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PRODUCT EVENT
TEST RIDE APRILIA ON TRACK

RSV4 RF AND TUONO 1100 RR TESTED ON TRACK
BY CUSTOMERS AND FANS

EXTRAORDINARY 2015 TEST SEASON ON THE BEST ITALIAN TRACKS. EXCITING DAYS RIDING THE NEW BIKES. FREE SHIFTS, TECHNICAL BRIEF AND TRAINERS LEADING THE WAY. HERE IS THE MUGELLO STAGE, WHICH YOU CAN EXPERIENCE AGAIN WITH THE VIDEO AND PHOTOGALLERY. SEE YOU IN 2016 WITH MORE SURPRISES!


(Photo courtesy by Fotoeventi.com).

A winning initiative: during 2015, Aprilia offered hundreds of fans the opportunity to test the new RSV4 RF and Tuono 1100 RR bikes on the best Italian circuits. The great season of Test rides on track started on the 8th of June in Mugello and continued in July (on the 12th in Imola, on the 27th in Mugello), on the 3rd of August in Misano, on the 21st of September again in Mugello, as shown in the images and video of this article and again in October in Imola on the 4th and in Misano on the 23rd.


(Photo courtesy by Fotoeventi.com).

Seven fantastic days with hundreds of riders (customers or those wanting to become customers) testing the new bikes from Noale on the track during free and timed testing shifts, from 9 am to the afternoon, also facing bikes of other brands taken onto the track by private individuals and teams.

Test Ride Aprilia RSV4 RF - TUONO 1100 RR

Each shift started with a briefing for the participants and trainers leading the way provided by the Special Bike Circuit Test Team. And after testing the bike, no need to go away: you can stay and compare your experience with other riders, comment the excitement of the track and discuss performance and set-ups with Aprilia engineers or consider a purchase offer. All in all, the test rides are a great opportunity to enter the Aprilia world. Several services are offered: booking a test ride (online on the Aprilia website) entitles you to use the RSV4 RF or Tuono 1100 RR bike for free for an entire lap of the track; to receive an exclusive commercial offer to purchase a bike; a trainer leading the way and catering service at the garage.

INSIDE THE APRILIA BOX. The atmosphere is filled with adrenaline from early in the morning: fans trickle in and register at the Aprilia box, then stop at the internal catering point for a good coffee. After the clothing ritual (suits, helmet, boots, gloves) everyone already feels like a true rider. Some bring their family and children, girlfriends are hugging their boyfriends before the start signal, but there are also female riders who leave the boyfriends at the garage and hit the track. Attendees are divided into groups: each one is briefed by the trainers, describing the circuit, bends and straight sections as well as thousands of common sense recommendations; in this way, fun and the feel of a race are ensured, while still driving under utmost safety. The trainers repeat to each group: “do not overtake the pace-making trainer”, “remember these are non-competitive tests, no risk-taking”, “enjoy the bike and its performance, bikes are driven with the head, remain fully focused”, “RSV4 has excellent stability characteristics, take advantage of them when entering a bend”, “you can find anything on the track, keep a safe distance from the other riders and when backing off the throttle, do as the trainer is doing”, “keep an eye on the exit lanes outside the bends if you want to stop early”, “follow a proper rhythm, don’t rush in, enter the bend without overdoing it”, “if you see a red flag, you must drive with the utmost concentration, there could be emergency vehicles on the track”, “and now let’s go, let’s have fun on the track”.

Everyone then gets to the side of the track where the bikes are lined up: both those taking part to the shift of tests and others just waiting for their turn. Each shift lasts 20 minutes, with approximately 15 shifts over the entire day, for as many groups of participants (50-70 per session). The “testers for one day” slowly move along the pit lane, following the trainer, then they start, accelerating along the circuit and enjoying the fabulous bikes from Noale. It is real fun, bending and backing the throttle, at the end of the straight segment of the Mugello circuit, for example, the RSV4 (top performance and chassis) almost reaches 300 kph, while the Tuono 1100 RR, more “intuitive” and with even greater performance, delivers unbelievable emotions.

COMMENTS FROM THE RIDERS. After their shift on the track, it is heart-wrenching to step down from the bike; the participants are asked to fill out an assessment card both about the test rides and about the bike they tested on the circuit. Stefano Pagani, from Pisa, just enjoyed a ride on the RSV4: “Super set-up, the bike is compact and stable – he comments – it was really a surprise, it is the first time I consider an Aprilia and I was really curious about trying this new super-sport bike. I must admit that... my love for bikes has been rekindled!”. And he can’t resist a souvenir photo astride the Superbike version RSV4 shown in the garage.


Stefano Pagani

Manlia Camilletti came from the Marche region to test the new Tuono 1100 RR on the track; a passionate rider, as is her partner Manolo, a true “Aprilia fan” who has bought a RSV4 Factory Aprc two years ago and admires the new RSV 4 from the side of the track. Manlia explains that they travel at least 20,000 km/year on the bike. Extremely easy-going, they both wear a t-shirt with the Aprilia logo. After the test ride, Manlia comments: “The bike is really easy to drive and to handle, and the engine delivers in every situation; it is perfect on the road and on the track”, she concludes excitedly.

Manlia Camilletti

THE COMMENT OF CARBIKE. The garage of the Tuscan dealer CarBike is near the Aprilia garage at the Mugello race track: the dealer is here with bikes and technicians and has invited its bike-loving customers to test drive the Aprilia bikes. Since June 2015 CarBike has been the new dealer in the Grosseto province for the Aprilia (bikes) and Piaggio (scooters) brands, and it owns two points of sale: in Grosseto and in Porto Santo Stefano.

We met Paolo Scano, who owns the company together with his brothers Leopoldo and Corrado, who started in 1997 as auto electricians, tyre and bike repairers and then became dealers of bikes of several brands and who have now enthusiastically embraced the Aprilia brand. The 42-year old Paolo, a true rider, just came back from his shift riding a RSV4 RF on the track: “It’s fantastic, true to itself, it does not tire you out while riding, it’s the top for performance and fun; we expect the next step in its evolution to be the electronic down-shifting transmission”.


