the Italian head of State’s escort.

(Photos and video: Presidency of the Italian Republic, Quirinale, Rome, Press and Communication Office; quirinale.it).

Event
IN SOUTH DAKOTA

MOTO GUZZI MGX-21
AT THE 2016 STURGIS MOTORCYCLE RALLY

A LANDING ON AMERICAN SOIL IS SCHEDULED FROM 8 TO 14 AUGUST 2016 FOR THE EAGERLY AWAITED “FLYING FORTRESS”, THE CRUISER TO CROSS THE FUTURE: HERE THE NEW VIDEO OF THE MOST ANTI-CONFORMIST MOTORCYCLE IN THE LONG HISTORY (95 YEARS) OF THE EAGLE BRAND. IT IS OPEN THE PRE-BOOKING ONLINE FOR HAVE IT IN EXCLUSIVE PREVIEW.

MGX-21 OFFICIAL VIDEO

Dark, elegant, powerful, futuristic. It is pre-booking online in exclusive preview. The bike’s first contact with the road will be from 8 to 14 August 2016 at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, the best known “biker event” in the USA, the most popular international date in the calendar for tens of thousands of bikers coming around the world and the best motorcycles brands.

MOTO GUZZI MGX-21 IS THE CRUISER OF THE FUTURE: A DYNAMIC STYLE STATEMENT THAT TAKES YOU IN A SECOND FROM TRADITION TO SCIENCE FICTION.

INFO&PRE-BOOKING:
mgx21.motoguzzi.com/en

A CUSTOMER ON THE ROAD FOR THE STATES

Customers who purchased the new Moto Guzzi V9 (or another model in the range) in May or June had the chance to compete in the “Road to Sturgis” contest for a truly wonderful prize: a trip to the USA, to take part in the 76th edition of the legendary international “Sturgis Motorcycle Rally” (8/14 August 2016, South Dakota), where the new MGX-21 “Flying Fortress” will be launched. The lucky winner and Guzzi biker is getting ready for the trip.

INFO:
www.sturgismotorcyclerally.com

PREVIOUS ARTICLE IN WIDE 1-2016:
wide.piaggiogroup.com/archive/
wide1_16/moto/index_en.html#/Event3

EVENT
EVENTS IN FRANCE

MOTO GUZZI JOINS THE CAFE’ RACER FESTIVAL
AT THE MONTLHERY RACE TRACK

It’s an event that attracts more than 7,000 enthusiasts every year: the “Café Racer Festival” is a celebration of the top motorcycles – presented by the leading manufacturers – for visitors to admire and try out. The splendid festival location – France’s historic Autodrome de Linas-Montlhery – has hosted many memorable competitions. The 2016 festival (the fourth) took place over the weekend of 18-19 June, and confirmed the appeal of the event.

Moto Guzzi was there of course, and, through its French selling agency, showed its new entries and top-of-the-range models, which were a hot ticket among the public: more than 60 test rides were organised on the racetrack, for the new V9 Roamer and Bobber, the V7 II Racer, Stone and Special, the flagships Audace, Eldorado, California SE.

In terms of image and marketing, the comments and feedback were excellent for the Italian brand, which this year celebrates its 95th anniversary and is enjoying a great revival with a range of superlative motorbikes and a unique heritage.

“THE REUNION” IN MONZA

“The Reunion” is the Italian rally for lovers of café racers, scramblers, specials and classics, where visitors can admire the bikes of the top customisers, make new friends in the biker community and rock’n’roll the evenings away. One of the key events of The Reunion is the “Sprint Race”, a one-on-one acceleration challenge over an eighth of a mile. 200 metres at full throttle on the straight in front of the Formula 1 stands, replicating the events held outside British pubs sixty years ago. The 2016 edition was held in mid-May, at the Monza race track.

“The Clan” community of proud Guzzi owners was there on the Moto Guzzi stand, which exhibited the finalist “motorised sculptures” from the “Lord of The Bikes” contest for customisers; the MG truck was there too, showing the new V9 Roamer and the V9 Bobber, which visitors could try out during the adrenalin-packed week-end in Monza.

INFO:
theclan.motoguzzi.com/en

IN BIARRITZ FOR “WHEELS & WAVES 2016”

Wheels and Waves 2016

What do lovers of the surf have in common with lovers of the road? The answer is Biarritz, in France’s Pyrénées-Atlantiques department on the Atlantic coast, which from 8-12 June hosted the fifth edition of “Wheels and Waves”. Five days of competitions on the crest of the waves and around local roads, as well as art, parties, entertainment and music. For bikers there were two highlight events: the "Punk’s Peak" speed competition (held in Jaikzibel, between the sea and the mountains) and the "El Rollo" competition in nearby Spain, on the racetrack in San Sebastian.

wheels and waves 2016

Moto Guzzi took part in “Wheels & Waves 2016” with a Garage-style open stand presenting accessories for riders to customise their bikes, the apparel range, the new V9 Bobber and Roamer and the V7 II line with the Stornello special edition. Also in attendance was “The Clan”, the Moto Guzzi community for connoisseurs of the Mandello del Lario brand.

One of the pavilions hosted an exhibit of a number of Moto Guzzi bikes “reinterpreted” by the best customisers from the “Lord of the Bikes” television contest (see “The best videos of this issue” section).

EVENT
IN FRANCE

APRILIA RSV4 TEST RIDE ON TRACK
AT THE MAGNY-COURS CIRCUIT

20 June was a great day for French Aprilia fans: an exclusive on-track test ride event was organised for them at the country’s prestigious international Magny-Cours racing circuit, in Nevers, with the RSV4 super-sportsbike. An occasion not to be missed, and in fact 140 Aprilia customers enjoyed a fantastic racing experience.

The action-packed day included track test sessions (more than 60 test rides took place; six 20-minute sessions for each participant), meetings with experts and professional instructors from the “Box 23 organisation” team, who illustrated the technical characteristics and performance of the powerful RSV4, in the new RR and RF models (a Tuono V4 1000 was also there for the tests), and provided theoretical and practical riding tips, with post-test-ride de-briefings.

The “racing” day offered an additional thrill: a meeting with rider Arnaud Vincent, world champion in the 125 class in 2002 on Aprilia (below right), who gave the Aprilia customers many valuable indications about track riding.

The event ended with an extraordinary finale: the 140 riders together on the track for the closing parade.

The “Aprilia Test Rides” in France began in February and will continue with other events until October 2016.

INFO:
france.aprilia.com/fr/fr/index/actus/2016/actus-2.html

UPCOMING EVENTS IN ITALY: MUGELLO, IMOLA, MISANO

Aprilia 2016 Test Ride at Mugello (FOTOEVENTI).

A great opportunity for all Aprilia fans to try out a Noale V4 on the best circuits in Italy: the 2016 Aprilia “Test Ride on track” season began in May in Monza, and continues through to October. A wide choice of dates and 5 circuits: just go online to the Aprilia website to select your day and book your free turn on the racetrack, riding an RSV4 RF or a Tuono 1100 RR. Wait for the e-mail confirming your booking and get ready to live your racing dream.

THE DATES AND CIRCUITS OF THE NEXT EVENTS: MONDAY 25 JULY, MUGELLO; SATURDAY 6 AND SUNDAY 7 AUGUST, IMOLA; FRIDAY 26 AUGUST, MISANO; MONDAY 12 SEPTEMBER, MUGELLO; MONDAY 26 SEPTEMBER, MISANO; MONDAY 31 OCTOBER, MISANO.

The 2016 Misano event (Foto: SnapShot).

