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Three days devoted entirely to the Aprilia sport models equipped with the formidable V4-cylinder engine, and an opportunity for the international press and the public to try the Superbike multi-champion RSV4 ABS range, as well as the very latest entry, the Tuono V4 R ABS. An overwhelming success

APRILIA V4 DAY
A GREAT OCCASION

The idea of an event devoted entirely to the Aprilia bikes powered by the sublime V4 65° engine was inspired by the market launch of the Tuono V4 R ABS. The new version of the Noale supernaked joins the already well-received RSV4 ABS range, completing an offer of sports models with truly exceptional features. The common denominator is the high-performance V4-cylinder engine, a unique player in its class in world motorcycling, perfectly set in a racing chassis, which has secured four world titles for the RSV4 in the hard fought Superbike championship.



In their respective segments, the Tuono and the RSV4 are the maximum to which a true biker can aspire, the peak of a motorcycling career; two sophisticated, exclusive vehicles, whose technology is still unmatched by competitors. It’s a privilege to ride them, confided some of the journalists at the event; a privilege Aprilia wanted to extend to the general public by organising a one-off opportunity for an absolutely free test ride, in the total safety of a race track, on one of its two “top bikes”.
Organised in cooperation with the ENI energy company, the three-day event was held from 9 to 11 October on the San Martino del Lago track near Cremona: the recently built 3,500 m circuit provides a varied route, including a splendid 900 m straight, for riders to test the various technical features of the bikes.
It was at this circuit that the Aprilia RSV4 Factory ABS easily won the comparison test of supersport models organised in April 2013 by the prestigious Italian motorcycling magazine Motociclismo (a success repeated the following day at the Misano Adriatico track), confirming once again that this is the superbike to beat. An achievement to be added to the long list of victories won by the RSV4 in similar trials, at global level, irrespective of the track or the rider.
For the international press present during the first two days, Aprilia V4 Day was also an opportunity to try out for the first time the new Tuono V4 R ABS, the true queen of the event.
The journalists took their turn on the Tuono V4 R ABS, available both in the original configuration and in a version without mirrors, turn indicators and licence plate holder. Two different outfits reflecting the dual soul of the new Italian supernaked model, the perfect companion on bikers’ favourite routes, but also an exceptionally effective kerb performer, outclassing many trumpeted supersport models from competitors.
In this context, the RSV4 ABS, a range familiar to and admired by the trade press, was a special guest: after the test rides on the Tuono V4 R ABS, the journalists were given the chance for another ride on the model from which the four-times SBK world champion was derived. The RSV4 R ABS and RSV4 Factory ABS were sporting their 2014 colours, including a striking new matt black that entirely envelops the R ABS and most of the Factory ABS.
The chorus of approval for both the Tuono V4 R ABS, and the RSV4 ABS range was unanimous. It was a standing ovation for the intuitive rigor of the compact chassis, the personality of the engine, the outstanding effectiveness of the electronics, the fun afforded by the Tuono’s high handlebar and the all-out sportiness of the RSV4. From the professional rider to the journalist/tester, all the participants, whatever their level of skill, were immediately struck by the rapport established with the Tuono and the RSV4 from the very first lap. Apart from the fulsome compliments paid to both bikes, the real proof of the impact they made could be seen by observing the participants’ behaviour: requests to have another test ride; stopping to look carefully over the bike after the ride; people waiting for their turn with their helmet already strapped in place minutes ahead of time. The weather conditions were not ideal: an overnight storm that left the track wet for part of the morning meant that special Pirelli rain tyres had to be mounted. Yet the precarious road surface underscored the quality and effectiveness of the new package of APRC electronic controls, which, together with the racing ABS, ensure a safe ride under all conditions, and maximum effectiveness when full throttle is possible.
Given the RSV4 and Tuono’s close relationship with the Superbike world champion bike, two warmly welcomed guests at Aprilia V4 Day were the riders with the Aprilia Racing WSBK team, Sylvain Guintoli and Eugene Laverty. Accompanied of course by the Superbike world champion RSV4 Factory bikes in 2010 and 2012 and the model being ridden by the two Aprilia standard bearers as they compete for the 2013 title.
The last of the three days was open to the public. Sunny skies and a temperature of around 16°C made perfect conditions for the lucky participants at Aprilia V4 Day, some of whom had come several hundred miles by car or on their own bikes for this exceptional occasion. After a technical briefing, the participants were able to try out for themselves the dynamic qualities of the Aprilia V4, with a close escort of instructors on the track. The 128 test rides went on from early morning until dusk, confirming the great public interest in the two bikes. Once again, the response to the Tuono and the RSV4 was one of maximum satisfaction, reflected in the smiles and thanks of the participants, and also in the excellent assessments of both Aprilia models on the test sheets provided for the participants after their ride. The day was also an opportunity to meet up with other bikers with a passion for two-wheelers, especially the more sporty models, and to take part in an exclusive event. The success of Aprilia V4 Day demonstrates that people’s infatuation with motorbikes is as strong as ever and that the Aprilia Tuono and the RSV4 are the bikes of people’s dreams. A dream that, this time, Aprilia turned into an exciting reality for all concerned.

PHOTO GALLERY

event
Unbounded success for the two weekends celebrating the eagle brand

MOTO GUZZI OPEN HOUSE 2013:
MANDELLO DEL LARIO WELCOMES
SEVEN THOUSAND BIKERS

According to Mandello tradition, the second weekend in September is dedicated to the Moto Guzzi rally. It began in 1989, when the widely admired former driver and dealer Duilio Agostini, and his daughters Alis and Lindy, organised the first meeting for friends and customers, complete with a tour round the historic factory in Via Parodi 57. Since then, every year at this time, thousands of Guzzi devotees turn up from all over the world to enjoy the folksy soul of the Mandello constructor.
This year’s rally, organised to perfection by the Mandello and Carlo Guzzi motorclubs, was held together with the first Moto Guzzi Open House, an event repeated the following week-end. Among the many attractions capturing the attention of the enthusiasts making a pilgrimage to the historic factory, the spick and span museum, the assembly lines open to the public, the store stocked with previews of the 2014 apparel and accessories collection, the Guzzi Pop exhibition on artist Jacopo Ghislanzoni, and, above all, a fleet of twenty-three Moto Guzzi California 1400s and V7s available for test rides. The success of the Open House and rally was even greater than expected: five thousand visitors were forecast, but in the event more than seven thousand bikers travelled to Mandello.

click to enlarge

The number of test rides was impressive too: more than five hundred motorcyclists – most of them owners of competitor bikes attracted by the new range – took their turn on the new California 1400 and V7. The initiative also attracted interest from Motociclismo magazine, which covered the second Open Day weekend via a television live stream to capture the immediate impressions of the test riders, clocking up more than 53,000 views.

Besides these remarkable numbers, the Open Day weekends saw many expressions of affection and loyalty from Moto Guzzi devotees: Kristel from Brussels donated her late husband’s bike – an Airone Sport – to the museum, while Mimmo De Caprio from Caserta wrote and framed a poem about the Falcone. And judging from the merriment of those who sampled it, there was an equally enthusiastic reception for the Airone Rosso wine made from a local grape in the Val Tellina grown by an enterprising Guzzi biker.