Paolo Scano from CarBike (right), with the dealer manager Stefano Costa

Bringing his customers here was a good initiative and he has others in store (for example, he believes that riding courses for sport bikes could be useful), he then created a bike rider group on Whatsapp and his store is also the meeting place for the Maremma Moto Club, which organises events and meetings. So... bikes, bikes and more bikes and a lot of care for its bike loving customers. For this new Aprilia dealer it is not just business, but a lifestyle!

(Photo and video services by Matteo Rossini).

REMEMBERING THE V4 DAYS IN MISANO

The season of Aprilia test rides on track was preceded by “V4 Days” in Misano, two days dedicated to riders, customers and fans who tested the new RSV4 on the circuit. This clip shows their comments.

RSV4 RF – Riders’ opinions

NEW APRILIA 2015

RSV4 RF. DESIGNED FOR RACERS, BUILT FOR RIDERS

Aprilia RSV4 2015
Official Video

Now with 201 hp, Aprilia RSV4 2015 is the most significant and noteworthy evolution ever to occur on this extraordinary model. Its development also involved its design. The style of the new RSV4 stems from the perfect union between shape and function. Its accurate design resulted in the most compact full displacement sport motorcycle available on the market. Unanimously acclaimed and desired by riders in every corner of the planet, RSV4 has always been the undisputed leader of this market segment, a benchmark of sport characteristics and performance, the best example of what can be accomplished by tapping into the valuable experience of a winning Racing Division such as that of Aprilia, which won 54 world championships in its short history. The “Race Pack” set up is standard on the RSV4 RF series, including light forged aluminium rims and the more sophisticated Öhlins suspension (shock absorber, fork and steering absorber).

TUONO V4. PURE ADRENALINE

Aprilia Tuono V4 2015
Official Video

Direct descendant of RSV4, this seven-time SBK world champion motorcycle, Aprilia Tuono V4 1100, is pure adrenaline. Performance grows with an incomparable v4 engine that has been renewed and brought to 1100 cc and 175 hp; driving is more effective due to a revised chassis and the exceptional APRC electronic system package, which is a further evolution, not to mention the greater comfort and protection when used on the road. This series includes two models - RR and Factory - which are distinguished by a new look and separate set ups, while still retaining the typical character of Tuono. Telemetry is here, thanks to the V4-MP platform. Belonging to a noble dynasty of naked sport bikes, this is the “total weapon” on the road and on the race track.

INFO APRILIA BIKES AND RANGES OF DEDICATED ORIGINAL ACCESSORIES:
www.aprilia.com
Event

MOTO GUZZI OPEN HOUSE 2015:
MORE THAN 15,000 BIKERS CELEBRATE THE LEGEND IN MANDELLO

A RECORD TURNOUT, WITH MOTORCYCLISTS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD. TEST RIDES, VISITS TO THE MUSEUM AND FACTORY, SHOPPING FOR GUZZI-BRANDED GOODS. A MEMORABLE WEEKEND INVOLVING THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY

The big event Moto Guzzi Open House 2015, held over the weekend of 11-13 September and entirely devoted to a celebration of the motorcycle brand founded in 1921, closed with an extraordinary turnout of more than fifteen thousand people.
Bikers and their families flocked to Mandello del Lario (Lecco) from all over the world – the carpark in front of the factory was packed with thousands of Moto Guzzi bikes with British, German, Spanish, French, Austrian, Swiss, Danish, Belgian, Polish, Hungarian and even Russian number plates – to take part in a densely packed program ranging from guided tours of the production lines and the museum to shopping in the company store, where a full selection of Moto Guzzi apparel and accessories was on offer, and test-rides on the Moto Guzzi range. The whole weekend was enlivened by dee-jay Alteria (presenter of many music programs) and the creative flair of well-known artist Aryk Old Paint, who spent the three days tirelessly decorating the helmets and jackets of hundreds of Guzzi bikers, in perfect vintage style and with the Moto Guzzi eagle.

There were more than 9,000 visits to the Moto Guzzi museum, which covers the history of the manufacturer since its foundation to the present day. The museum houses more than 150 vintage two-wheelers, from the GP (Guzzi-Parodi) of the early years to the MGS-01, by way of the first “Normale” built in 1921 and recently returned to the museum after an extensive restoration, as well as numerous racing prototypes, which secured countless victories and helped make Moto Guzzi one of the world’s most successful racers. Meanwhile, more than 400 people took advantage of the test rides, a unique opportunity to try out the latest models such as the V7 II collection, the flagship California 1400, the powerful Eldorado and the gutsy Audace, which has just made its debut. Hundreds of people registered as members of The Clan, the official community of motorcyclists where they can share their pride in being a Guzzi biker. The celebrated Wind Tunnel, built in 1950 (the first in the world), was another popular attraction among the visitors.

Another great success among the bikers was the opportunity for a complete free check-up of their two-wheelers, directly in the factory: a return to the Moto Guzzi homeland for a once-over performed by the skilled mechanics who build Guzzi bikes every day. The guided tours of the engine and vehicle production lines in the factory where the wonderful Italian bikes have been turned out since 1921 also proved popular. A not-to-be-missed opportunity, not only for people with a passion for Moto Guzzi, but for everyone who loves smart motorcycles and wanted to share a unique experience with friends and family. Moto Guzzi is one of the very few genuine Italian motorcycles: all the bikes are built entirely in the Mandello del Lario factory, from the engine to the vehicle assembly.

A WONDERFUL COMMUNITY. The mid-September weekend was perfect to enjoy everything the Lario area had to offer. For Moto Guzzi Open House 2015, the Mandello del Lario town council, in cooperation with the Moto Guzzi World Club, the Club Carlo Guzzi and the GP moto club, organised an intensive program of initiatives on the theme “Mandello welcomes riders 2015”: an exhibition of watercolours by artist Ingrid Wijnant, strictly on the subject of Moto Guzzi, at the town lido; a screening edited by Alberto Locatelli, entitled “Tra Lago e Guglie”; the “Moda e Motori” event in Piazza Roma; the exhibition with a parade of vintage bikes in the town square, with many rare “beauties”.