SERVICES OFFERED: The Test Ride booking gives you the right to: free use of an RSV4 RF or Tuono 1100 RR for a full ride on the racetrack; a track instructor from the Specialbike Circuit Test team; the box catering service; a brief with Aprilia experts and testers from the Specialbike team. Digital photo shoots have also been organised at each circuit for the “racers” for a day (the SnapShot agency at Misano and Imola, FOTOEVENTI at Mugello), so you can post photos and tell your friends “I WAS THERE!” The Imola event in early July was attended by young rider Lorenzo Savadori, one of the competitors in the 2016 World Superbike on the Aprilia RSV4 (and the 2015 Superstock 1000 FIM Cup world champion, also on an RSV4), who offered valuable advice to the Aprilia riders about track riding. He should know!

INFO:
www.aprilia.com/it_IT/notizie/2016/
Test-ride-on-track
MARKETS

PS IMPORTERS IS THE NEW DISTRIBUTOR
FOR MOTO GUZZI AND APRILIA IN AUSTRALIA

THE ROLE WAS PREVIOUSLY PLAYED BY JOHN SAMPLE AUTOMOTIVE. PETER STEVENS IS ALREADY A PARTNER FOR THE PIAGGIO GROUP’S SCOOTER BRANDS AND IS NOW ALSO TO HANDLE ITS MOTORCYCLE LINES.

June 2016 – John Sample Automotive PTY LTD, Piaggio Group and PS Importers PTY LTD have reached an agreement to transfer the Australian distribution of the brands Moto Guzzi and Aprilia to PS Importers (Peter Stevens motorcycle group, ed.). John Sample Automotive introduced Aprilia motorcycles into the Australian market in 1997, and added the iconic Moto Guzzi brand to its stable in 2003.

“We have greatly enjoyed the privilege to distribute and build such iconic brands in Australia… contributing to their growth in an ever-changing and increasingly competitive industry. We now pass the baton over to PS Importers who we know will manage the brands and the dealer network with professionalism and passion. We thank our customers and retailers for the many years of support for these incredible products,” said John Sample, Executive Chairman, John Sample Group.

“For PS Importers it makes great sense to add Moto Guzzi and Aprilia to our current Piaggio and Vespa scooter distribution in Australia. We have a strong relationship with Piaggio, and this further enhances our product offering of the best European brands. We’re pleased to carry on the great work of John Sample Automotive and are looking forward to the opportunity to grow the Moto Guzzi and Aprilia brand experience in Australia,” said Paul Chiodo, Managing Director, PS Importers.

“Piaggio Asia Pacific wishes to extend our heartfelt gratitude to John Sample Automotive, for the strong determination, tenacity in driving the brands forward and for the excellent collaboration with the team. We are proud of JSA’s efforts, in inspiring the racing spirit of Aprilia, harnessing the core brand values of authenticity and tradition for Moto Guzzi, and creating meaningful connections with the community at large, as well as implementing excellent aftersales support and customer care. Piaggio Asia Pacific is proud to extend the partnership with PSI. The consolidation of all four of Piaggio Group’s brands – Piaggio, Vespa, Aprilia and Moto Guzzi – under PSI is a natural progression, as this will reinforce the strength of Piaggio Group brand presence in Australia. We look forward to working closely with PSI in this mutually beneficial partnership, and we are extremely confident that PSI’s strong background in the motorcycle industry, technical knowledge, proficiency as well as credibility, will bring to the table great success for our brands in the future,” said Simone Niccolai, MD Piaggio Asia Pacific.

The transfer of distribution will happen over the coming months and is expected to be completed in 2016. Dealers and owners should see little impact during this time, with a seamless transition planned by the three parties for the continuity of customer service, motorcycle and service parts supply and warranty administration.

(Source: joint press release issued by John Sample Automotive Pty Ltd-PS Importers Pty ltd–PIAGGIO Asia Pacific PTE Ltd).

THE ANNOUNCEMENT AS REPORTED BY THE AUSTRALIAN TRADE MEDIA:
www.mcnews.com.au
www.behindthewheel.com.au

APRILIA AUSTRALIA:

www.aprilia.com.au/motorcycles.html

MOTO GUZZI AUSTRALIA:

www.motoguzzi.com.au/home.html

THE V9 ACCORDING TO AARON PATRICK

Test ride by journalist Aaron Patrick on the new Moto Guzzi V9 for “The Australian Financial Review Magazine”. Read the full article here, from which the photos were taken.
www.afr.com

RACING

SAM LOWES ASTRIDE AN APRILIA RS-GP
FOR THE FIRST TIME

TWO DAYS OF TESTING FOR THE YOUNG ENGLISH RIDER WHO WILL BE ON THE TRACK IN THE 2017 MOTOGP CHAMPIONSHIP. ROMANO ALBESIANO: "IT COULD NOT HAVE STARTED BETTER".

Misano, 30 June 2016 – Sam Lowes tested the Aprilia RS-GP for the first time in view of his début in the Grand Prix Motorcycle Racing premier category for the 2017 season. He got the chance at Misano, during a two-day test conducted by the Aprilia test team on the Romagnolo circuit.
 Sam came to grips with the RS-GP straight away on Wednesday morning. The very first outing lasted two laps, just long enough to have his first taste of a MotoGP bike's power, the carbon brakes, the electronics package that manages the V4 and naturally the Michelin tyres.

Then the excursions got longer and by the end of the day Sam had logged 60 laps.
 On the second day he continued getting to know a bike that is very different from the Team Gresini Kalex he rides in the battle for the Moto2 title this season. At the end of the day, with 69 laps on the sheets for the second day, everyone was satisfied and it was farewell until the next tests. Test rider, Mike Di Meglio, was also on the track at Misano, continuing development of the RS-GP after the excellent work that Bautista and Bradl, the official riders, demonstrated in the last two championship races at Barcelona and Assen. The new features that were tested involved primarily new chassis components and electronics management strategies.

SAM LOWES: “UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE”

Sam Lowes, British rider (Lincoln, September 14, 1990), winner of the Supersport World Championship in 2013. Fourth in the final standings in the World Championship 2015. In 2016 he is with the Gresini Racing team driving a Kalex in the World Championship Moto 2 (he is currently fourth in the standings).

“My first laps on the Aprilia RS-GP were an experience that I'll never forget. When I twisted the throttle the speed I could feel was incredible. It was a brilliant feeling. On the second run, I had already begun to manage the power better and I tried to understand how to take the best advantage of it. There were a lot of new things to discover and they all astonished me. The first ones were definitely the power and speed, and then the carbon brakes. The third is the seamless gearbox, which is really incredible, and the fourth is obviously the electronics, which I felt comfortable with straight away. And then the RS-GP surprised me with an agility that I hadn't expected, so much that the night before the test I was quite nervous because I was imagining a much harder bike to ride, but that's not at all the way it was, although nothing is easy on a MotoGP bike. Last, but not least, I want to emphasize how comfortable I felt working with the entire team. In short, it just went really well.”

ROMANO ALBESIANO - APRILIA RACING MANAGER. “It went well. I'd say that we could not have had a better start. Sam got on a bike that he had never seen before, having to deal with a series of new features that range from the available power to the carbon brakes. He was at ease straight away and he also proved to be very analytical and precise in the indications he gave the team, as well as with his work method.

From left: Romano Albesiano and Sam Lowes.

Naturally, we were not looking at times, but even from this point of view we are quite pleased with these two days. We continued the RS-GP development programme with Mike, focusing specifically on the new chassis parts and working on the electronics, especially in terms of torque output. We will obviously be taking every solution that proved to be effective to the races straight away.”

ALEIX ESPARGARÓ TO JOIN APRILIA IN 2017 E 2018.