Awards
THE BIG FLAGSHIP FROM MANDELLO DEL LARIO ESTABLISHES ITSELF IN THE “TEN BEST BIKES 2013” OF AMERICAN CYCLE WORLD MAGAZINE, TAKING FIRST PRIZE IN THE CRUISER CATEGORY

Moto Guzzi California 1400 Custom
world queen of the cruiser

The award that places the Moto Guzzi California 1400 Custom at the top of the Cruiser segment arrives again from America. After receiving unanimous approval all over the world, Moto Guzzi California 1400 adds further important recognition from the United States, taking first place in the Cycle World competition's Cruiser category.
This recognition takes on that much more significance because it comes from the most authoritative magazine from the other side of the ocean, a true reference point for enthusiasts all over the world, and because precisely the American market is the cradle of large Cruiser bikes, the true flagships of the road, which is teeming with the strong presence of American brands.
In the traditional competition, now in its 38th edition, the best bikes in production all over the world were divided up into ten categories and then rigorously tested by testers and journalists from the magazine. The bikes were evaluated based on performance, the fun ride they were able to give the rider and the overall quality of the bike. These are areas where the Moto Guzzi California, less than a year from its unveiling, showed that it has no fear of the competition. In the award motivation we read: “This Italian gets under your skin in a good way, its air-cooled 1380cc V-Twin winning us over with torque and the starring role it plays in the Art Deco looks of the bike. Though classically styled, the California is modern, with three levels of power delivery and traction control, plus ABS and cruise, none of which detracts from the bike’s mechanically satisfying nature”.
The Cycle World award is the second one the California 1400 Custom has won in the USA within a few months: in May Robb Report, the American magazine that has been the International authority and reference point in the luxury segment for almost forty years, listed the big Custom made in Italy at Mandello del Lario among its Best of the Best Luxury Portfolio for 2013.
The 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 unmistakable Moto Guzzi class and tradition, combined with never before seen lines, dimensions and technologies, but highly popular among passionate “Guzzisti” all over the world: 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” multimap technology and LED Daylight Running Lights (DRL).
Awards
THE TUONO V4R RECONFIRMED AS THE WORLD’S BEST NAKED BIKE. THE CALIFORNIA 1400 WINS THE FIRST MCN AWARD FOR MOTO GUZZI

UK, MCN Awards 2013:
triumphs for Aprilia and Moto Guzzi

MCN, the world’s most authoritative and widely read motorcycle weekly, has published the results of the 2013 MCN Awards, a highly regarded annual award for the world’s best motorcycles.
Given the large number of new models launched by constructors during the season, the competition for this year’s edition was particularly fierce. Piaggio Group brands won the leadership in two key market segments: Naked and Cruiser.

APRILIA: THE UNBEATABLE TUONO V4R

With its unrivalled Tuono V4R, Aprilia is now one of the darlings of the editorial staff in Peterborough, and has reconfirmed its place as the queen of its category thanks to the unique technical features of the model’s V4 65° 170 hp engine and a frame closely related to the supersport RSV4, winner of two SBK championship titles.
Since the days of the twin-cylinder 1000 R, the Tuono has won the hearts and minds of British bikers, building a reputation as the most thrilling naked on the market. Its devotees include MCN Senior Road Tester Michael Neeves, who explains the reasons for the success of the Tuono V4R: "When Aprilia [created] the Tuono 1000R they revolutionised the hardcore street bike market. A decade later and the latest V4R dominates the class … with aggressive power, a wealth of exceptional electrickery and killer styling.”


MOTO GUZZI: THE BEST CRUISER IN THE WORLD


If an MCN Award is a confirmation for Aprilia, for Moto Guzzi it is a new addition to the countless plaudits won by the Italian cruiser during 2013. Elected “Best Cruiser” by Cycle World in the USA, and “Best of the Best” by the Robb Report, the US luxury bible, the Moto Guzzi California 1400 has now secured the most prestigious critics’ award in the European industry, as well as victory in all the comparative tests organised by the top European trade press.
Phil West, Executive Editor at MCN lists the reasons for the success of the Mandello del Lario flagship: “Heritage is a strong marketing tool right now, and Moto Guzzi has pulled a trump card with the all-new California. It takes the class win for superbly blending the style and presence of the iconic brand with a thoroughly modern engine, chassis and electronics package. It’s an accomplished ride”.

The 2013 award presentation ceremony chaired by MCN editor Andy Calton was held on Tuesday 17 September, in the impressive setting of the Denbies estate in Dorking.
Andy Calton, Editor of MCN and Phil Read of Piaggio UK

Awards
2013 World Championship of Custom Bike Building

A Moto Guzzi rondine with a Falcone engine is the freestyle World Champion

Ireland’s Don Cronin and Michael O’Shea, proprietors of Mendaza Cycles, have won the freestyle category of the tenth edition of the contest devised by specialist monthly America Motorcycle Dealer in Essen, Germany, with their “Rondine” creation. The AMD event is the most famous and hotly contested competition for special and custom bike builders, and first began in the USA where the magazine is distributed through the HD sales network and top custom spares and accessories stores. The 2013 event attracted competitors from 23 countries, who presented 122 “creations”, subdivided into five categories.
The two Irish specialists created an impressive freestyle interpretation for their 1971 Moto Guzzi Rondine, dusting off an MG Nuovo Falcone horizontal single cylinder 500cc engine and embellishing it with every sort of ornament and high polishes to the point where it was almost unrecognisable from the resolute engine adopted for decades by the Italian police and army. Another surprise is the disc wheels, inspired by the record-breaking bikes of the 1930s; the girder front-end suspension and rear suspension fork with a single damper, the single-seat saddle and aluminium tank. The choice of name is surprising too, since the Rondine was a formidable Gilera with a positive displacement blower, which won the speed record in 1934 at more than 274 km/h. But that’s freestyle: so no one is taken aback if a Falcone turns into a Rondine!
The 2014 World Championship of Custom Bike Building will be held at Big Bike Europe, at the Essen Expo in Germany, from 11 to 13 April. With the new cafe racer World Champion class.

(Photos: © AMDChampionship.com, Photography courtesy of Onno Wieringa).

Medaza Cycles

(click to enlarge)
2013 World Championship winner: Moto Guzzi Rondine – Technical Data
Builder
Don Cronin, Michael O'Shea
Owner
Don Cronin
Location
Bandon, Co. Cork
Country
Ireland
Website
www.medaza.com
Bike Name
Rondine
Year/Model
1971 Moto Guzzi
Engine Make/Size
Nuovo Falcone 500
Drivetrain
Standard
Frame Make/Type
One-off by owner
Front End
One-off girder
Rake
56'
Stretch
45mm
Swingarm
By owner
Wheels Front
Modified V-Rod
Wheels Rear
Modified V-Rod
Tires Front
19"
Tires Rear
19"
Brakes Front
Harrison Billet calipers, one-off disks
Brakes Rear
Harrison Billet caliper, one-off disk
Painter
Spectrum Paint
Chroming/Plating
Owner
Additional Info

One-off frame, swing arm and engine plates. Bodywork in hand-formed aluminium. One-off girder front end incorporating modified V-Rod swingarm. Exhaust, handlebars, electrics box and rear sets in stainless. One-off external flywheel and embossed aluminium hubcap. Engine mods include capacity increase to 580cc, lighter weight valves, pumper carb, lightened flywheel, modified lubrication system. One-off permanent magnet alternator. External oil lines in stainless. Rocker box de-finned. One-off brake disks and caliper mounts.
Interview
The motorbike turns into pop art in the tribute exhibition dedicated to the legendary Eagle brand by the young artist from Lecco. Open in the Mandello Museum until 13 December

Jacopo Ghislanzoni: an abstract Guzzista

Jacopo Ghislanzoni began painting Moto Guzzi bikes after meeting Riccardo Mariani, the mayor of Mandello del Lario, at an exhibition of his work in Lecco. Inevitably, the talk turned to the local community’s links with the famous Eagle brand. That was all the young Lecco-born artist needed to arouse his interest and focus his creative energy on the well-loved historic company, headquartered just a few miles from his home. Jacopo had never owned a motorcycle and perhaps had never wanted one until then, but he realised that, over and beyond its motorbikes, Moto Guzzi expresses something intangible and immensely appealing. He began his research, consulting books, talking to people and workers in Mandello, putting into context the facts, symbols and motorbikes he discovered during his investigation.

1921-2013 Mandello the Moto Guzzi town
  • JACOPO GHISLANZONI
  • 1920s GP NORMALE
  • 1930s TENNI BLACK DEVIL
  • 1940s SUPER ALCE
  • 1950s THE GOLDEN AGE 1
  • 1950s THE GOLDEN AGE 2
  • 1960s GALLETTO
  • 1970s LE MANS I
  • CALIFORNIA 1980-2013
  • 1990s DAYTONA
  • 2000 V11 SPORT
  • 2010 STELVIO 1200 8V
  • GUARO MGS 01 CORSA
  • COVER CATALOGUE
In just a few months he created fifteen large-format pieces, displayed to the public over the summer at the Mandello Lido in the exhibition “1921-2013 Mandello la città della Moto Guzzi”. His works, on wooden panels, won such a positive response from both the critics and the public that it was decided to show the exhibition at the company premises during Moto Guzzi Open House.
Meanwhile, the acrobatic artist purchased a Galletto 192, his first motorbike, and during the summer worked on ten more pieces for the “Guzzi Pop” event in via Parodi 57. Here, he offers a new take on motorbikes and bikers, helped by the comments and impressions gathered from the public.
Wide met Jacopo in his studio, a space packed with paintings of urban landscapes, archaeological remnants of industrial Lecco, faces and motorcycles.