Plus, the participation of local restaurants and shops, decked out for the weekend with Guzzi bikes and memorabilia; concerts and dancing in the market square, with live music and of course good food.

The weekend also included visits to the Maggiana Tower, which in 1158 hosted Emperor Frederick I of Swabia known as Barbarossa. The area, adjoining Lake Como, has countless motorcycle itineraries, set against the stunning backdrop of the Alpine foothills dominated by the majestic Grigna. These are the places where the Moto Guzzi bikes are developed, and they offer the perfect territory for maximum motorcycling pleasure: from the lakeside roads to the typical mountain ascents. A spectacular fireworks display closed the unforgettable 2015 Moto Guzzi Open House. See you in Mandello in 2016, for the 95th anniversary of Moto Guzzi.

EVENT
SANTA MONICA

EWAN MCGREGOR ON THE MOTO GUZZI CALIFORNIA AT THE “INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARDS”

“That's one way to make an entrance! Ewan McGregor pulls up to the Independent Spirit Awards on his vintage Italian motorcycle”: this was the headline in the online version of the Daily Mail, a British daily newspaper, in an article by Alexa Rae Johnson for the TV&ShowBiz column. She continues: “Limousines don’t appear to be his style. So instead, Scottish actor Ewan McGregor, 43, pulled up to the 2015 Independent Spirit Awards on his beloved motorcycle. The two-time Golden Globe nominee was photographed arriving to the show in Santa Monica, California, on his classic, black Moto Guzzi (a California 1400, ed.), an Italian design from the oldest manufacturer in Europe.”

Ewan and his Guzzi made a strong impression on the public – who crowded round him to ask for his autograph – and on the journalists at the event, who described his “ultra-cool” look in detail: a black leather jacket and matching t-shirt, tight black jeans, brown leather boots, a white helmet and white leather gloves. The actor took to the stage of the movie festival to present the award for Best Female Lead to Julianne Moore, for her role in “Still Alice”.
Once again, Ewan has shown he is a true biker, with a genuine and long-standing passion for Moto Guzzi, which he never hesitates to declare, either in his daily life or at the international events he attends (and who cares if the helmet musses up his hair). McGregor really is the perfect testimonial for the distinguished Italian motorcycle brand, created in 1921 in Mandello del Lario. Good on you Ewan!

SOURCE AND VIDEO:
www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2963614/Ewan-McGregor-pulls-Independent-Spirit-Awards-vintage-Italian-motorcycle.html
RACING

APRILIA AND LORENZO SAVADORI ON RSV4 RF
WORLD CHAMPIONS IN SUPERSTOCK 1000 FIM CUP



ON THE MAGNY-COURS CIRCUIT, FRANCE, 4 OCTOBER 2015: THE LAST RACE OF THE SUPERSTOCK 1000 FIM CUP HAS GRANTED TO APRILIA AND TO THE YOUNG RACER LORENZO SAVADORI A WELL DESERVED WORLD VICTORY, ACHIEVED AFTER FOUR 1ST PLACES AND THREE PODIUMS OUT OF EIGHT ROUNDS OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP

Great Sunday of victories for the Team Nuova M2 Racing rider, Lorenzo Savadori, who showed a cool head and great control on the track, avoiding pointless risks on a treacherous track to be crowned champion with a 22 point advantage over his nearest rival (just as the years of the young champion, born on April 4, 1993, in Cesena). Thanks in part to Kevin Calia's second place finish today, Aprilia also dominated the brands, earning the Manufacturer title with 176 points: 34 ahead of BMW, 39 over Ducati, 64 in front of Yamaha and 118 more than Kawasaki.

LORENZO SAVADORI: A RESULT THAT REPAYS US

Lorenzo Savadori: “Today I was focused exclusively on the goal. My race strategy was to try and start well to go fast in the first few laps and try to break ranks with the group. At mid-race we had decided that I would be able to settle for a more comfortable position, far from the battle for the win. I didn't care about winning the race even if my pace would have allowed me to battle for the win. I am truly excited that I was able to bring home this result that repays the team, Aprilia Racing, my entire staff, my sponsors and the mobile clinic for all of their great efforts. I want to sincerely thank them all. I am truly thankful to all those people who have been close to me in this very important season.”

KEVIN CALIA JOINS THE CELEBRATION AND SCORES HIS FIRST PODIUM

Also the rookie Kevin Calia has stood out on the French circuit, by scoring his first podium and joining Aprilia Racing and Team Nuova M2 Racing’s great celebration.

Kevin Calia: “This was a really fun race, especially when I overtook Raffaele on the last turn. I even went up on the kerb. It was fun and also a bit risky but it was my last chance and I wanted to have a go no matter what the cost. I am very happy with the last part of the season which got better and better in terms of results. Next year I hope to be able to stay here with Aprilia and Nuova M2 Racing so I can try to reap the results of what we have sown this season. I would like to thank Nuova M2 Racing team, Aprilia Racing, my sponsors and all my friends who follow me from home”.

ANDREOZZI GOES ALL THE WAY AND DEFENDS SAVADORI

Alessandro Andreozzi put in an excellent performance. With his pace he was able to stop Tamburini's comeback for a few laps, helping team mate Savadori.

Alessandro Andreozzi: ” I didn't get off to a fantastic start but fortunately I was able to set a good race pace. In the race finale I had a bit of a problem with my arm and I wasn't able to stay ahead of Massei and Tamburini even though I managed to keep them at bay for a long time. The team really did a great job. Next week we'll be making a play for the Italian Superbike championship title. I'm lying second behind Pirro and I won't be giving in without a fight. I want to thank my team, Aprilia Racing and my sponsors who help me.”

THE CHAMPION

Class of 1993, Lorenzo Savadori is the 125 Italian and European Champion in 2008 with Aprilia, a season that sees him make his debut also in the World Championship with three wildcards (Mugello, Misano and Valencia). In 2007, he’s the runner-up in the training series Red Bull Rookies Cup. In 2009, he participates to the 125 World Championship, finishing 26th with 7 championship points. He debuts among the production-derived bikes in 2011, in the Superstock 1000, where, during the last season, he finished as runner-up. In 2015, the rider from Cesena has brought to debut the new Aprilia RSV4 RF in the Superstock 1000 FIM Cup, with which he has conquered 4 victories and 3 podiums, results that allow him to win the Superstock 1000 FIM Cup in the final round of Magny-Cours, making Aprilia win the Manufacturer title. It is the first time that Aprilia wins in this category, with another 7 titles in the World Superbike. Lorenzo has dominated the 2015 championship, scoring an outstanding set of results: out of 8 rounds, 3 pole positions, 7 podiums (4 victories, 1 third place), 2 fastest rounds. And his first world title!