Noale (Italy), 26 June 2016 – Aleix Espargaró, Spanish rider born in Granollers on 30 July 1989, will ride an Aprilia RS-GP in the MotoGP World Championship. The agreement signed with Aprilia Racing is for two years, covering the 2017 and 2018 seasons.


 Bringing Espargaró on board is part of Aprilia's development plan – which aims for an increase in competitiveness, in line with the progress already demonstrated this year – and it reaffirms the Piaggio Group's commitment to an excellent technological and sport project aimed at making the Aprilia brand a protagonist on the track and on the road.

Aleix Espargaró was the Spanish champion in the 125 category in 2004. After a series of placements in the 125 and 250 categories, in 2009 he made his début in the top class where he drew attention during the 2012 season astride the ART (the CRT bike developed by Aprilia Racing), finishing the season as the best rider in the category. This excellent result was repeated the next season as well, again on the ART – Aprilia Racing bike.

Overall, in MotoGP, he has taken two pole positions and a podium finish, as well as seventh place in the rider standings (his personal best) for the 2014 championship season.

MOTOGP CHAMPIONSHIP HALFWAY MARK. APRILIA ON THE TOP TEN

With the GoPro Motorrad Grand Prix at the Sachsenring (which took place in Germany in mid-July), the ninth of the season, the 2016 World Championship is at the halfway point with half races carried out of the 18 GP in the calendar. At the end of a race complicated by weather conditions, but managed skillfully and perfectly assisted by his team, Alvaro Bautista rode his number 19 Aprilia RS-GP once again to a top ten finish, leaving the German GP with tenth place.
 The Aprilia Racing Team Gresini only had one bike on the starting grid at the Sachsenring because Stefan Bradl, who suffered a crash in the rainy morning warm-up, was not cleared to race as a precaution. Here the post-race comments.
ALVARO BAUTISTA: “A complicated race. We started in the wet, but it wasn't raining, so the track was gradually drying out. I had a good start and, in those conditions, I managed to overtake several riders until moving up to eighth place. At a certain point, when the track was improving, the rain tyre performance began to drop, especially the front. I also tried to change my lines a bit, but I had no choice but to stop to change bikes. With the intermediates, the feeling was not perfect. We had done very little testing with them and both in terms of chassis and electronics I did not have an optimum setup for this type of tyre. In the race, though, on such treacherous asphalt, it is definitely not the best time to try to find the limit. The tenth place finish is in line with our goals. These are important points but more importantly, today we battled with very high-level rivals. There are still a few regrets, because if we had stayed in wet conditions we would have been able to do better, but the end result is decidedly positive.”

ROMANO ALBESIANO, APRILIA RACING MANAGER: “A race that we managed very well, finishing in the top ten once again, which is always our goal, and where we were also battling with absolutely top shelf riders. Alvaro did very well in all the asphalt conditions and the team worked well. We could have done even better if Stefan had been in the race too because we could have used different strategies for the two riders. It would have been nice to see him in his home race, making a play for everything he could since he had shown very interesting signs during practice. I wish him all the best to recover soon.”
FAUSTO GRESINI, TEAM MANAGER: “We rode a brilliant race, including our strategy choices. Today we got very close to the group of riders who had always been far out of reach for us until now. Alvaro backed off only at the end because the tyres kept him from pushing all the way and he preferred to bring home this nice result. We did our very best and we are quite happy.”

Result to roles reversed in the previous GP at the Dutch circuit of Assen, in late June, even in the rain, where Stefan Bradl (motorcycle n. 6) has brought his Aprilia RS-GP to 8th place in the final, winning another top ten finish. Alvaro Bautista was less fortunate: having started off well, he fell in the second round, although he managed to recover points. And the Aprilia GP-RS continues to grow.


FORTHCOMING ROUNDS

FONTE & INFO:
www.motogp.com/it

Racing

PIAGGIO WI-BIKE BY APRILIA RACING
IN THE MOTOGP PADDOCK

RIDERS BRADL AND BAUTISTA TRY OUT A SPECIAL VERSION OF THE LATEST ADVANCED MOBILITY ENTRY FROM THE PIAGGIO GROUP.

From the unique heritage of style and technology of the Piaggio Group comes the Piaggio Wi-Bike, a completely new vehicle that meets the most advanced needs and the latest mobility trends and is much more than an electrically assisted bicycle. In the MotoGP paddock, personnel and fans had the chance to admire a robust racing-style version, the ideal vehicle for the riders and mechanics to get around during the race weekend. This is the Wi-Bike by Aprilia Racing, one of the most victorious racing departments ever thanks to 54 world titles conquered in the various two-wheel motorsport disciplines.

The characteristics of the Wi-Bike, perfectly in line with the technology and innovation values Aprilia expresses in its MotoGP activities, are enhanced at first glance by an exclusive colour combination: silver and fluorescent red for the frame and mechanics, strongly reminiscent of the livery of the RS-GP machines ridden on the track by Alvaro Bautista and Stefan Bradl, the Aprilia Racing Team Gresini riders competing in the 2016 MotoGP championship.

From a technical viewpoint, the customised version has new tyres for this specific use, disc brakes on both wheels and an electronics system remapped to emphasise the acceleration provided by the electric drive for the short trips inside the paddock.

The 400 Wh ion and lithium battery is elegantly housed under the saddle behind the vertical tube and provides particularly long range, on average between 60 and 120 kilometres depending on operating mode and conditions.

The full recharge time is just over 3 hours. The battery guarantees the highest level of safety and is completely watertight (IP 65). The Piaggio Wi-Bike uses a belt drive combined with an advanced continuous variation automatic transmission, electronically assisted to ensure the best possible ratio from a large choice of combinations.
The Wi-Bike by Aprilia Racing made its debut at the Italian GP at the Mugello racetrack in May, attracting great interest: an irresistible attraction for the many Aprilia fans who photographed the new vehicle in their selfies.

Anniversary
MOTO GUZZI STORY 1921-2016

THE EAGLE BRAND: AN ARISTOCRAT
OF WORLD MOTORCYCLING FOR 95 YEARS

FROM GMG TO THE NEW MOTO GUZZI CALIFORNIA 1400 (SECOND EPISODE).

Testifying to the great passion that unites all Moto Guzzi owners, between 15 and 17 September of 10 years ago, in 2006, 15 thousand Guzzisti from over 20 different countries flocked to Mandello del Lario for the fourth edition of GMG (“Giornate Mondiali Guzzi”, as World Guzzi Days). Overseen by the Moto Guzzi World Club, the countless Guzzi owners' associations around the world boast an unparalleled loyal following. There are over 25,000 Motor Guzzi motorcycle club members worldwide (the largest group of which in the USA, with 52 clubs in the country), and more than 70 internet websites dedicated to the brand.

Gianfranco Guareschi, Battle of Twins, Daytona.

Moto Guzzi has answered the dreams of its loyal fans, and the sporting heart of the Mandello Eagle is beating once again: in March 2006 at the legendary Daytona circuit, Gianfranco Guareschi scored a historic double victory by winning both heats of the Battle of Twins. On 6 March 2007, Guareschi repeated the performance and won the following year's edition in the saddle of his trusty Moto Guzzi. Spurred by these racing victories on the other side of the Atlantic, a new model was created to embody the sporting spirit of Moto Guzzi – the 1200 Sport. Presented in October 2006, the 1200 Sport is a sophisticated naked, brimming with personality in every aspect of its design, chassis architecture and ergonomics, and powered by the latest 1200cc generation of the 90° V-twin.

Moto Guzzi Griso 8V.