Jacopo, when did you start painting?
“When I was a child, using the walls of our home as a canvas. My father was worried that people might think his house had become the first squatter-occupied community centre in Lecco, so he began making me wooden boards I could use. I carried on painting boards and canvases until my friends encouraged me to go public and display my work in an exhibition in 2008. Two years later, in 2010, I had my first one-man show.”

What are your preferred subjects?
“I like painting stories about the lake, people and industry, with a sometimes surreal figurative style. In a society undergoing a complete economic and social transformation, I continue looking for people and places I think will leave an indelible mark on what was, is and will always be our community.”

How would you imagine the Piaggio Group in just one painting?
“Piaggio is a name that conjures up a sense of national pride. I certainly see it on a very large canvas, which I would cover with our national colours as a base: green, while and red. Then I would portray globalisation with the faces of the men of the world gathering around a Vespa ridden by a beautiful woman away out of the canvas into a future just waiting to be discovered.”

Which is your favourite Moto Guzzi bike?
“I’m not a technical expert, but I think that the lines, volumes and symmetry of the Moto Guzzi Griso make it an absolute masterpiece. For completely different reasons, I like my Galletto. I bought it because I’m not a biker but I wanted to be a Guzzista, and the Galletto provides that strong symbolic value. You feel part of a family, even if you know nothing about camshafts, cardan shafts and pistons.”

Where will you be holding your next exhibition?
“My next exhibition will open on 6 January 2014 in Bellano (Lecco) in the former church of San Nicolao. I shall be showing 15 new works inspired by the magical sensations the lake creates in the soul of local residents, with faces, views and symbols interpreted in a Pop idiom.”

GUZZI POP

Curated by Maria Paola Oriani and Jacopo Bellucci, the Jacopo Ghislanzoni “Guzzi Pop” exhibition can be seen at the Moto Guzzi Museum, in the historic factory, from 3 to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday; access from the Moto Guzzi entrance in via Parodi 57, Mandello del Lario (Lecco). Don’t miss it!
Technology
THE PIAGGIO GROUP’S ON-GOING COMMITMENT TO CUTTING FUEL CONSUMPTION AND EMISSIONS. THE FIRST – AND ONLY – CONSTRUCTOR IN THE WORLD TO DEVELOP HYBRID TECHNOLOGY FOR SCOOTERS. HERE’S HOW IT WORKS

Electronics for the environment

Caring for the environment: the hallmark of Piaggio Group innovation
Sensitivity to environmental issues continues to rise. People are becoming particularly concerned about the need to cut the environmental impact – exhaust and noise emissions – of vehicles intended for personal mobility. The phenomenon has fuelled legislative developments, with the increasingly severe “Euro N” emission standards, the growing restrictions on the circulation of internal combustion vehicles in urban environments and so on, but it has also fostered greater awareness among users and manufacturers.

PIAGGIO MP3 Hybrid 125ie

The direct contribution of two-wheel vehicles to CO2 emissions is actually small (especially when compared with the total for other vehicles): two-wheelers are in fact a way to cut emissions in urban environments, partly because their own levels are low, partly because they help significantly in alleviating traffic jams and reducing journey time. In other words, they are a solution rather than a problem. Nevertheless, cutting the fuel consumption and emissions of its vehicles in order to improve the quality of the environment is a constant commitment for the Piaggio Group. The Group’s success has always been based on its ability to design and build its own engines; the accelerating pace of technological change in the first ten years of the new century fuelled a real turnaround, enabling Piaggio to achieve a level of mastery in electric and electronic technology on a par with its expertise in traditional technology. And it was during this very recent past that it began research into the development of an engine of revolutionary significance, in terms of both philosophy and substance: the hybrid. Revolutionary in terms of results, to the point where it is still the only hybrid scooter engine in the world, with a wealth of specific construction and functional features. Revolutionary in terms of technology, because it combines a number of different and distant disciplines: endothermic engines, electric motors, electronic controls. A hybrid, as we said. So what exactly is a hybrid?

The hybrid, the known
Mention is often made of the hybrid in communication and advertising, sometimes pertinently, sometimes not, and the reference is not always correct. In the interests of clarity, let’s start with the basics, and look for the dictionary definition. The dictionary tells us that the word “hybrid” is a noun or an adjective in use since the XV century; initially, of course, it did not refer to motorcycles, automobiles or engines, but indicated (and continues to indicate) an “individual animal or vegetable generated by parents of different races or different species”. Further on, the definition reads: “In the automobile industry: a hybrid automobile, equipped with two engines, one being an electric motor, the other powered by petrol or diesel fuel”.
Exactly. In our case, we have a scooter fitted with an electric motor and a petrol-fuelled engine. The two engines are so closely integrated they seem to be a single unit. So that’s clear.
Yet a question remains: why install two engines instead of one? Is it a stroke of genius… or folly? To find an answer, consider the characteristics of the two types of engine. Petrol-fuelled engines, as we know, are powerful high performers, small, light, and have no problems with fuel distance, because the fuel offers a high volume of energy in a small space and in liquid form. The disadvantage is that torque increases with the number of revolutions (making a gearshift or CVT transmission necessary), and the engine releases CO2 and other “unpopular” gases.
Electric motors, on the other hand, are extraordinarily efficient, but their Achilles heel is their range: the batteries are still heavy, bulky and expensive. On the plus side, they develop maximum torque from zero speed, do not require a clutch or gearshift, and do not release locally any type of gas.
Summing up, the disadvantages of the one seem to be mirrored by the advantages of the other. So, someone said, if we combined the two, we could obtain an engine that would deliver the torque of an electric motor from zero speed and the fuel distance of a petrol engine, and would outperform both of them. Also, the two engines could operate synergistically to optimise yield, with one helping the other, for example when conditions are not ideal. This “combination” engine has a name and surname: Parallel Hybrid.

PHOTO GALLERY

Surname and first name: Hybrid and his brothers
The “Hybrids” are a large family and attention should be taken, as with any family, not to mix up the various members. Serial Hybrid (aka Series Hybrid) sounds like the name of a killer and, in some ways; this Hybrid is a killer, the killer of Yield. It’s used on diesel-electric locomotives, on railcars, on the older submarines. It’s an electric propulsion system whose batteries are re-charged by an internal combustion engine; the combustion engine does not directly drive either the wheels or the propeller, but the serial hybrid does not present range problems. It operates for a while like a true electric motor, with no noise and no emissions. On the other hand, it consumes a lot more than it should.
Then there’s Light Hybrid, known as Micro Hybrid, perhaps to make itself sound important. It’s a sophisticated alternator flywheel whose job is to start the combustion engine, let it turn off whenever possible, and recover energy during braking.
And finally Parallel Hybrid, the great innovation developed by Piaggio: two engines of equal importance, working together for the same purpose. To consume less fuel!