Lorenzo Savadori - 2015 FIM STK1000 Cup winner

THE NUOVA M2 RACING TEAM

The Nuova M2 Racing Team, created and guided by the rider-manager Enzo Chiapello, has its headquarters in Rossano Veneto (Vicenza) a few kilometers away from Aprilia’s headquarters in Noale (Venice). The team was established in 2005, but 2011 is its crucial year, when, thanks to the arrival of Beppe Galante as technical manager of the team (former Aprilia’s racing section) a strong cooperation with Aprilia Racing starts. Enzo Chiapello, together with Giovanni Baggi, participates to the CIV SBK, both on Aprilia RSV4. In 2012, the Team signs in Alessio Corradi, expert racer in the Superpost World Championship. Alessio races on the Aprilia RSV4 in the Italian Championship Superstock 1000, together with Giovanni Baggi and Enzo Chiapello, both racing on the Aprilia RSV4 SBK. At the end of the season, Corradi finishes third in the Road Racing Italian Championship, Superstock 1000 category, winning the first round in Mugello. 2013 is a validating year. Alessio Corradi takes on the SBK together with his teammates Giovanni Baggi and Enzo Chiapello, all racing on the Aprilia RSV4. In 2014, the Team changes the leading racers, maintaining only the veteran Enzo Chiapello. The new racers are Ivan Clementi, former SBK World Championship racer, and the young racer Kevin Calia who, after becoming Moto3 Italian champion, closes his second season in the production-derived bikes main category at third place on the Aprilia RSV4. After several meetings, between the end of 2014 and the beginning of 2015, the cooperation between the Nuova M2 Racing Team and Aprilia Racing starts, when the team, after some wild cards in the Superstock 1000 FIM Cup with Kevin Calia, decides to tackle, for the first time, the entire production-derived bike championship Superstock 1000 FIM Cup with the rookie Kevin Calia (class of 1994) and the expert Lorenzo Savadori (class of 1993). The two Italian racers ride on the new RSV4 RF, evolution of the bike with 7 titles in the Superbike.
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From the left: Lorenzo Savadori and Kevin Calia

At the end of the championship, the team has scored 8 podiums out of 8 rounds, with Lorenzo Savadori leader of the championship, with 7 podiums. Kevin Calia becomes better round after round, racing for victory in Jerez de la Frontera and scoring the second place in Magny-Cours, proving he’s capable of fighting for the leading positions. In 2015, Alessando Andreozzi joins the team (class of 1991, born in Macerata) former SBK World Championship, who, together with Enzo Chiapello, competes in the Superbike Road Racing Italian Championship, both riding the Aprilia RSV4 RF.

  • Enzo Chiapello
  • Alessandro Andreozzi

Alessandro scores the podium 4 times, remaining at the top of the ranking, and closing the CIV SBK at 4th place. The Nuova M2 Racing team closes 2015 with the title of Superstock 1000 FIM Cup champion with Lorenzo Savadori that allows Aprilia to win the Superstock 1000 Manufacturer Championship.

INFO:
www.nuovam2racing.it

Racing
IN QATAR

APRILIA CLOSES THE 2015 SUPERBIKE SEASON
WITH A DOUBLE WIN

JORDI TORRES TAKES HIS FIRST WIN IN RACE1, LEON HASLAM AHEAD OF THE REST IN RACE2. APRILIA ON THE WORLD PODIUM: THIRD PLACE AMONG THE MANUFACTURERS

JORDI TORRES

LEON HASLAM

Losail (Qatar), 18 October 2015 – The Losail International Circuit hosted two decidedly exciting races. It was an all Aprilia triumph, with Jordi Torres sealing his first Superbike win in Race 1 and Leon Haslam winning Race 2. Well supported by his RSV4 RF, the Spanish rookie managed the first part of Race 1 well, maintaining his pace and paying particular attention to tire wear. This was the choice of a veteran which bore fruit at the end of the race when Jordi caught up his rivals one by one until finding himself in the lead six laps from the end. It was the position he would hold onto until the checkered flag came out. In Race 2, on the other hand, Torres crashed just two laps from the end as he was battling for the podium.

Leon Haslam was the protagonist in Race 2, after having to settle for sixth place in Race 1. Getting off the line well from the second row, Leon stayed in the lead group with a blinding pace (the fast lap he put on the sheets was 1’58.068) moving back and forth between first and second place. After a long duel with Davies, Haslam took advantage of his RSV4 RF's better acceleration to overcome his countryman and win his second race of the season. Leon Haslam finishes out the championship season in fourth place, followed by team mate Jordi Torres who was named best rookie of the season. Aprilia is third in the Manufacturer championship.

LEON HASLAM: THIS WIN IS THE JUST REWARD

Leon Haslam: “We knew that the Aprilia would be fast here, even if my weekend didn't get off to the best of starts. We worked hard to get back on track but unfortunately in Race 1 I had some trouble braking that caused me to stress the system as well as my arm, which suffered in the second part of the race. The changes we made before Race 2 turned things completely around. The RSV4 was working great and it wasn't difficult to maintain a good pace. I kept on attacking down to the end when I pushed hard to finish my season the way it had begun. We've had our ups and downs this season but we never let up. This win is the just reward.”

JORDI TORRES: MY TEAM, MY SECOND FAMILY

Jordi Torres: “I am really happy about the win in Race 1. Not only because of the personal result, which is fantastic, but for my team. I have found a second family with Aprilia. The guys worked hard all season to help me grow and learn the many new lessons of this championship. I knew I had a good pace, but I was sure that my rivals would not give up. At the last turn I expected Rea to attack and I decided to brake hard, staying on the inside. Incredibly, he braked even harder, but I had a better line and that let me stay ahead of him. Winning after a duel with the great names in the championship is something that I had always hoped for. It's a shame about Race 2. I didn't have the same feeling with the front and, pushing hard to stay in the lead group, I crashed.”