2007 saw the Mandello based brand bursting with even more life than ever. At the 64th edition of the Milan EICMA Show at the end of 2006, Moto Guzzi presented the Griso 8V – an evolution of brand's mesmerising naked powered by a new 4-valve engine producing over 110 hp – and the Bellagio, a custom powered by an oversquare 940cc engine. During the global Piaggio Dealer convention held in Berlin in February 2007, the project for a new Moto Guzzi was unveiled - a large street enduro with the evocative name: Stelvio. On 26 March 2007, against the backdrop of Lake Como, Moto Guzzi once again proved that it keeps its promises by presenting the definitive version of the Bellagio to the press just a few months after the Milanese show, while the following September, it unveiled the powerful Griso 1200 8V.

Mandello del Lario: Ewan Mc Gregor guest star at the GMG 2007.

2007 was also the year of the Giornate Mondiali Moto Guzzi event (5th edition), which was given an even more exclusive touch by the appearance by the movie star Ewan McGregor. The actor had come to Mandello del Lario to collect his white California Vintage, which he had purchased a few months previously when filming scenes for his adventure TV show “Long Way Down” at the Guzzi factory.

EICMA 2007 was the setting for the world preview presentation of two models at opposite ends of the spectrum in the comprehensive Moto Guzzi range: the Stelvio 1200 and the V7 Classic.

Moto Guzzi Stelvio 1200.

The Stelvio 1200 was presented to the international press in March 2008 in Siena, while the following May, journalists were given their first chance to test the abilities of the nimble V7 Classic on the streets of Milan.

Moto Guzzi Norge GT for the Berlin Police.

A significant testimony to the brand's quality came when Guzzi won the contract to supply 35 Moto Guzzi Norge GTs to the Berlin police, while 20 Moto Guzzi California Vintage bikes were delivered to the Corazzieri Italian Presidential guard corps the same year. 2009 saw the introduction of the V7 Cafè, a sports variant of the V7 to join the existing Classic, presented in Rome together with the Griso SE in March, and of the Stelvio NTX, which marked the introduction of ABS on the Guzzi's maxi enduro. This bike, presented to the international press on the roads of the Dolomites, is powered by the first upgrade of the “Quattrovalvole” engine, with new camshafts.

Moto Guzzi Stelvio NTX.

At the end of 2009, during the 67th International Motorcycle Show in Milan, Moto Guzzi captured the world's attention with three futuristic prototypes designed by Miguel Galluzzi and Pierre Terblanche: V12LM, V12 Strada and V12 X, which immediately received the Motorcycle Design Association Award (a design association with 165 members in four continents) for the best motorcycle design.

Moto Guzzi V12 LM Concept.

In late 2009 the Piaggio Group also announced a significant investment programme, which involves not only the development of future Moto Guzzi product ranges but also the Mandello del Lario production facility, where a major restructuring project is currently in progress to make the plant more modern, functional and efficient to reflect the rebirth of the brand.

Moto Guzzi V7 Racer.

A spate of new Moto Guzzi models was also unveiled at the 2010 edition of EICMA Milan. The all-new family of large 1200 8V bikes with four valves per cylinder – namely the Stelvio 1200 8V, the Stelvio 1200 NTX and the Norge GT 8V – was presented at the show, while the press launch for the bikes was held on the roads of Tuscany in Spring 2011. This year also saw the launch of the V7 Racer, a genuine production special with a 750cc engine inspired by the tuned specials of the 1970s based on the V7 Sport. The V7 Racer celebrates Moto Guzzi's traditional styling cues in a savvy mix of technology and exquisite craftsmanship. Details such as the chromed tank embellished with an elegant leather strap, and metal accents in the Moto Guzzi badge colour-matched with the red frame capture the attention at first glance. Boasting a small block engine of the same capacity is the Nevada Anniversario, which celebrates twenty years of the “baby” Guzzi with a new sports custom to join the ever popular Classic.

2011 is the year of the 90th anniversary of Moto Guzzi: started off with a pleasant surprise: an all new version of the Moto Guzzi California (unveiled in Montecarlo, during the international dealer meeting hosted by 2,000 Group’s retailers); the prototype anticipates the future product strategy of the “eagle brand” in the year that marks the 90th birthday of Moto Guzzi.

The prototype for the new California, powered by an all-new 1400cc transverse 90° V-twin, reinterprets the legacy of a legendary motorcycle in an original new design that emphasises both the architecture of the engine and the generous dimensions of the saddle and the tank, which is sculpted around the cylinders. But 2011 has many more exciting things in store to mark the 90th birthday of the Eagle brand: on 15 March, the Piaggio Group celebrated the official anniversary of the foundation of Moto Guzzi, giving the start to a series of events designed to celebrate the anniversary of the most beloved Italian motorcycle company.

In April debuts new range of premium models Stelvio and Norge 8V, then the protagonists, in July, of the International Raid Mandello –North Cape which leads on roads used by Naco Guzzi in 1928 the most authoritative international press. At the end of the anniversary celebrations, the embrace of the more than 20,000 Guzzisti joints in Mandello in mid september for an extraordinary “90th Anniversary” edition of the Giornate Mondiali Guzzi, where they could touch the Company's future, both in the product, discovering the brand’s future models, and see at first hand the modernisation and restoration work to transform the historic Mandello del Lario factory into a modern production facility.

Moto Guzzi 90° Mandello del Lario GMG 2011

2012 starts under the sign of the new V7 range. New engine, revamped design, brand new equipment: the legend of the V7 reaches its highest expression yet. Meanwhile from Miami come the first images of California in 1400, a motorcycle that for appeal and content is destined to mark a turning point in the history of Moto Guzzi production.

Miami, Florida, Moto Guzzi California 1400.

Even before its presentation, the new Moto Guzzi California 1400 captured the attention of motorbike fans all over the world. The announcement heralding the debut of the new cruiser built in the historic factory in Mandello del Lario, and a few early rumours, were all it took to arouse curiosity and anticipation about the latest representative of a tradition that has established Moto Guzzi as an aristocrat among world motorcycle brands. Sophisticated style, advanced technology and exceptional dynamic qualities characterize the new California 1400 in both Touring and Custom versions, which represent distinct models for character and intended use.

Moto Guzzi California 1400 Touring - official video‬‬

Moto Guzzi California Touring 1400.

The Moto Guzzi California 1400, introduced in Europe at the end of 2012 in the Touring version and at the beginning of 2013 in the Custom version (and then launched in the USA in the spring), is powered by a brand new, powerful 1400cc V-twin, the largest engine of its type ever produced in Europe. With a spectacular visual impact, the style of the new California 1400 conveys the unmistakeable Moto Guzzi class and tradition, combined with never before seen lines, dimensions and technologies, but highly popular among passionate “Guzzisti” all over the world.

Moto Guzzi California 1400 Custom - Official Video‬‬‬‬

Moto Guzzi California Custom 1400.

It is not by chance that Scottish actor Ewan McGregor, collector of vintage Guzzis, after seeing the new California Custom and Touring, chose to be the testimonial in a fantastic advertising campaign. Built by hand in the historic Mandello plant where Moto Guzzi was founded in 1921, these new flagships of Italian industry are the first Cruisers in the world equipped with traction control, “ride by wire” technology and LED Daylight Running Lights (DRL).

Ewan Mc Gregor, testimonial of the Moto Guzzi California 1400.

Thanks to the success of its product ranges, the result of an investment strategy that involved both R&D and restoration of the plant in Mandello del Lario, in 2012 Moto Guzzi – going blatantly against the European market trend – recorded a 15.3% increase in sales.