Mp3 Hybrid: il primo e l’unico
The heart of the system consists of 4 innovative elements, fully integrated with one another. The first is, of course, the internal combustion engine: a latest-generation, electronic-injection unit with a Ride by Wire control system, indispensable in this sophisticated architecture to maintain a balance between the two engines. The Mp3 Hybrid throttle is an electronic device: through the handlebar grip the rider requests a specific performance (acceleration, for example), but it’s the electronic control system that decides, second by second, which of the two engines should respond and how.
The second element is the reversible electric motor. Reversible in that it operates as a motor or as a generator, depending on requirements; when starting and on hill stops it delivers an additional 2.6 kW and 15 Nm for a brilliant performance; when the petrol engine has to be helped to consume less; when possible, if required, it recharges the on-board lithium battery by using the torque supplied by the petrol engine and by recovering kinetic energy when the vehicle brakes (KERS).
The battery is the third innovative element, complete with an integrated Battery Management System (BMS), the Group’s trump card designed and produced by Piaggio.
The fourth element is the Vehicle Management System (VMS), the electronic package that controls the whole system. In a single component, the VMS comprises vehicle management (functionality/safety), control of the electric motor (inverter), the DC/DC converter (12V powering of on-board services) and the battery charger that plugs in to the power grid. So the Piaggio Hybrid can be recharged from the grid, at a minimal cost, without requiring an external charger. This is an important difference compared with the best automobile hybrids. In technical terminology, it’s what’s known as a Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV). Battery recharging takes two hours (85% in one hour), from public charging points or at home, with maximum absorbed power of 1200 W.
The other even more astonishing feature is that the Mp3 Hybrid can be used as a pure electric vehicle or ZEV (Zero Emission Vehicle). Its mechanical architecture allows the electric motor to be used on its own, with sufficient on-board energy for a distance of more than 20 km. And if the lithium battery should run down, the rider simply switches on the petrol engine to regain all the range he requires.

The roots of the future: continuous innovation, by Piaggio
Piaggio’s work to acquire the necessary know-how to master hybrid technology is the humus in which the Group will put new roots in the future. In the coming years, the development of internal combustion engines will require more electronics, power and control; while electric vehicles – lightweight and eco-sustainable – will gradually grow in importance. Research into more advanced new solutions continues. And remains a core asset of the Piaggio Group, an innovator by tradition.

(3rd article in the series. The previous articles: “Electronics for safety”, published in Wide no. 3-2013; “Electronics and two-wheelers”, published in Wide no. 2-2013. Online at: widepiaggiogroup.com).
Racing
THIS IS APRILIA'S FIFTH TITLE IN SBK IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS AND WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP NUMBER 52 FOR THE ITALIAN BRAND

APRILIA WORLD SUPERBIKE 2013 MANUFACTURER CHAMPION

APRILIA DOMINATES THE CHAMPIONSHIP WITH 550 AGAINST KAWSAKI'S 501, 443 FOR BMW, SUZUKI AT 243, HONDA WITH 236, 185 FOR DUCATI AND YAMAHA 8

Jerez (Spain), 20 October 2013 – After dominating the standings for the entire season, starting from the extraordinary Phillip Island round where the took five of the six spots on the podium up for grabs, Aprilia is crowned 2013 World Superbike Manufacturer World Champion.
With the title earned today Aprilia holds the Italian colours high in the 2013 world motorsports season. The manufacturer from Noale is now at 5 world championship victories in Superbike in the last four years and increases its extraordinary collection to 52 world titles in just over twenty years.
With 10 wins (9 for Laverty, 1 for Guintoli) and 26 total podiums, the Italian manufacturer chocked up 550 points against Kawasaki's 501, 443 for BMW, 243 for Suzuki, 236 for Honda, 185 for Ducati and 8 for Yamaha. This is peremptory confirmation of the Italian 4 cylinder Aprilia RSV4's superiority.
The competitiveness of the RSV4 is confirmed by the "satellite" team results, taking three podiums (two for Giugliano, one for Fabrizio) and one pole position.
Aprilia's extraordinary result was built in five years of continuous commitment from it's rookie year in 2009, earning the double Rider-Manufacturer title in 2010 and 2012. The experience gained by the Italian Superbike has allowed all the riders to consistently achieve important results on tracks with various characteristics and in extremely variable conditions.

Romano Albesiano, Aprilia Racing Manager, expressed all of his satisfaction in a result that rewards an extraordinary work group:“The Manufacturer Championship title is an extremely valuable wreath that has various significance. It is a testament of design excellence, the design of our RSV4 which has dominated on the track for years. This product is an all-Italian pride.
For me, after leading development of the RSV4 street version with our engineers, it is always very exciting to see it win a world title on the track.
This year we participated in the definitive consecration of the RSV4 as the best new generation super sport bike. The consistent performance demonstrated by all the riders, both Laverty and Guintoli on the factory team and the satellite Althea Team and Red Devils riders, has led Aprilia to dominate the Manufacturer Standings from the first to the last race and has allowed both our official riders to compete for the Rider Title down to the last race. As Manager of the Piaggio Group Motorbike Technical Centre I am doubly pleased, since the RSV4 is a product conceived a created out of the cooperation between street bike design/production and the Noale racing department. So this is an all-Italian gem that wins on tracks and provides unique sensations for fans on the road every day.
This round at Jerez is my first one as Aprilia Racing manager, so the praise and my thanks can only go to those who, on every level, worked on this extraordinary project, making it victorious for so many seasons.”
.

The new Aprilia Racing adventure in World Superbike began in 2009 with the development of the innovative RSV4. With its exclusive 65 degree V engine and a chassis derived from years of racing experience, the Aprilia Superbike marked a turning point in the super sport bike world. Capable of winning even in its rookie season, the RSV4 earned the double World Championship in 2010, the first time in history for an Italian rider on an Italian bike and a result which was then repeated in 2012.
And so, the Aprilia title collection in World Superbike includes five World Titles (2 Rider, 3 Manufacturer) with 38 wins and the impressive figure of 93 podiums, in addition to 15 pole positions.
In all Aprilia boasts 52 World Titles (38 in MotoGP, 5 in Superbike and 9 in off-road disciplines) which make it one of the most victorious brands ever in motorcycle competitions.

APRILIA: A UNIQUE COLLECTION IN AN EXTREMELY YOUNG HISTORY

Aprilia is one of the most victorious brands, having won an astonishing 52 world titles in its young career:

38 in MotoGP
(20 in 125 and 18 in 250)

5 in Superbike
(Rider and Manufacturer in 2010, Rider and Manufacturer in 2012, Manufacturer in 2013)

9 in the Off-Road disciplines
(7 in Supermoto and 2 in Trial)

In MotoGP Aprilia has won 294 Grand Prix races and has won 38 (with another 93 podiums) in Superbike. And all of this in a decidedly brief history, since Aprilia is a young brand which only made its début in MotoGP in 1985 (250 class) and in 1987 in 125. The first wins came in 1987 (250 at Misano with Loris Reggiani) and 1991 in 125 with Alessandro Gramigni, which would be the first 125 World title on an Aprilia in 1992. But above all, Aprilia Racing has represented from its birth, an unrepeatable forge of talent. All the riders that have made motorcycling history in the last few decades have made their début on the bikes from Noale. Most memorable among these, in addition to Max Biaggi who won three 250 world titles with Aprilia from1994 to 1996, are: Loris Capirossi (250 World Champion with Aprilia in 1998), Valentino Rossi (125 Championship in 1997 and 250 in 1999), Jorge Lorenzo (250 Championship in 2006 and 2007), Casey Stoner (250 second place in 2005), not to mention Manuel Poggiali, Marco Simoncelli, Alvaro Bautista and Kazuto Sakata.
The Piaggio Group, which includes other magnificent competition motorcycle brands within the group such as Gilera, Moto Guzzi and Derbi, reaches the spectacular number of 102 world championship titles: Aprilia 52, Gilera 14, Moto Guzzi 15, Derbi 21.

PHOTO GALLERY

Racing

The latest trilling races of the 2013 WSBK Championship

DOUBLE WIN FOR EUGENE LAVERTY WHO DOMINATES AT JEREZ
IN THE FINAL ROUND OF THE 2013 WSBK SEASON

APRILIA WINS THE BRAND CHAMPIONSHIP BY A WIDE MARGIN
LAVERTY IS SECOND AND GUINTOLI (ON THE PODIUM IN RACE 2) IS THIRD IN THE RIDER STANDINGS

Eugene Laverty

Eugene Laverty and the Aprilia RSV4 dominated in the last round of the 2013 World SBK season.
In Race 1 Laverty got the best of Marco Melandri with an extraordinary pass on the outside in the last turn after having led the entire race until two laps from the end when the Italian overtook him. It looked like it was all over but Laverty dug deep and found the winning move – and the most difficult line – right at the turn that comes out onto the final straight stretch. His final flight to victory was exhilarating.
In the second race Laverty followed Sykes who tried to pull the pin straight away, keeping him in check from behind and always demonstrating great confidence in his skills and the strength of his RSV4. Eight laps from the finish he made the decisive attack and then pulled away to win his ninth race of the season by a decent margin.