ROMANO ALBESIANO: “EVEN WITH THE NEW RULES, RSV4 IS EXTREMELY COMPETITIVE”

There could not have been a better conclusion for Aprilia in the SBK 2015 World Championship. Under the artificial lights of the Losail circuit, Qatar, Jordi Torres in Race 1 and Leon Haslam in Race 2 have scored a double victory for the Aprilia RSV4 RF. This was the second seasonal victory for Haslam, while, for the Spanish young man, it’s the first success in the championship that legitimizes him as best 2015 “Rookie”, since this is Jordi’s first season on the production-based bikes.

For the Venetian V4 bike, in its last RF version, this is the confirmation of an extraordinary competitiveness that has yielded, since the debut in 2009, seven World Titles, 42 victories and another 101 podiums. With the RSV4, Max Biaggi (in 2010 and 2012) and Sylvain Guintoli in 2014, have conquered the highest world title. The Manufacturer’s titles have been conquered in 2010, 2012, 2013 and 2014. This year, the RSV4 has extended its already extraordinary set of victories by competing for the first time in the entire Superstock 1000 FIM Cup, for more strictly mass-produced bikes, and conquering the Championship with the Italian rider Lorenzo Savadori.

Romano Albesiano (Aprilia Racing Manager) comments: “Aprilia has participated to the latest SBK seasons with the constant intent to fight for the world victory, often achieving it through the Racers and the Manufacturers. The main goal of the 2015 season, which has seen Aprilia’s participation to the MotoGP, was to maintain a fair level of presence in the category, by testing RSV4 RF’s competitiveness in compliance with the new rules.

JORDI TORRES ROMANO ALBESIANO LEON HASLAM

In Doha, we had the final proof that, in spite of the regulatory limitations, often aimed at our project, our RSV4 SBK has confirmed itself extremely competitive, and, on certain racecourses, it has clearly surpassed the competition. This was possible thanks to the crucial evolutions of the 2015 model, which has also allowed Aprilia to conquer the victory in the SSTK Championship.

In 2016, the focus of our efforts, as we have declared several times, will further move towards our commitment in the MotoGP. We’re sure that our RSV4 SBK, if we’ll have the chance to entrust it to an external Team, will still be able to compete to achieve the highest results”.
Racing
IN SEPANG

MALAYSIA MOTORCYCLE GRAND PRIX
BEST RACE OF THE SEASON FOR APRILIA

STEFAN BRADL FINISHING TENTH. ALVARO BAUTISTA ALSO FINISHES IN THE POINTS. ROMANO ALBESIANO: “WE ARE IMPROVING AND WE ARE CONFIDENT FOR NEXT SEASON”. IN VALENCIA, SPAIN, ON 8 NOVEMBER WILL RUNNING THE 18TH AND LAST GP OF THE 2015 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

Sepang (Malaysia), 25 October 2015 - With a nice weekend that he had begun during practice and qualifiers, Stefan Bradl rode his Aprilia RS-GP to a tenth place finish on the demanding Sepang track. Bautista also, despite problems with poor grip, finished in the points to contribute to the best weekend of the season for Aprilia Racing Team Gresini which finished the race taking tenth and fifteenth place.

After a very good start – Bradl moved into eighth on the first lap and Bautista fourteenth – the two riders joined the central group. After finding his pace in tenth place, Stefan battled skilfully, holding onto his position and finishing just behind the group that was battling for positions up to seventh place. Alvaro, with grip progressively worsening, was forced to give up fourteenth place just before the wire, in any case earning one championship point (the week before, at the Australian GP of Phillip Island, he had brought his Aprilia RS-GP in 14th place, gaining two points and reducing the gap behind the leaders; Bradl had closed 21st).

ROMANO ALBESIANO (Aprilia Racing Manager): “We are very pleased. This was our very best race of the year with the overall performance of both riders and for Stefan’s work in practice and especially in the race, where he took a brilliant placement, above all staying close to the second group and also staying ahead of some very talented rivals. It was a shame about Alvaro who was unable to solve his grip problems throughout the weekend. I’m thinking back to our first tests on this track and I can see that our bike has improved a lot. We have two excellent riders and all of this makes us confident for next season.”

FAUSTO GRESINI (Team Manager): “Stefan rode an incredible race. He really did well. We took a well deserved tenth place finish, especially since we crossed the wire very close the group of riders ahead of us. This is very satisfying and, thinking back over our progress, performance that shows just how far we have come in less than a year. Today we saw an important race which, besides Stefan’s good finish, had Alvaro finishing in the points despite some more difficulties compared to his team mate.”

STEFAN BRADL: “A GOOD RACE RESULT, MY THANK TO THE TEAM!”

“First of all I’d like to thank the team, Romano Albesiano and Fausto Gresini for believing in me and giving me this chance, especially after the disappointing first half of my season. I had already shown my potential various times in practice, but it took just a bit more time to come up with a concrete race result. Throughout the weekend everything went very well. We were able to find a good setup from the start and the entire team worked very well, as always. It’s nice to have been able to give them a good result in return, which they definitely deserve. It was a very long race for me. At the beginning I could have been very fast, but not enough to follow the riders ahead of me, so once I found myself on my own it was hard to stay focused and manage the gap over my rivals. I’m very happy. Finally a good race result!”

ALVARO BAUTISTA: “CONGRATULATIONS STEFAN!”

“This was a hard race for me because I wasn’t able to find the right setup. We tested a lot of things but I was never able to find a good feeling, so from this point of view it was the most difficult race yet. I also got off the line well but the front end kept closing up going into turns and when the tyres started to wear I had big problems with grip. It’s a shame because in recent races things had gone rather well. But now I want to thank the team for all the hard work they did for me and congratulate Stefan who had a great weekend and was very competitive in the race as well.”