SECOND EPISODE, THE THIRD WILL PUBLISH IN THE NEXT ISSUE.
READ HERE THE FIRST EPISODE:

wide.piaggiogroup.com/archive/wide2_16/moto/index_en.html#/Anniversary

INFO:
www.motoguzzi.en_EN

PEOPLE MEMORIES
THE FOUNDERS OF MOTO GUZZI

THE FLIGHT ENGINEER, THE AVIATOR, THE SHIPOWNER
AND… THE SPREAD-WINGED EAGLE

“WORRY ABOUT THE INTERESTS OF OUR COUNTRY RATHER THAN YOUR OWN INTERESTS… BE INDULGENT WITH OTHERS AND SEVERE WITH YOURSELVES”. (FROM GIORGIO PARODI’S LETTER TO HIS CHILDREN IN HIS WILL).

A significant friendship developed during the First World War between flight engineer Carlo Guzzi (Milan, 1889-Davos, Switzerland, 1964), whose father was an engineer, and pluri-decorated aviator Giorgio Parodi (Venice, 1897-Genoa 1955), the son of a Genoese shipowner. With their friend, Giovanni Ravelli, an experienced pilot, all three were fascinated by engines and motorcycle racing. The story goes that Carlo Guzzi proposed to Giorgio and Giovanni, who enthusiastically agreed, that they should design a new concept in motorcycles once the war was over. After demobilisation, the three young men created an extraordinary business adventure, whose success continues today, 95 years later.

The first prototype: the Guzzi-Parodi motorcycle.

The first motorcycle they developed was the G.P. (from the initials Guzzi-Parodi) in 1919: the model remained a prototype due to the high production costs of a project employing a series of aeronautical solutions, such as dual ignition. It was built with the help of Giorgio Ripamonti, who had employed Carlo Guzzi as a mechanic in his workshop before the war. A commemorative plaque can be seen in Mandello del Lario (see photo below).

Nevertheless, the design quality of the prototype was convincing, and on 15 March 1921 the “Società Anonima Moto Guzzi” company was established, for “The manufacture and sale of motorcycles and any other activity relating to or associated with the metalworking industry”. The company founders were Emanuele Vittorio Parodi, a well-known Genoese shipowner, his aviator son Giorgio and their flight engineer friend Carlo Guzzi. Giovanni Ravelli had died in an aircraft accident. It was in his memory that the Moto Guzzi logo featured the spread-winged eagle, the symbol of the Italian Royal Navy’s Naval Aviation arm at the time. The initial share capital of the company, established immediately in Mandello del Lario (where the Guzzi family had moved), on the banks of Lake Como in the province of Lecco, was approximately two thousand liras (about as nowadays 2,000 euros). From the start, Carlo Guzzi involved his older brother (known as “Naco”), an engineer and passionate motorcyclist, in the adventure.

The first mass produced Moto Guzzi motorcycle: the “Normale”.

A simplified version of the first prototype, known as the “Normale”, with 8 Hp and three-speed gearbox, was put on sale and 17 were produced in the first year. This was the first motorcycle, produced from 1921 to 1924, with the Eagle logo on the fuel tank and the name Moto Guzzi (a decision made as a token of respect for the designer Carlo Guzzi by Giorgio Parodi, who wanted to avoid the name G.P. being confused with his own initials). Under the technical lead of Carlo Guzzi, Moto Guzzi enjoyed unstoppable growth, producing dozens of highly successful models. Carlo Guzzi was an innovator who developed motorbikes of all types and explored advanced engine configurations; he was the first to build a wind tunnel, in 1950, to test motorcycle aerodynamics.

An archive photo of the wind tunnel at the Moto Guzzi factory in Mandello del Lario; below, the model on display in the Moto Guzzi Museum.

The Moto Guzzi name is a milestone in world motorcycling history, also thanks to its many racing triumphs: the company boasts an impressive 3,332 wins in official competitions, the first in the prestigious Targa Florio in 1921, which was the precursor of an outstanding series of victories: when Moto Guzzi retired from racing in 1957, its track record included 14 world speed titles and 11 Tourist Trophy titles.

Left: Giorgio Parodi shakes the hand of the winner of the Tourist Trophy 250 (Isle of Man, 1935), Stanley Woods on a Moto Guzzi racing bike. In the photo on the right, Carlo Guzzi can also be seen.

Giorgio Parodi was a devotee of motor-racing: he would appear at the race tracks under a pseudonym, as many riders from aristocratic or well-known families did at the time to keep their anonymity. Giorgio chose “Lattuga” [lettuce] as his name, because it was unremarkable and underscored the principle of essentiality that was a distinguishing feature of his entire life.

In motorcycling, it was Parodi who represented the racing soul of Moto Guzzi, whereas his partner Carlo Guzzi would have preferred to devote his technical expertise exclusively to improving the reliability, performance and comfort of the company’s mass production. Under Parodi, Moto Guzzi’s motor-racing activities were guided by a healthy competitive spirit: when his team won, he would have the rider accompanied to the podium by just one company representative, chosen in turn from among the most deserving members of his staff. When an opponent won, the entire Guzzi team of riders and engineers would stand around the podium to applaud the winner.

The monument to Carlo Guzzi, in the centre of Mandello, and the mural with the eagle at the Moto Guzzi factory.

The story of Moto Guzzi continues, today as yesterday, in the historic factory in Mandello del Lario, which is also home to the company museum, offering thousands and thousands of visitors from all over the world an unforgettable parade of motorised “beauties” with the spread-winged eagle logo.

INFO:
www.motoguzzi.com/en_EN

ADVENTURE MEMORIES
2006-2016

FROM MANDELLO DEL LARIO TO THE NORTH CAPE
ON THE MOTO GUZZI NORGE 1200

TEN YEARS AGO, FOR THE 85TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE EAGLE BRAND, THE “MOTO GUZZI NORGE” RALLY RE-TRACED THE JOURNEY MADE IN 1928 BY GIUSEPPE GUZZI, WHO REACHED THE ARCTIC CIRCLE ON A G.T. 500.

The Moto Guzzi Norge G.T. 500 from 1928.

On 24 July 2006, at 7 a.m., a caravan of 14 sparkling Moto Guzzi Norge 1200 GT motorbikes set off on a ride that, six days and almost 5,000 km later, saw them reach their destination, Norway’s North Cape. The 14 Italian tourer motorbikes were ridden by journalists from France, Spain, Britain, Germany and America, as well as Italy, repeating the adventure that in 1928 took Giuseppe Guzzi (the elder brother of Carlo, the founder with Giorgio and Emanuele Parodi of the company with the eagle brand) and his Norge G.T. 500 right up to the Arctic Circle.

The 2006 expedition was followed by a crew of photographers and a cameraman who documented the ride, while the Moto Guzzi website published a report on the trip with daily updates. The expedition preview, at which the 14 Norge 1200 GT motorbikes plus satnav were displayed and the route was presented, was held the day before the start of the trip, by the Moto Guzzi wind tunnel, in the historic factory in Mandello del Lario where the Eagle Brand was established 95 years ago.

As in 1928, the real star was the Guzzi Norge motorcycle, a name inherited from the dirigible used by Umberto Nobile in 1926 for the first flight over the North Pole. Developed at a time of rapid technological change, the Guzzi Norge G.T. 500 marked the introduction – almost 90 years ago – of the elastic frame, the first time a change had been made to the rigid frame typical of motorcycle production in those years. The benefits – in terms of comfort and reliability – of the new technical solution, based on a sophisticated rear suspension, were widely recognised after the journey of Giuseppe Guzzi.

Giuseppe Guzzi.

The more than 6,000 km round trip, on roads that, at the time, were not always well maintained, often in adverse weather conditions, demonstrated the superior technology of the Guzzi bike and greatly raised the popularity of a brand launched only eight years earlier. For the record, Giuseppe Guzzi’s G.T. 500 Norge took 28 days to make the round trip from Mandello to the Arctic Circle, consuming 182 litres of petrol and three tyres.