Eugene Laverty: “Those were two very different wins today. The second one was definitely easier because I was able to create a gap in front of Tom after overtaking, whereas in Race 1 the battle took place all within a few metres. I’m quite pleased with this double win. It’s a result that confirms our potential along with the string of podiums at the end of the season. It’s a shame we lost some important points at the beginning of the year, but I don’t like to whinge or make excuses. In any case finishing second in the rider championship with more wins than the rest is an excellent result and so is the Manufacturer Title for Aprilia.”.
Sylvain Guintoli, still held back by the effects of the injury to his shoulder which conditioned the second part of his season, had to be give up on his attack for a podium finish in race 1 as he was slower than the front runners and his race ended with a strong fourth place finish. He made up for it in race 2 where he confidently controlled his third position, holding onto it and finishing on the podium.

Sylvain Guintoli: “This season was fantastic. I battled for the Championship in my rookie year on a new bike. Unfortunately after my shoulder injury there was just something missing and in the second part of the season I definitely was not at 100%. In any case the experience gained will be fundamental in 2014. As is always the case when you don’t win you think about improving next year. Today, especially in Race2, I tried to keep up with Eugene and Tom but I just didn’t have the pace and the strength to do it. This ends a really great season for me with a great team and a great team mate who gave me a run for my money. Now I’ll be thinking about recovering physically and preparing for the next championship.” .

The wins at Jerez gave Aprilia the 2013 Superbike Manufacturer World Championship Title. This is the fifth Championship win for the Italian brand in the last four years of WSBK and the second in a row for the Manufacturer title. It is also Championship Title number 52 in Aprilia’s history.

Romano Albesiano, Aprilia Racing Manager: “The Manufacturer title is an important affirmation which is the merit of a perfect team and two riders who had an extraordinary season. It is rare to have two such important talents in the garage in the same season. Laverty and Guintoli have been in the battle for the world title since the first round. Laverty’s 9 wins are proof that he has added sports experience and consistent results to his natural speed. Guintoli led the championship for most of the season thanks to consistently exceptional performance and we thank them for the Manufacturer title that we won today.”.

PHOTO GALLERY

MAGNY-COURS: DOUBLE PODIUM FOR SYLVAIN GUINTOLI AND EUGENE LAVERTY IN FRANCE. APRILIA STAKES A CLAIM ON THE MANUFACTURER TITLE

APRILIA DOMINATES THE MANUFACTURER STANDINGS WITH THREE RSV4s IN THE TOP FOUR IN BOTH RACES: WITH JUST ONE ROUND TO GO IN THE SEASON HAS 35 POINT OF ADVANTAGE

The only thing overshadowing Aprilia's domination in the Magny-Cours Superbike races was an excellent performance by Tom Sykes. Sylvain Guintoli and Eugene Laverty swapped out the second and third steps of the podium in the two races, keeping themselves mathematically within a shout of the Rider Championship. Davide Giugliano had a double fourth place finish on his Team Althea Aprilia. Aprilia maintains a solid hold on the brand championship lead and, with only one round left to go and 35 points of advantage over Kawasaki, they have staked a claim on the 2013 Manufacturer Title.
In the first race on dry asphalt Sylvain Guintoli stayed with Tom Sykes after starting from the second spot on the grid, but he was unable to make a decisive attack, partially because of the red flag that came out due to a crash two laps from the finish. Eugene Laverty, riding in fifth place for the early part of the race, made up ground on Melandri and then on Giugliano, crossing the finish line behind his teammate. Despite the grey skies, Race2 also started without rain and on dry asphalt, following much the same script as Race1 with Sykes blazing the trail up front followed by Eugene Laverty and Sylvain Guintoli. The two Aprilia Racing Team riders switched places several times but were unable to contain the leader's mad pace. In the final laps the French fans were entertained by an exciting and clean battle between teammates, which ended under another red flag that came out as rain began to fall during the last lap. Eugene and Sylvain ended the race in that order behind Sykes, both of them also falling victim to harmless crashes just seconds before the race was called.
With Magny-Cours result Laverty maintains his second place in the rider standings, 37 points behind the leader and one point in front of Sylvain Guintoli. Aprilia confirms the Manufacturer standings lead with 35 points over Kawasaki, 88 ahead of BMW, 266 over Honda, 275 above Suzuki and 331 in front of Ducati.

“Tom Sykes was from another planet today – said Eugene Laverty after the Magny-Cours Round – I tried to keep up with him in the first laps, but he gained too much ground coming out of the slow turns. Toward the end Sylvain and I engaged in battle. I usually don't like these situations because I have a lot of respect for him and because we are still both within reach of the title, but every point is important at this stage of the season. I'm obviously pleased with the two results although our goal was to reduce the gap behind the leader. We made some improvements to the bike between Race1 and Race2 and I was definitely faster, but apparently it wasn't enough. Jerez will be our last chance to make a play for the Rider Championship”.

Sylvain Guintoli is ready to give his best at Jerez: “Race2 was exciting, a great battle with Eugene. It's a shame that we weren't able to keep up with Tom, but he was really fast today. I hope I didn't do too much damage to my shoulder in the crash. Unfortunately my visor was covered with bugs and I didn't see the slippery spots on the track. In Race1 I was able to keep up without losing too much ground and in the final laps I tried to pull the pin and overtake Tom, but then the red flag came out. It's true that at Jerez it will be difficult to recover but mathematically we are still in the game so I'll be trying hard until the end to finish out this Championship properly”.

PHOTO GALLERY

BRILLIANT PERFORMANCE FOR EUGENE LAVERTY ON THE CALIFORNIAN LAGUNA SECA CIRCUIT
APRILIA'S DOMINATION IN THE MANUFACTURER CHAMPIONSHIP CONTINUES

AFTER HIS PODIUM IN RACE 1, EUGENE LAVERTY WINS RACE 2 AND MOVES INTO SECOND PLACE IN THE RIDER STANDINGS. SYLVAIN GUINTOLI STRUGGLED TO FIND HIS PACE IN THE SECOND RACE AND FINISHED IN FIFTH PLACE, REPEATING THE RACE 1 RESULT



The “unusual” Saturday at Laguna Seca, with Superpole and Race 1 on the same day, came to a decidedly exciting finish. In Superpole Sylvain Guintoli finished ahead of the rest for the first time this year, followed in third place by teammate Eugene Laverty who suffered a harmless crash. Considering the pace the two Aprilia riders had demonstrated, all the signs leading up to Race 1 were encouraging.
At the start Sylvain took control immediately, creating a gap in front of his nearest rivals within a few laps, while in the pursuing pack it seemed like Eugene would be able to make up ground and fight for the podium. However, the red flag came out in the seventh lap because of a deflated air fence, which had been damaged by a crash. So there was a restart with the race reduced to 20 laps and everyone seemed to be following the same script: Sylvain in front of the rest, fast and focused, with Eugene riding for a podium finish. But hard luck nipped any chance at running away in the bud when the second red flag of the day came out for the same reason.
When the red lights went off for the third time, with the race shortened even further, Sylvain Guintoli got tangled up in the bottleneck on the first turn, losing positions and having to fight his way back. In the exciting final laps Sylvain had to give up a few positions and settle for a fifth place finish, a result that definitely betrays the potential of his RSV4 on the Californian track. Eugene Laverty rode an excellent race, grabbing the third step of the podium away from his rivals with a spectacular pass on the “corkscrew” in the last lap.

Eugene Laverty

The determination shown in the Race 1 finale was almost a foreshadowing of the way Eugene Laverty would perform in Race 2. Rocketing out to the front as soon as the red lights went off, the Northern Irish rider then found himself riding in third place behind the exhaust of Sykes and Giugliano in the first phase of the race. Eugene bided his time throughout the middle portion of the race, staying in contact with the leaders without taking any pointless risks, also taking into consideration the less than excellent grip. Laverty's strategy paid off when four laps from the end he launched his attack on Giugliano for second place and then overtook Sykes two lap later. The grand finale had him controlling his rivals and flying across the finish in the lead. His seventh victory of the season and the third place in Race 1 take him to second place in the rider standings, 23 points behind Sykes with two more rounds (four races) left to go.