Racing

STEFAN BRADL AND ALVARO BAUTISTA
WITH APRILIA IN MOTOGP FOR 2016

22 September 2015 – After an encouraging début this season where he familiarized himself quickly with the RS-GP, Stefan Bradl will be on the track with Aprilia in 2016 as well. Alongside Alvaro Bautista, the twenty-five year old German rider - Moto2 world champion in 2011 - will ride the Aprilia prototype which will be raced next season with the Aprilia Racing Team Gresini.

Born in the Bavarian city of Augsburg on 29 November 1989, Stefan Bradl made his début in the 125cc class of Grand Prix Motorcycle Racing in 2005. In 2008 he took two wins and finished the season fourth in the overall standings. In 2010 he moved to Moto2, a category where he was crowned World Champion in 2011 thanks to four wins. His rookie year in MotoGP came in 2012 astride a Honda, a bike which he would race for two more seasons, with a second place finish as his best result in the 2013 United States Grand Prix.

NEW ENTRY: THE TESTER SAM LOWES.Next season Sam Lowes will also be participating in development of the Aprilia MotoGP prototype as a tester. With Lowes – who will be participating in the 2016 Moto2 championship with Team Gresini – working with Aprilia Racing in the medium-term projects area, the British rider will be able to both develop the MotoGP prototype and get his feet wet with the performance and technical complexity of the highest category in the championship. All of this will lay the groundwork for Sam Lowes' participation in the 2017 MotoGP Championship season with Aprilia.

Sam Lowes (Lincoln, UK, born in 1990). Winner of the World Supersport Championship in 2013. Even his twin brother, Alex Lowes, runs as a professional driver.

ROMANO ALBESIANO (Aprilia Racing Manager): “Stefan Bradl came on board almost by chance, a result of the circumstances, but his change in bikes this season was a pleasant surprise for me. From the very start we found him to be a methodical and fast rider, extremely precise in his comments and therefore particularly suited for the delicate role of “race tester” that our rookie season requires. Precisely for this reason we wanted to continue working with him and now it's official. Stefan will work alongside Alvaro Bautista who will be in his second year with Aprilia. In this 2015 season Alvaro is providing a fundamental contribution to development of the RS-GP. With Alvaro and Stefan we have two excellent riders on our team with the right skills, professionalism and motivation to grow the Aprilia MotoGP project. For the work that will be done at Noale and by the test team we'll also be able to count on the contribution of a fast young rider like Sam Lowes who, along with his commitment in the Moto2 championship, will be working as our official tester."

FAUSTO GRESINI (Team Manager): “I'm pleased that Stefan will be staying with us next season. He has contributed a lot to Aprilia Racing and the entire team in developing our MotoGP project. The work he is doing now is important and it will be even more important next season when we'll have a completely new bike to develop. This makes up a great team, with Bradl and Bautista, fast riders, young but with a lot of MotoGP experience, both able to drive the entire team to find the best possible performance.”

STEFAN BRADL: ““I am really thankful for the great opportunity that Aprilia Racing Team Gresini gave me in the second half of the season. I would like to thank Romano Albesiano and Fausto Gresini for believing in me. At my first Grand Prix with Aprilia in Indianapolis I immediately felt really welcome by the whole team, I cannot really describe how professional everybody works in the team. I can say without a doubt that Aprilia is the best team I have raced with since starting my World Championship career. I have great support from my technical crew. I could tell from the first day that they really believe in me and I like the way they prepare and plan every session. Signing for 2016 gives me a lot of confidence for the upcoming races and it is great motivation to prepare for next season as best as possible. I know Aprilia has high expectations and I am confident that we have what it takes to be a consistent top ten contender for 2016. This must be our goal.”

Garage

PASSION AS A PROFESSION:
MOTO GUZZI CUSTOMISING SPECIALISTS TELL THEIR STORY

To make your V7 even more unique, just enter the extraordinary universe of Moto Guzzi genuine accessories and be inspired by four “styles” - Dapper, Dark Rider, Scrambler and Legend - which conjure up just as many reference worlds, which can be further multiplied without limits according to the taste and personality of every Guzzi fan. How can you choose? How can you mix styles and accessories to make your Guzzi V7 truly unique and personal? Get some hints from the stories of passion and creativity told by four purebred customising specialists.

TURN ON THE SPARK AND CUSTOMISE YOUR MOTO GUZZI

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INFO:
www.garagemotoguzzi.com/en

Stefan Bronold Jr. – Radical Guzzi, Schwarzenfeld - DAPPER

www.garagemotoguzzi.com/en/storia-dapper

A passion that was born in his home garage, screwing in the first bolts on the Le Mans III of his dad, which then grew into a lifestyle. Stefan Bronold Jr lives and work in his home town, Schwarzenfeld, in High Bavaria. It is here that he opened the Radical Guzzi workshop, where he customises Moto Guzzis on his own, following what he thinks of as a call more than a profession. For EICMA 2014, Stefan customised a brilliant Moto Guzzi with a Café Racer style (also exhibited at the Moto Guzzi Open House in Mandello del Lario).

INFO:
www.radicalguzzi.com

Filippo Barbacane – Rossopuro workshop, Pescara – DARK RIDER

www.garagemotoguzzi.com/en/storia-dark-rider

Filippo Barbacane has been customising Moto Guzzi bikes for 20 years in the Rossopuro workshops in Pescara, jealously taking care of each single stage of his work. His passion was born on the road, after the first bike journey, when he discovered the unique emotions you feel when you drive a Moto Guzzi. His working method does not involve any design: he starts working on the materials and continues day after day, following his inspiration. For EICMA 2014, Filippo customised a Moto Guzzi in Dark Rider style.

INFO:
www.officinerossopuro.it

Giuseppe Carucci – South Garage, Milan – SCRAMBLER

www.garagemotoguzzi.com/en/storia-scrambler

South Garage Motor Company was founded in Caggiano, in the province of Salerno, and it is its geographical connection that gives it its name. Born out of an idea of Giuseppe Carucci and his brother, this workshop was later moved to Milan, where it is currently operating. Some of the most important tenets of the South Garage philosophy are care for details, the significance of authenticity and the new value given to Italian craftsmanship, a true value added to each project. For EICMA 2014, South Garage customised a Moto Guzzi in Scrambler style.