After 85 years of uninterrupted success, Moto Guzzi repeated that pioneering expedition – extending it to the North Cape –associating it once again with the historic name of the Norge.

The Norge 1200, a worthy successor of the G.T. 500 from 1928, was a cutting-edge interpretation of the spirit of the original, and a fascinating Italian tourer. Developed on a renewed version of Moto Guzzi’s signature 90° V-twin engine delivering benchmark torque and power, the bike was a tourer that devoured distances in the greatest riding comfort and featured the latest motorcycling innovations (GPS satellite navigation, ABS, heated handgrips, adjustable windshield, etc.), as well as the new compact reactive shaft drive (CA.R.C.), a Moto Guzzi patent. With this transmission, integrated into the aluminium alloy swingarm, the bike offered a consistently smooth and precise response, without the typical “jumps” of the shaft drive. So although the ride of the 14 journalists was perhaps less epic than the 1928 adventure, it demonstrated once again the capacity for innovation that has distinguished the Moto Guzzi brand for 95 years, introducing to the roads of the Great North – ridden by generations of bikers – a new Italian tourer that was fast and reliable.

RIDER MAGAZINE: JOURNALIST KEN LEE ROAD TESTS THE MG NORGE GT V8.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE:
ridermagazine.com/2015/01/15/2014-moto-guzzi-norge-gt-8v-road-test-review

PEOPLE

THE “CANOTTIERI MOTO GUZZI” TEAM
AT THE 2016 RIO OLYMPICS

A HOTBED OF CHAMPIONS: IN 1948 FOUR WORKERS FROM THE MANDELLO DEL LARIO FACTORY WON OLYMPIC GOLD IN THE “COXLESS 4” IN LONDON. IN 1956 FOUR OTHER WORKERS WON GOLD IN THE “COXED 4”. FOLLOWED BY A GOLD IN SEOUL IN 1988 AND SILVER IN SYDNEY IN 2000.

The story of the “Canottieri Moto Guzzi” rowing club is a fascinating tale of passion and sport: the group was created in 1929, eight years after the motorcycle company was founded in Mandello del Lario (1921), as part of the “poly-sports” club (a sort of “recreational” group for employees and local residents), where soccer, cycling and boxing were also practised. But rowing was the key activity, with training taking place, then as now, on nearby Lake Como, close to the eagle factory. The sport of rowing, says Livio Micheli, president for more than 20 years of the “Canottieri Moto Guzzi” club (which became a private association in 1972), has always been backed by the company.

From left: Livio Micheli, president of the Canottieri Moto Guzzi rowing club, with Giuseppe Moioli, 88, the team’s technical benchmark, Olympic gold medallist in London in 1948 (photo: Lecconotizie.com).

The Moto Guzzi rowers immediately made their mark with important competitive successes and have continued to produce champions and technical coaches for the whole of Italy over the decades. The medal board is impressive: in the 1948 London Olympics, four Moto Guzzi workers – Franco Faggi, Giuseppe Moioli, Giovanni Invernizzi and Elio Morille – took the gold medal in the “coxless 4” speciality (and were rewarded by the company with promotion and a “Guzzino” motorcycle each); another gold at the Melbourne Olympics in 1956 with four other employees in the “coxed 4”: Franco Trincavelli, Angelo Vanzin, Romano Sgheiz and Alberto Winkler, with Ivo Stefanoni coxing.

Other Olympic medals followed over the years: Pietro Poli (gold in the “quadruple scull” in Seoul in 1988), Carlo Mornati (silver in the “coxless 4” in Sydney in 2000). Most recently, Niccolò Mornati was fourth in the “coxless pair” in London 2012. And the president of the Como club, Micheli, has announced to the media that at the 2016 Olympics in Rio, “the Canottieri Moto Guzzi crew are doubling their objective: in addition to Martino Goretti in the ‘lightweight coxless 4’, his father, Eros Goretti, is a member of our association’s steering committee”. This extraordinary sporting tradition attracts young people and the new generations of rowers are winning fresh victories.

ITALIAN CHAMPIONS. The Canottieri Moto Guzzi rowing club’s youngsters were crowned Italian Champions for 2016 in the Boys class, in the recent final in Gavirate in June. This message was posted on the association website: “Franco Faggi, the fondly remembered Olympic champion in London 1948, who died just before the Gavirate final, drove his ‘heirs’ to an emotional success in Mandello del Lario’s ‘home’ speciality: Riccardo Elia, Nicolas Castelnuovo, Davide Comini and Simone Fasoli are now the Italian Champions, in the ‘coxless 4’.

Fasoli, Castelnuovo, Elia, Comini.

Carolina Codega e Ilaria Compagnoni.

Our team paid a worthy tribute to the memory of the great Franco Faggi, who will surely have smiled to see his ‘grandkids’ on the top step of the podium. In the women’s events too, the girls born and brought up in the Canottieri Moto Guzzi rowing club made a splash: Carolina Codega and Ilaria Compagnoni won the Italian Championship in the Girls’ eight +.”

Andrea Panizza, 17, a protagonist at the recent Junior World Championship in Rio de Janeiro (Photo: Lecconotizie.com).

INFO:
www.canottierimotoguzzi.it

ON THE ROAD

MOTO GUZZI V9 SHINES
AT “EICMA RIDE IN ITALY”

FIVE AMERICAN JOURNALISTS ON 5 ITALIAN MOTORCYCLES, 5 DAYS RIDING THROUGH SIX REGIONS TO PROMOTE THE “BELPAESE” ON AN INTERNATIONAL STAGE.

Great success for the “EICMA Ride in Italy” project created in cooperation with the ICE Italian Trade Agency, which has been promoting the international growth of Italian companies for 90 years. The motorcycle tour set itself the objective – which it achieved – to introduce the distinguishing features, landscapes and food of Italy to an international audience. The promotion was fronted by five American reporters Cristi Farrell, Sasha Valentine, Bree Poland, Yve Assad and Jacqui Van Ham, all enthusiastic bikers, who set off on 28 June, after the presentation press conference at the Monza motor-racing circuit, on the saddle of the Italian bikes Moto Guzzi V9, Ducati, MV Agusta, accompanied by tour leader Marco Belli. From 29 June to 3 July, they rode down the most attractive roads in Lombardy, Liguria, Tuscany, Umbria, the Marches and Emilia Romagna. Their trip was certainly an inspiring idea for a summer biker holiday: great scenery, impressive artistic and cultural sights, excellent food and wine.

DAY 1: IN FOOD VALLEY

EICMA RIDE IN ITALY Day 01

First stage: Milano-Camogli. The bikers travelled along the most interesting roads, stopping in Pavia to visit the city and admire the typical Ticino riverside scenery; they went on to “Food Valley” in the Piacenza hills, to try out some local gastronomic specialities, such as the famous “tortelli” and cold cuts. Then it was back on the bikes to reach the destination for the first day, Camogli, on the Ligurian coast.

DAY 2: GULF OF POETS

EICMA RIDE IN ITALY Day 02

Second stage: Camogli-Marina di Pietrasanta. Another spectacular day on the motorbikes for the five American reporters on their discovery of Made in Italy. Having set off from Camogli to head for La Spezia, after 80 km of the Aurelia, bends, seascapes and over the Bracco Pass, they had a well-deserved rest in Porto Venere, the pearl of the “Gulf of Poets”, going to the Muzzerone Forte for a view of Byron’s cave. Then a must-have sampling of Liguria’s famous “pesto”, and off to the Camaiore Lido and the beaches of Versilia, in Tuscany.