“That was anything but an easy race - admitted Eugene Laverty after Race 2 - Yesterday I struggled quite a bit to keep up with the front runners and I managed to finish on the podium by overtaking twice in the last lap. I want to thank my team because we worked a lot on the bike and took a big step forward that allowed me to ride better in spite of the grip issues. I pushed hard from the first to the last lap and Davide (Giugliano) and Tom (Sykes) didn't make this win an easy one! This is a result that I really didn't expect which now takes me to second place in the rider standings, but we have two very different rounds ahead of us. I struggled last year at Magny Cours, but my RSV4 has grown a lot so things could change, whereas Jerez is our test track so it's a place where I could have an advantage. I'll need to give 100% in every session for the next two weekends. I'd like to dedicate my win to Marco Bertolatti who became a father just a few hours ago.”

Race 2 was a difficult one for Sylvain Guintoli, dominator in Race 1 before the second red flag. After an imperfect start from the first spot on the grid thanks to winning Superpole, the Frenchman had to surrender the pace to Melandri and Giugliano. Relegated to fifth place, Sylvain struggled in the first part of the race to keep pace with the lead pack, finally settling into a good rhythm. However, the gap behind the four leaders kept him from improving his position, which repeats the result from Race 1 but certainly does no justice to the performance demonstrated during the practice sessions. Sylvain is now lying third in the championship, just one point behind his team mate Laverty, a position that keeps him well in the running for the final victory.
Sylvain Guintoli: “To be honest this was a disappointing Race 2. I expected much more and, all things considered, the start was good. I felt like I could pass Tom and Eugene, but instead I came under attack from Melandri and Giugliano and dropped back behind the lead group. The pace was really fast and when you lose a few metres it's hard to make up that gap. Like Race 1, when I'm in the middle of the pack I'm lacking something. I'm unable to maintain the same pace that I can set when I'm riding by myself like I was in the first two starts yesterday. It's something I need to work on because we didn't make any changes to the bike. I need to get focused again. I'm not lacking in speed since yesterday when I was out front I was able to be very fast. Magny Cours is coming up in just a few days and that's my home race where I hope to make up some important points.”

Thanks in part to Davide Giugliano's podium finish in Race 2, an excellent second place ride on the Althea Racing Team RSV4, Aprilia strengthens their dominating lead in the manufacturer standings. After the Laguna Seca Round, the advantage in front of Kawasaki is now 45 points, 70 ahead of BMW, 235 over Honda, 248 above Suzuki and 308 in front of Ducati.

PHOTO GALLERY

Racing
The V4 motorcycle from Veneto took the 2013 title two rounds early, ridden by Michael Moeller Pedersen, son of Thomas, a Piaggio Group importer in Denmark

Aprilia RSV4 champion of the danish superbike

  • Michael Møller Pedersen
  • Michael Møller Pedersen
  • Michael Møller Pedersen

The winning streak on tracks all over the world continues for the Aprilia RSV4. The most recent victory comes from Denmark, where Michael Moeller Pedersen was crowned 2013 National Superbike Champion two rounds ahead of the season's end. With a podium finish in all eight of the races held so far, six of which on the top step, Michael now has a 51 point advantage over his nearest pursuer. This is a margin that allows him to celebrate the national Superbike title early.
Son of Thomas, a Piaggio Group importer in Denmark, Michael's passion for the track is combined with his work in the family business 8TMP) as Web and Marketing Manager. For the RSV4 this is another in a countless string of wreaths after the four World Superbike titles with Max Biaggi in 2010 and 2012 accompanied by two Manufacturer Titles.


In addition to the many riders who have chosen to put their trust in the performance of the V4 from Veneto, numerous customers have done the same, knowing that they can count on a bike that the specialised press defines as the best in the segment as well as the street bike that comes closest to a racing bike, derived directly from the experience of the highly decorated Aprilia Racing department.
Michael Moeller Pedersen describes the race weekend which just crowned him as 2013 Danish Superbike Champion like this: “In the last race on Sunday I had to finish in front if Martin Iver Pedersen, BMW, to score the points needed. I started in front of him, but in 2nd lap he overtook me and then the race began. I was on his rear wheel all the race to push him and to see where I had the possibility to overtake him. In some parts of the track I was a lot faster, and other parts he was very defensive which made it difficult for me to overtake. I saw three spots possible to overtake, but two of them were too risky because I know he don't just give up his line. In the end of the race I found a little improvement in my corner exit, going into the straight, and saw the possibility to overtake at the end of the straight. With two laps to go I made the move and finished in front of him, which secured the championship.”
TMP RACING SPORT:
AN ALMOST PERFECT SEASON
Danish Superbike Champion 2013. “This year, 2013, was the year, that we won the Danish Superbike Championship. With 6 wins, one 2nd and one 3rd in the 8 races Championship. We had the new bike from Aprilia Racing and some very good support from Bitubo suspension. After a very cold race in Anderstorp, Sweden, with track temperature +5 degree Celsius last week of September, we went to Spain to participate in the European Superstock1000 race at Albecete circuit.

PHOTO GALLERY

From Qualifying at Albacete, Spain. European Championship STK1000. It was our first time on the track, and also first time on the street legal tyres, so there was some adaption to the new conditions! During the free practise sessions we tried a lot of different settings to try to understand which way to work with the bike setup. Every time on the track was an improvement and we felt ready for qualifying on Saturday.
In Saturdays QP1 and QP2 we struggled with lack of grip on rear end, and worked hard to solve these problems. At the race, Michael made a descent start and was 15th from first corner. In a couple of laps he was 12th just behind 11th place. He stayed behind until last lap, where he made a pass at the end of the straight and finished 11th, with a gap of 2 seconds to 12th position.
In the race Michael improved the laptime to 1.33,779, which was his fastest this first weekend on the track. Unfortunately Michael was disqualified after the race, for using not homologated brake callipers. Disqualified by the same person, who Friday afternoon approved his bike after inspecting both callipers and master cylinder.
This is an unfortunate outcome from a very fine race and an almost perfect season. 8 Danish Championship races: 6 x 1st; 1 x 2nd; 1 x 3rd; European Championship, Albacete: Finish 11th – disqualified; German test race: Crash from 10th - hit by another rider. After all we are very happy for this season! Now we are discussing different opportunities for next year, and some tests in November, might open a door for a step-up, to a full international championship. (TMP Racing Sport, Thomas Møller Pedersen Aps, www.tmp.dk).
Racing
FIM SUPERMOTO WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2013

triumph for Adrien Chareyre and the fast wheels Aprilia Team in the Italian gp

For the second year running, Fast Wheels Aprilia and French rider Adrien Chareyre rode to victory in the Sicilian Grand Prix held in Triscina near Palermo in mid-September, the Italian race in the 2013 Supermoto World Championship, and the penultimate race in the season. This was the first win in 2013 for the four-times speciality world champion, the result of an on-going process of growth in harmony with the powerful two-cylinder bike.

Fast Wheels Aprilia
Adrien Chareyre

Placed in second position in the starting grid after the qualifying heats, in Race 1 Adrien was in third position after the first few bends. After two laps he had overtaken his brother Thomas and the leader Hermunen, and immediately went all out. His attempt to outflank his followers was too much for the front tyre: 7 laps from the end, Hermunen regained the lead, ahead of Adrien Chareyre and his brother Thomas. In the second race Adrien was again in second place at the start, but had no hesitation in going for the lead immediately in the first lap, setting a punishing pace the riders behind him were unable to match. In a few laps he had built up a lead of about 4 seconds, going on to win the sixth GP of the season, the first victory in 2013 for him and his Aprilia. Behind him, in second place his brother Thomas, the reigning world champion, and Finland’s Mauno Hermunen, who currently heads the rankings. Adrien Chareyre: “This is a very important win for me, the first in the season, the first for Michelin and the first race not won by TM in 2013! So now there’s only one more Grand Prix, and it looks like I’ll have the third place in the overall ranking. But for me the most important thing is to show that we can win races like we did this weekend. I want to thank the Fast Wheels team, Aprilia, Michelin and all my sponsors for their support.”