INFO:
www.southgarage.com

Stefano Perego – Millepercento workshop, Verano Brianza – LEGEND

www.garagemotoguzzi.com/en/storia-legend

Authentically from Brianza, not just on paper but in his heart, Stefano Perego customises Moto Guzzis in his Millepercento workshop in Verano Brianza. His team of specialists, with whom he works every day, can manage end-to-end customisation projects complete independently. A passionate fan of film director Tim Burton and of his most popular character, Jack Skellington, Stefano created a Bellagio entirely inspired by the movie Jack is protagonist of. For EICMA 2014, Millepercento customised a Moto Guzzi in Legend style.

INFO:
www.millepercento.it

Garage

TWO AWARDS FOR MOTO GUZZI
“THE SPARK” AT THE LOVIE AWARDS 2015

“THE SPARK” CONCEPT – ONLINE AT GARAGEMOTOGUZZI.COM – BY DIGITASLBI, RECEIVED TWO AWARDS AT THE INTERNATIONAL CONTEST WHICH ASSIGNS THE MOST DESIRED AWARDS IN THE WORLD OF DIGITAL COMMUNICATION, CELEBRATING THE MOST ORIGINAL CREATIONS

THE LAUNCH PROJECT:

MGG TheSpark Cannes 2015
“The Spark” won the People’s Lovie Awards 2015 and also received the “Bronze” Award from the International Academy of Digital Arts & Sciences in the Online Advertising-Branded Content category. This multiple award-winning project by DigitasLBi for Moto Guzzi, dedicated to the customisation world, conquered two awards: the bronze medal assigned by the jury of the fifth edition of the Annual Lovie Award, and the much coveted People's Lovie, assigned by the votes of online users. The Lovie Awards are the most prestigious acknowledgment in the European digital world: almost 1,500 works from 30 countries took part to the this year’s competition. There were over 40,000 online voters and “The Spark” was the project that received most preferences overall in all categories.

The Spark – Commercials

“The Spark” not only tells the stories of Moto Guzzi but also - and above all - the stories of those who showed their love for the Mandello del Lario bikes to the point of dedicating their life to their customisation.
“The Spark” was selected and entered among the finalists by the Academy because it was believed to be one of the best works of its kind in Europe. A fortunate selection, which resulted in a double acknowledgement with the Bronze medal and, more importantly, the award from the online audience. Thank you to all Moto Guzzi fans who made this success possible by voting “The Spark”.

DISCOVER MORE ON:

www.garagemotoguzzi.com/it/the-spark

AWARD CEREMONY IN LONDON ON THE 12th OF NOVEMBER 2015. The fifth edition of the annual Lovie Awards, promoted by the International Academy of Digital Arts & Sciences has come to its final moments. The Academy assigns the Gold, Silver and Bronze awards to the winners, as well as the “People’s Lovie Award”, i.e. the award for the work that has been voted most by the Internet audience. Voting, which started on the 22nd of September, was closed on the 8th of October. The winners were announced on the 13th of October and will receive their awards in London on the 12th of November, during the 5th Annual Lovie Awards Event at “The British Film Institute”, Southbank.

INFO:
www.lovieawards.eu
Vintage
WORLD RALLY

MOTO GUZZI SPORT 15
CELEBRATED IN TUSCANY

With their roaring engines, old-look style and retro details, vintage Moto Guzzi motorbikes are an object of fascination for many people. One such two-wheeler is the Sport 15 model: the “Clan del Volano” has published a book on this motorcycle – “Sport 15 - istantanee di una passione” [Sport 15 - snapshots of a passion] – whose success confirms the lively interest this historic veteran bike, produced in Mandello del Lario from 1931 to 1939, continues to attract. So, after the surprising response of Guzzi bikers from all over the world to the first event, organised in 2013 (in Fiorenzuola d’Arda, Piacenza), this year saw an encore with the “2nd Moto Guzzi Sport 15 World Rally”, held on 20 September “under the Tuscan sun”. Take a look at the splendid gallery of photos by Carlo Franchi.

Paolo Rossi from the “Clan del Volano”, which organised the rally, says: “We started off in the province of Pisa: from San Miniato (famous for its white truffles) we headed for the Etruscan town of Volterra, where we stopped for a break. Here our Guzzi bikes attracted much admiration from the public, while we enjoyed an aperitif in the historic Piazza dei Priori.


San Miniato (Pisa)


Piazza dei Priori-Priori’s square, Volterra (Pisa)

“During the return journey, we stopped in Montaione – a hilltop village located in beautiful scenery in the province of Florence – and had lunch, sampling a selection of local wines and gastronomic specialities.

“In the afternoon, we returned to San Miniato. Taking part in the rally were 115 Moto Guzzi Sport 15 bikes (and more than 250 devotees, wearing clothes and accessories from the 1930-40s, ed.). During the journey along the winding roads through the Tuscan hills, only five bikes ‘succumbed’ to exhaustion, while the other 110 sprightly two-wheelers successfully completed the tour”. Confirmation of the Sport 15’s legendary fame as a virtually tireless and indestructible motorcycle.
Every self-respecting rally has an award-presentation ceremony: for the record, prizes were presented to the organisers (Sandro Laici, Claudio Bonalberti, Purification Valiente); other tributes went to Pino Todero, an engineer and expert Moto Guzzi restorer, son of the great Umberto, who designed the 8-cylinder Moto Guzzi; and to Balzarotti, son of postwar Italian champion rider Ferdinando. An award was also presented to the rider who had made the longest journey to take part in the rally: the courageous Michael from Canada.
“The rally achieved ‘world’ status with bikers coming in from Brazil, the Netherlands and Germany,” concludes Paolo Rossi. “There was a large Italian contingent from across the country, from Sicily to the Aosta Valley. The rally was a unique event in the history of Italian vintage motorcycling: nobody had ever seen so many Sport 15s together in one place, not even when they were being manufactured in Mandello more than 84 years ago!”

The icing on the cake for Guzzi fans is that the organisers are already planning the next event: the 3rd Moto Guzzi Sport 15 World Rally will be held in 2017, in Piedmont’s historic Langhe area (recently added to the UNESCO World Heritage list).