DAY 3: FLORENCE BY NIGHT

EICMA RIDE IN ITALY Day 03

Third stage: Marina di Pietrasanta-Florence. Leaving behind the Camaiore Lido, the American riders re-mounted their bikes for a trip to Florence and a fascinating night-time stroll. But not before another Tuscan stop, in Torre del Lago Puccini, the home of the famous Italian composer. And then off again, for another exciting destination.

DAY 4: DESTINATION ASSISI

EICMA RIDE IN ITALY Day 04

Fourth stage: Florence-Assisi. This breathtaking itinerary took the girls to a series of unique locations: Siena, Lake Trasimeno and Assisi (a UNESCO World Heritage Site). They had a friendly encounter with an Ape van doubling as a food truck, which dispenses regional delicacies to local residents and tourists.

DAY 5: ON THE MISANO CIRCUIT

Fifth stage: Assisi-Misano Adriatico. The last riding day took the group to Misano, with a break to see the splendid medieval town of Gubbio, then on to the dual carriageway to Fano and a “triumphal” entry on to the Misano race-track for a great party to complete the adventure.

INFO, VIDEO CLIPS AND PHOTOS:
www.facebook.com/EicmaOfficial

ON THE ROAD

MICHELE DI LILLO:
100,000 KILOMETRES ON HIS SHIVER

MILESTONE CELEBRATED WITH A VISIT TO THE APRILIA HQ IN NOALE, TOGETHER WITH OTHER SHIVER FANS. COUNTLESS JOURNEYS AND THE DREAM OF A MEGA RALLY. “IT’S A TOTAL BIKE: COMFY AND SPORTY AT THE SAME TIME”.

In his email to the Noale HQ, he signed himself “Michele Di Lillo, Car and Motorcycle Designer, but above all Aprilia Biker”. So it was already clear that here was an expert enthusiast: he said he was about to reach a great milestone of “100,000 km on my Shiver, without a single problem”. His idea was to celebrate the achievement in the place where the Shiver and all the other Aprilia motorbikes are manufactured.

So Michele (aka Mike) and some friends from the facebook group “Aprilia Shiver 750 – Italia” organised an exciting trip for 10 April. A visit to the monument in Nervesa della Battaglia on the Montello hill (which houses the remains of Italian soldiers who died on the Italian front in the First World War), then a break for refreshments at a local hostelry before the 16 motorcycles reached Noale, lining up in front of the Aprilia entrance: Mike “celebrated” his 100,000 km with a series of burn-outs, with photos and videos shot by the other Shiver bikers.

Aprilia Shiver - Noale

Next, the group visited the facility: the Style Centre, where they learned about the development of a motorcycle, from the initial research to the prototyping of the models; then on to the R&D offices, and a final stop at Aprilia Racing to see the bikes taking part in the world MotoGP championship. In other words, a journey to the heart of “Aprilialand”.

Aprilia Shiver tour

Mike Di Lillo says: “I wanted to highlight what I believe is the Shiver’s true identity as a complete motorbike, a devourer of distances with a sporty soul which is comfortable to ride. My group is being followed by dozens of new owners, who are all excited about joining us and are always asking me for advice. We’ve become a great big Aprilia family”. To the point where “we are organising a general mobilisation: I’m receiving messages of congratulations from many Shiver bikers in southern Italy, whose numbers are increasing. So I’d like to organise a global event for late August, with as many as fifty bikes!”

INFO.
Michele Di Lillo’s facebook page with photos and video clips of his rides:


www.facebook.com/The-world-seen-from-an-Aprilia-984316074920376

Forum Shiver Italia:

www.shiveritalia.it/forum/

MOTO-BIO OF A PASSION: WHEN A NAKED CHANGES YOUR LIFE

Michele (Mike) Di Lillo, a biker born in Mondragone who lives and works in Modena, with his beloved Aprilia Shiver SL 750, known as “Hannlee”.

“To think I used to be frightened of motorcycles… my name is Michele, Mike to my friends. On 16 February 2011 my life changed forever. I was in my office during my lunch hour when I received a text on my phone, the dreadful news that I had lost a very dear friend, someone I had grown up with, who had been a part of me… Then one night I realised that the only way I could help myself feel better was to start saying YES and to try, simply to try. I asked myself what was the craziest thing I had said NO to and the immediate answer was: MOTORBIKES. So I started riding, taking short trips, trying to lean… I also began riding with a friend who taught me how to manage the bike on bends, to open the throttle and feel the wind on my chest. Unfortunately, one day I was too long going into a bend and found myself hugging the mountainside, with a dented swingarm handlebar gears and so on, but by some miracle I only had a few bruises. The friend who was following me on his bike said “now you’re a biker, you’ve tasted the tarmac”, and I learned that you have to take a motorbike seriously, but I threw my helmet on to the field and shouted for joy: I’d done it! I’d always been shy and awkward but now I’d become a biker! Then the fun began: in the summer of 2011 I made my first trip with a motorbike, to the Greek island of Lefkada.

I can’t tell you how it feels at 3:15 in the morning on a road you’ve never ridden before, without street lights, with a mountain silhouetted against the sky to your left and the sea to your right reflecting a full moon. It was a mystical, transcendent moment.

But I didn’t know the best was yet to come… One afternoon in December, I saw a classified ad for a motorbike I’d never seen before, and I went to see it with my friend Nicola, another biker. 

What a shock, as soon as I saw it I thought ‘SHE’S THE ONE’; I tried the bike out and was so convinced I bought it on the spot. So on 7 January 2012, at 11 o’clock in the morning in Rome, I became the owner of a splendid Aprilia Shiver SL 750.

The return journey to Isernia (I lived there in the past) was amazing: I was riding a real sports bike! I shouted for joy at its power and the roar when I opened the throttle for the first time, if I wanted to overtake all it took was a simple touch and the drive by wire had the bike leaping forward. I was in seventh heaven, and the bike was a stunner to look at too, with its gold frame and silver chassis.
 I didn’t want to get off… That was the day when my real life began.

THE MOST AGILE OF THEM ALL. The incredible Shiver is balanced, manageable and stylish… I was happy, all I needed was a full tank and the open road… I realised that it was fun to take a bend at low speed too, and that the bike was really at home on mixed terrain, and changed direction in the blink of an eye, very few motorcycles are so agile. So I began riding at the week-ends and really enjoyed being by myself. When you’re on your own, you think of so many things, you reflect, you relive moments from the past, good and bad… on the first straight stretch you open the throttle looking ahead and at peace with the world… in charge of your life.

RIDING FOR MILES AND MILES. My outings soon turned into journeys; I moved to Turin for work and went there on my bike, taking the ‘normal’ roads, through wonderful scenery and fascinating towns; every day I went to work on my bike, and at the weekend I was off to the Susa Valley, with its marvellous bends. One day I went a bit further and after miles of bends and hairpins (pure enjoyment) I found myself looking at a breathtaking scene, Lake Moncenisio, a destination for bikers from all over Europe…

After that, a trip to the lake was almost a compulsory weekend outing, and I was beginning to clock up an impressive mileage: a monthly average of 3,500 km...


SERVICES? One day a friend complimented me on my mileage and said ‘So how many services has the bike been in for?’ Well, I didn’t even know what a service centre was, let alone a service, so I simply told him the truth ‘Ah, I do that myself, I change the oil every 20,000 km’.

600 ON FACEBOOK. So now Hannlee and I have nearly reached 99,999 km...
Services zero, 5 oil and filter changes, 3 transmission kits and this is my 23rd set of tyres, which brought me to the Aprilia facility in Noale, with my Shiver friends. A couple of years ago I was invited to join a facebook group for Shiver owners: there are more than 600 of us now, about 500 bikes of which a dozen or so were bought after seeing the group, and now they call me ‘president’...