PHOTO GALLERY

STYLE
The new Aprilia 2013-2014 collections

dressed to race

The world of accessories and apparel according to Aprilia: products designed, developed and tested together with the company’s motorbikes and scooters. A unique universe, created to enhance the emotional punch of every Aprilia two-wheeler and its rider



Eagerly awaited, the new 2013-2014 Apparel collections from Aprilia and Aprilia Racing are here. An exclusive and original catalogue whose extensive range of clothing and accessories reflects the style and values of the brand: technology, quality and attention to detail. A collection inspired by the dynamic world of sport and design that are the distinguishing features of Aprilia’s unmistakable two-wheelers. A world of passion translated into garments with clean, sporty lines. Casual clothes enhanced with prints, stitched details and coloured piping for an up-to-minute look. For him and for her: because it’s great to share your passion for two-wheelers with someone you care about.
The new Aprilia Apparel collection offers t-shirts, polo shirts, sweatshirts and jackets. Accessories include backpacks, helmet bags, usb pendrive, key-holders. As well as back protectors available in road and racing versions; gloves; rainproof coveralls (jacket and trousers), for comfortable riding in complete safety. Plus full-face helmets in a range of models covering all requirements: road enduro, carbon RSV4, Racing TN1, Touring DD1, Modular GT1.

APRILIA LIFESTYLE GALLERY


SBK OFFICIAL TEAMWEAR

The special catalogue of Aprilia Racing teamwear takes its cue from the world of SBK racing. T-shirts, polo shirts, shirts, sweatshirts, body warmers, softshell or padded windproof and rainproof jackets, with a baseball cap to complete the no. 1 World Champion look. When you’re wearing the Aprilia colours, it’s easy to imagine yourself in the paddock or on the track.

APRILIA TEAMWEAR GALLERY



Apparel and accessories from the Aprilia and Aprilia Racing collections (online catalogues at: www.accessories.aprilia.com) are available from all official Aprilia dealers (www.aprilia.it).
People
GUZZI ROCKSTARS IN MILAN

Marky Ramone rides dj’s v7
Johnny Borrell with the MG California

Marky Ramone, one of the best known drummers in rock history and founder of legendary New York band the Ramones, was the guest recently of the radio program “Revolver”, recorded in Virgin Radio’s Milan studios.

  • Marky Ramone
    Marky Ramone
  • Marky Ramone
    Marky Ramone
  • Marky Ramone
    Marky Ramone
  • Marky Ramone
    Marky Ramone ph. Aroni Alessandro
  • Marky Ramone
    DJ Ringo - Marky Ramone


Between hits including “I wanna be sedated” and “Blitzkrieg”, Italian DJ Ringo, the show’s presenter, chatted with the American rockstar (born in Brooklyn, NY, in 1956) about his life, discovering his passion for cooking and engines, in particular for cars and motorbikes from the 1970s. A passion for vintage bikes shared by Ringo. At that point, the talk turned to the Moto Guzzi V7 Stone, the bike Ringo rides regularly in Milan. Marky wanted to see the bike and asked if he could ride it, saying: “You know I even rode Elvis Presley’s motorbike…!”. The result: Marky was immortalised on Ringo’s V7, and the photo went viral.

Moto Guzzi California 1400
star of Vogue Fashion’s Night Out 2013
click per ingrandire
  • D.J. Ringo and Moto Guzzi
  • D.J. Ringo and Moto Guzzi
  • Moto Guzzi California
  • Moto Guzzi California
  • Moto Guzzi California

Held on 17 September in Milan, one of the world’s fashion centres, Vogue Fashion’s Night Out – “A global celebration of fashion” – was a great success. For the occasion, Spazio Broletto, the spacious Piaggio Group showroom in the heart of the city, hosted a spectacular Fashion Cocktail, where the guests of honour, the new Moto Guzzi California 1400 motorbike and the Vespa 946 scooter, were the subject of great public admiration. Celebrities at the event included DJ Ringo, a passionate biker who rides round Milan on a V7 Stone: Marky Ramone wanted to try his bike, so Ringo lent it to him in exchange for a snapshot (see the main story).

From an American rock legend to a rising star in Britain’s new-age scene: singer-guitarist Johnny Borrell (born in Sutton, UK, in 1980), previously the frontman of Anglo-Swedish indie rock group Razorlight. A couple of years later, he’s back in Italy, with his inseparable Moto Guzzi California. This time, he won’t be making a “pilgrimage” to Mandello del Lario, MG’s homeland, but will be on stage at the “Salumeria della musica”, a cult music club in Milan. After his success with the Razorlight, Johnny and his new band, “Zazou”, will be making their debut on Friday 18 October, the second Italian date, after Rome, of his European tour. With the quality of the music and the fact that Johnny is a true blue “Guzzist”, it’s a date not to be missed!

Vintage
FIRST WORLD RALLY FOR THE MOTO GUZZI SPORT 15

A JOURNEY INTO THE PAST,
ON ROARING 500s FROM ANOTHER AGE

A hundred sprightly “old ladies” made an emotional day for participants and public. They included the splendid Sport 15 2V ridden by Federico Parodi, grandson of the founder of the Moto Guzzi company

After the success of the book of photos “Sport 15 Istantanee di una passione”, translated into four languages, the much-loved Moto Guzzi Sport 15, a highly popular motorcycle from the 1930s, was the star of the 1st World Rally in Fiorenzuola d’Arda (Piacenza) on Sunday 23 September. Although the event was dedicated to the Moto Guzzi Sport 15, it was open to all devotees of the eagle brand. The sprightly “old ladies” with their 500cc engines took on a route through the Piacenza hills, the Arda Valley and the Stirone Valley: an opportunity to savour, on a motorbike from bygone days, the pleasure of a ride through unspoiled landscapes and the authentic atmosphere of a proudly rural countryside. Guzzi biker Paolo Rossi describes the rally with the legendary “15s” (www.motoguzzi-sport15.it).

PHOTO GALLERY

The rally was organised down to the last details by a group of enthusiasts and on 22 September we met up in Fiorenzuola d'Arda. A turnout of 93 Moto Guzzi Sport 15 bikes! The legendary 15s arrived in the morning, slowly at first and then in growing numbers. It wasn’t easy, but we managed to park them in five impressive rows. All the riders lined up for a souvenir photo, then the free registration procedure took place: in addition to breakfast, this included a break with bread, salami and cheese, a St Christopher medallion for the handlebar made from an original die of the 1930s, and lunch. There were also sweaters with the event logo. Along the 60 km ride through the hills, where the grape harvest was in full swing, we stopped on the Lungagnano dam, and with the permission of the dam guards parked all our lively 15s in an orderly row. A suspended stream of pure emotion, a parade of Moto Guzzi Sport 15 bikes never seen before. Perhaps even during the 1930s in Mandello so many 15s had never been seen together! Eventually we reached Colle San Giuseppe where we made the most of a tasty lunch, at a poolside location with live music. It was touching to see so many people who had never met before immediately starting swapping notes about the mythical 15. They came from all over Italy (Sicily, Abruzzo, Lazio, the Marches), and some arrived directly on their bikes, from Schio, La Spezia, Livorno, Genoa. The biker who came from farthest away was Thorsen from Germany. Our thanks to the sponsors (La Principe, Ca' Bussolino, Le Vele, Meruzzi, Mathis, Unogas and Maxi Calor) and everyone (outriders, volunteers) who did so much to ensure the success of an event whose memory will be cherished by the Guzzi “15” bikers. We’ve immortalised the rally with a series of splendid photos, which we’ll be distributing to all the friends who come and see us at the Novegro fair near Milan in November.”
THE BOOK: SPORT 15, SNAPSHOTS OF A PASSION
click to enlarge