Of all the views I’ve seen, all the friends I’ve met, all the wonderful roads I’ve ridden, my favourite moment is when I get up in the morning, look in the mirror and think that I might have missed all this… because I was frightened! I pull on my helmet, my gloves, check the tyres and then I’m back on the road again!”

Mike & Hannlee.

STYLE

MOTO GUZZI T-SHIRTS AND SWEATSHIRTS
MUST-HAVES FOR THE SUMMER

Here are the first tops you’ll want to put into your weekend bag and when you’re packing for your vacation: easy and practical, essential for the summer. The timeless t-shirts and sweatshirts stand out in the Moto Guzzi 2016 Accessories catalogue for their combination of style and quality.

The broad range, for her, him and the kids, includes t-shirts, tank tops, serafino t-shirts and sweatshirts, all in 100% cotton. Preference is given to the vintage look and neutral colours, which are easier to match. The casual outfit is completed with belts and sunglasses, and there’s also a shoulder travel bag with the eagle logo.

WEAR “THE CLAN”. The Moto Guzzi collection also includes “The Clan” line, for proud Guzzi owners. T-shirt, helmet, cap and patch: all in total black with logo.

INFO:
www.motoguzzi.com/en_EN

Community

THE TAIWAN MOTO GUZZI CLUB
COMES TO MANDELLO DEL LARIO

The email from Komodo Chen reached the Moto Guzzi Museum in Mandello del Lario (housed in the historic Moto Guzzi factory) at the end of May: “I’m a Guzzi biker from Taiwan and a member of the local Moto Guzzi Club. In June, I shall be coming to Italy with 13 biker friends to visit the Moto Guzzi Museum. We’ll be stopping in France first, to hire the motorcycles, and then we’ll come to Mandello, before travelling into Switzerland.”

Chen kept his promise: and the great group photo under the headline taken outside the historic Eagle factory, complete with their official banner, documents the visit of the 14 Guzzi bikers from faraway Taiwan (on 13 June).
Komodo Chen runs a Motorcycle Touring blog for motorcyclists, with a special focus on fans of the Italian brand, where he also publishes news and photos of the activities of the Moto Guzzi Club. These photos of the Taiwanese Guzzi enthusiasts are taken from his blog.

Chen also sent this photogallery on the Club’s recent ride to Penghu Island, in the Taiwan Strait (Chinese Sea). Thanks friends!

INFO:

komodo-chen.blogspot.it/2013/10/moto-guzzi-v7-classic.html

PREVIEW: IN MANDELLO DEL LARIO ON 9-11 SEPTEMBER 2016 INTERNATIONAL MOTOR RALLY FOR MOTO GUZZI’S 95TH ANNIVERSARY WITH OPEN HOUSE AT THE EAGLE FACTORY AND MUSEUM

INFO:
www.cittamotori.it/home/?p=3430


FORTHCOMING
EVENTS AND RALLIES

THE BEST VIDEOS OF THIS ISSUE

THE FINALIST MOTORBIKES IN THE
2016 “LORD OF THE BIKES” CONTEST

The exciting challenge among “Lord of the Bikes” customizers, a unique contest of its kind, produced by Sky Uno and filmed in the historic Moto Guzzi facility in Mandello del Lario, was a great success among the viewing public (the program was broadcast in the spring on Sky Uno HD, and presented by Ringo with Aryk, Filippo Barbacane and Paolo Sormani making up the jury). The public followed the thrilling match between 10 teams of professional motorcycle customizers, who fielded their creativity and spanners in the contest to “make” the best custom bike, using Moto Guzzi V7 and V9 two-wheelers.

Here you can see the fascinating videos of the five finalists whose “motorised sculptures” took part in the fiercely fought concluding episode; beginning of course with the winner, the “2016 Lord of the Bikes”: OMT Garage from Origgio (Varese), owned by brothers Marco and Mario Troiano, with Carlo Cirillo, and their V9 “Silver Knight”. The videos of the other finalists follow: Dino Romano (V9 “Speranza”), Officine 08 (V9 “Roxy”), Anvil (V9 “Revenge”), Emporio Elaborazioni Meccaniche (V9 “Buscaglione”). A real delight for true bikers.

Silver Knight - Lord of the Bikes

Speranza - Lord of the Bikes

Roxy - Lord of the Bikes

Revenge - Lord of the Bikes

Buscaglione - Lord of the Bikes

SEE IT ALL AT GARAGEMOTOGUZZI.COM

A television successful program (in Italy): “The Lord of the Bikes”, a contest among the best motorbikes customizers.

The website devotes a content-packed section to the 2016 “Lord of the Bikes” contest: videos and photos, the customizers and their stories, the projects and details about the customised Moto Guzzi bikes, and much more for riders to learn how to configure their own MG V7s and V9s, Bobbers and Roamers, and make them truly unique.
www.garagemotoguzzi.com/it/lord-of-the-bikes

MY BIKE MOVIE

AN EXCLUSIVE PASSION:
THE NEW MOTO GUZZI CALIFORNIA

A simple video starring his motorcycle posted by Alberto Rovera has collected more than 18,000 views. Pretty good going, and the reason may be that this is no run-of-the-mill bike: it’s the new Moto Guzzi California, in a stupendous white livery. Alberto’s cherished two-wheeler certainly deserves a video, to be shared with the huge Guzzi biker community.

MOTO GUZZI CALIFORNIA 1400 (ALBERTO)

Another Guzzi devotee (“Guzziman”) has done the same thing to document his own purchase, again a white Moto Guzzi California, posting his clip on YouTube (where it has been seen by almost 12,000 fans).

MOTO GUZZI CALIFORNIA 1400 (GUZZIMAN)

THE MG “CALI” BAND

A roam around the web reveals that the proud “lovers” of the new Moto Guzzi California, the flagship model in the range, are numerous and to be found all over the world. Also, that the Italian owners of the bike have formed a club (affiliated with the Moto Guzzi World Club), which organises annual rallies: this is “La Nuova California Group” (“The new California Group”), with its own facebook page.

The group have already held two national meetings (to discover new roads and regions, visit historic-cultural sites and enjoy local gastronomic specialities): last year’s meeting was organised in Senigallia in May, this year the group met up in Cassino, in April, with their splendid Moto Guzzi California bikes (new model).

Here is the video clip, shot by Alberto Rovera, during a stop on the 2016 bike tour.

THE NEW CALIFORNIA 1400 – CASSINO 2016

There’s no need for elaborate images, all that’s required is the appeal of a superlative motorcycle: “it has an unmistakable style and inimitable design”, say the club members.

YOU AND YOUR MOTORBIKE
ON WIDE!


For true bikers, their motorcycle, whatever its age, is a cult object to be treasured, cared for and kept proudly for years; a faithful companion for travel and adventure. The WIDE feature “My Bike Movie” is dedicated to everyone who rides off to work on a brand new bike in the morning, to everyone who fondly conserves a bike handed down in the family from generation to generation, to everyone who lovingly cherishes a vintage motorcycle.

MAKE YOUR
BIKE MOVIE!

Make a short video of your Aprilia or Moto Guzzi motorbike to tell us what it means to you. You can tell the story of your bike or recount a trip you’ve made together. You can include shots of daily life, or evoke the emotions you have shared.
The videos we select will appear on Wide, in the feature “My Bike Movie”, to present you and your motorcycle, the most special bike in the world, to bikers all over the globe. Because every bike’s story is unique.

Send your video clip to: wide@piaggio.com