“Sport 15 Istantanee di una passione”: a 240-page book of photos of the Moto Guzzi Sport 15, an indestructible motorcycle produced in the Mandello del Lario facility from 1931 to 1939, a legend that still lives on in the heart of devotees of the Eagle brand all over the world. The instruction booklet for the owner began with the words: “The Moto Guzzi bike does not require any special maintenance procedures [...]”.
The contents: Preface: The collector’s poem; Original historic photos; The Moto Guzzi factory; The Moto Guzzi Sport 15, technical specifications and details; Collectors; Anecdotes and discoveries. The book is edited by Paolo Rossi and Flavio Mellano. Photos by Alberto Beccaris. Publisher: Mucchi.
Info: www.motoguzzi-sport.it
info@motoguzzi-sport15.it

MOTO GUZZI SPORT 15:
THE STURDY MOTORBIKE

Having made its debut in 1931, the Sport 15 owes its huge success to its outstanding sturdiness and reliability, characteristics that made it particularly suitable for outings as well as for work, the tandem and the sidecar. The direct descendant of the Sport 14, the model was both the last “old” and the first “modern” Guzzi motorbike, an immediate eye-catcher with its “new, highly pleasing lines” and, notably, the new saddle arrangement, described as being of “severe elegance”. For more information: “Moto Guzzi. Novant’anni di arte e tecnologia” by Mario Colombo (Giorgio Nada Editore).
On The Road

Steel eagles in Wyoming
on the trail of Buffalo Bill


“Imagine a place where the deer and the antelope outnumber the people. A country where, even today, being a cowboy means living on a ranch, in symbiosis with desolate scrubland, wild open uncontaminated spaces. Towns where the legends of the Far West celebrated by the movies are a tangible, daily reality. All of this is Wyoming.” This is how the Italian journalist Tiziano Cantatore (Mototurismo magazine) begins his account of his trip on a Moto Guzzi Stelvio 1200 NTX, starting from the city of Denver, set in the stupendous Rocky Mountains. The first stop was Cheyenne, a frontier city discovered in 1804 by the explorers Lewis and Clark on behalf of President Jefferson. The next destination is Casper, reached through Laramie, Bosler, Rock River, Medicine Bow. From Casper, Cantatore made for Buffalo, in the heart of Wyoming.
“The scenery makes for a uniquely enjoyable riding experience. You move from the immense empty plain to mountain canyons, then to the Wind River Lake, An explosive, solitary, intact nature. As you travel through these landscapes you rediscover the true sense of motorcycle riding. With no traffic to oppress you, you feel the bike move along the road in perfect harmony with the rider and everything flowing around you. The Moto Guzzi Stelvio moves like a dream, the ideal travelling companion for a touring holiday.”
Cantatore has countless images and memories of the wonderful places seen during the trip: Buffalo where “the atmosphere is one of the most genuine in the whole of Wyoming, and the site of the famous Hole In The Wall, the first hideout of the gang of outlaws including Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Then Devils Tower, the majestic monolith that rises up from Wyoming’s north-west plain, the first declared United States National Monument.” And Fort Phil Kearny, “built in 1866 as protection for immigrants travelling to Montana along the Bozeman Trail. The fort was the scene of frequent battles between the U.S. Army and the Sioux, Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes. Fort Phil Kearny is located in a powerful setting and the approach on our ‘steel eagle’ along a dirt track makes us feel we have jumped back in time or wandered into the set of a Hollywood western.”

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SHERIDAN, THE HOME OF BUFFALO BILLL
A place not to be missed is Sheridan, whose “main claim to fame is the historic Sheridan Inn, also known as the ‘House of Buffalo Bill’. It was here that Buffalo Bill, Wyoming’s most famous celebrity, held auditions for his Wild West Show.
“On the road from Sheridan to Cody, the Bighorn National Forest and the Bighorn Mountains unveil their spectacular scenery. In these mountains, without even realising it, you reach passes at altitudes of more than 3,000 metres. U.S. Highway 14 (the Bighorn Scenic Byway) is a panoramic route that seems designed especially for bikers”.

CODY, FOR A REAL RODEO

Close to the Montana state border, Cody (the final destination), “is the eastern gateway into the Yellowstone Park, the world’s largest national park: a wonder of nature that by itself is worth a journey to Wyoming. Cody takes its name,” Cantatore explains, “from Colonel William Frederick Cody, named Buffalo Bill, the legendary bison hunter, civil war hero, explorer, showman and entertainer. A true American icon, Buffalo Bill was so much the personification of his age that he has become the image of the American West. The town of Cody has a museum dedicated to its hero, the “Buffalo Bill Historical Center”, a visit not to be missed; another must is the “Old Trail Town”, an open-air museum to which 26 authentic buildings from a western town of the period 1879-1901 have been relocated, and with a fascinating exhibition of native American objects. Here, visitors can watch a real rodeo, by far the most popular form of entertainment in Wyoming. The Cody Rodeo is one of the best, attracting the state’s top cowboys. Being a cowboy in Wyoming has nothing to do with folklore: it is a way to discover your roots.”
(Photos: Tiziano Cantatore)
The trip in figures
Wyoming, also known as the Equality State and the Cowboy State.

Population
approximately 500,000
Capital
Cheyenne
State mammal
American bison
State sport
Rodeo
Famous for
Yellowstone Park
Price of petrol
about € 0.50/litre
Minimum temperature
7°C
Maximum temperature
30°C
Litres of fuel used
147C
Kilometres travelled
2.684
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DEALER SIMONELLI’S TEAM WINS THE MOTO GUZZI 2013 TROPHY

The Aquile Millenarie Team: racing in their blood

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Moto Guzzi officially withdrew from motorcycle racing at the end of the 1957 season. A short statement was released saying that precarious safety conditions and the exponential growth in development costs meant that managing a racing team in the green “Legnano” livery was no long economically viable.
Since then, every time a Moto Guzzi bike has appeared on a racetrack, the event has immediately captured the interest of Guzzi followers and the media, irrespective of the result or the specific championship. Today one of the most active promoters of the brand’s racing activities is the Simonelli dealership in San Benedetto del Tronto, which fielded five riders in the FMI Gentlemen’s Cup, which is also valid for the Moto Guzzi Trophy. Of the five, the most determined was certainly Nicola Zanchetta, who lost the championship in the last race, when driving rain forced him to retire, as he was unable to defend his position with his dry-surface tyres.
Zanchetta will certainly be consoling himself with the victory in the Moto Guzzi 2013 Trophy, which he also won in 2012, again on a Griso 1200 S.E.

The Simonelli Aquile Millenarie Team

RIDERS BIKES
Nicola Maccaferro GRISO 1200 8V
Aurelio Lucidi V11 BALLABIO
Marco Massicci GRISO 1200 8V
Dario Villa GRISO 1200 8V
Riccardo Simeti V11 SPORT

Nicola Maccaferro’s Moto Guzzi Griso SE:

For the last two years, the formula devised by Guido Ranalli for the Moto Guzzi Griso 8V S.E. has dominated the Moto Guzzi trophy:
Öhlins front suspensions
Monoammortizzatore Modificato con molla Öhlins
Mono-tube damper modified with an Öhlins spring
Brembo 19 RCS radial front brake pump
MEMJET supplementary control unit
Tube polishing
Domino rapid accelerator
Raised frame
K&N long-life filter
Sintered front brake pads
Rizoma short handlebar


MOTOR RALLIES & MOTOR SHOWS
There’s no shortage of creativity among motor rally organisers: tourist expeditions to discover new places and cultures, gastronomic tours for foodies to sample local cuisine, club outings to the main exhibitions or a wander round the stands at vintage fairs in search of memorabilia. Any “pretext” is good enough when it comes to sharing a passion for two-wheelers with other bikers, and there’s no let-up in the autumn, the season for the top motor shows. The number one world event is in Milan (Eicma: the International Motorcycle Exhibition, from 7 to 10 November 2013). Plus, Birmingham, Paris, Sydney and Mexico City, as well as the exhibitions specialising in vintage and customised vehicles.
Use these websites to find the “right” event for you:

www.motoguzziworldclub.it
www.motoraduni.it
www.federmoto.it
www.motoraduni.org

The websites of the forthcoming international motor shows:

www.eicma.it
www.australianmotorcycleexpo.com.au
www.motorcyclelive.co.uk
www.expomoto.com.mx
www.salondelamotocicleta.com.mx
www.salon-moto-legende.fr
www.custombike-show.de
www.lesalondelamoto.com

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