INFO:
www.clandelvolano.it

Anniversary

1895-2015: 120 YEARS OF CINEMA



THE LUMIÈRE BROTHERS’ FIRST PUBLIC SCREENING WAS IN PARIS. IN THE MOVIES, MOTO GUZZI HAS APPEARED WITH EVERYONE FROM 007 TO DIRTY HARRY, FROM FELLINI TO BENIGNI


THE PIONEERS
The first motion picture seen by the public, and for this reason regarded as the starting point in the history of cinema, 120 years ago, was “Employees leaving the Lumière factory” (original title: La Sortie de l'Usine Lumière). With a running time of 45 seconds, shot by French brothers Auguste and Louis Lumière, it shows a group of workers leaving the company factory on the outskirts of Lyon. It was one of ten films shown at the first public cinema screening, on 28 December 1895, in the Salon Indien of the Grand Café on the Boulevard des Capucines in Paris. At the event, the Lumière brothers presented their patented cinématographe, a machine that could project on to a white screen a sequence of separate images recorded on a photographically printed film, giving the effect of motion. A few years earlier, in 1889, Thomas Edison had developed a motion picture camera (the Kinetograph) and a peep-hole viewer (the Kinetoscope): the camera was used to take a series of photographs in rapid succession on a 35 mm film, while the viewer enabled the sequence of images to be watched as a motion picture, by one person at a time. The Lumière brothers had the idea of projecting films, so that the show could be seen by large numbers of spectators. Cinematographic film was invented 130 years ago: it dates back to 1885 and was the brainchild of George Eastman, while the first filmed material (of a group of friends walking in a garden) is Roundhay Garden Scene, a 2-second film recorded on 14 October 1888 by Louis Aimé Augustin Le Prince.

120 YEARS IN THREE MINUTES
The Spanish production company Tandem Entertainment made this video, which, in just over three minutes, traces the main stages in cinematography over the last 120 years. Try identifying the titles of the films (a list is provided at the end of the video).

120 years watching movies together


MOTO GUZZI IN THE MOVIES
Moto Guzzi first appeared in the movies in the 1940s and the immediate postwar period, in a number of Italian neo-realism films such as “An American in Rome” (1954) with Alberto Sordi, directed by Stefano Vanzina (Steno). In those years, the Falcone, Airone and Alce motorcycles – used by the police and the army – often appeared in contemporary films, ridden by soldiers, policemen, traffic wardens, or by light infantry bersaglieri riding the Alce in “El Alamein”.



In Steno’s “The Overtaxed” (1959), starring Totò and Aldo Fabrizi, a splendid Moto Guzzi GTV with sidecar appears. In “Don Camillo and the Hon. Peppone” (1955) with Fernandel and Gino Cervi, a Moto Guzzi Sport 14 with sidecar can be seen, while Luciano Salce’s “The Fascist” (1961) with Ugo Tognazzi and George Wilson features a Moto Guzzi S, again with sidecar. Moto Guzzi bikes could also be seen over the following years in a number of films from famous directors: “The Traffic Policeman” (1960) by Luigi Zampa, with the lead role of the incorruptible and obnoxious traffic policeman played by Alberto Sordi riding a Falcone Sport; “Accattone” by Pier Paolo Pasolini (1961; in his 1962 movie “Mamma Roma” with Anna Magnani, Pasolini used a Gilera Giubileo 150 motorcycle); Federico Fellini’s “Rome” (1972) and “City of Women” (1980); in the latter, the protagonist played by Marcello Mastroianni is driven around on a Super Alce 500 ridden by a woman. In “The Road”, also by Fellini, a Moto Guzzi Ercole pick-up appears (in “The Clowns”, 1971, Fellini chose a Gilera Saturno with sidecar). The MG Ercole can also be seen in “The Girls of San Frediano” (1955).


Moto Guzzi motorbikes soon left Italy and headed for the USA. The California bikes were at home in Hollywood in the 1970s and 1980s, when the splendid Italian two-wheelers were used by the American police A procession of police officers riding California bikes appears in the opening scenes of “Octopussy” (1983) starring Roger Moore, while a decade earlier Sean Connery was seen on the saddle of a V7 backstage on the set of film “Diamonds are Forever” (1971). Carabinieri riding Moto Guzzi bikes also appear in Roberto Benigni’s masterpiece “Life is Beautiful” (1997, winner of three Oscars).


Thirty-six years separate these two photos: 1971, Sean Connery (Edinburgh, 1930) backstage during the making of “Diamonds are forever”, immortalised in the saddle of the V7 California – a standard issue bike for US police forces at the time; 2007, Ewan McGregor (Perth, 1971), guest of honour at the international “World Moto Guzzi Days” rally at Mandello del Lario, astride a California Vintage (Source: Wide Piaggio Magazine, march 2010).

In more recent years, Moto Guzzi motorcycles have appeared in important films such as “Captain Corelli’s Mandolin” (2001) directed by John Madden, with Nicholas Cage and Penelope Cruz. Bersaglieri were once more in the saddle of Moto Guzzi Alce bikes in Enzo Monteleone’s war film “El Alamein – The Line of Fire” (2002), winner of three David di Donatello awards; the MG V7 was ridden by Sergio Castellitto “Caterina in the Big City” (2003) directed by Paolo Virzì. Guzzi motocycles also appear in the US police drama “Life”, broadcast by NBC from 2007-2009 and the main European networks. A few years ago, the Italian TV drama “All Stars” included the Stelvio and the V7 Classic. The Guzzi Griso SE was glimpsed in episodes of the TV film “Person of Interest”, say friends of the GrisoGuzzi.it blog, who also report Bruce Willis on the Griso in a scene of “The Surrogates” (2009).
Among the most recent appearances, the Moto Guzzi 1000 S co-starred in Eric Tretbar’s “Girl Meets Bike” (2012).

GIRL MEETS BIKE movie trailer



V7: WHAT AN ACTRESS: A COLLECTION OF TITLES FROM CILINDRI ITALIANI
Cilindri Italiani, the Moto Guzzi V7 Club Italia website, has collected the titles of the films in which the V7 appears. The total is more than 50, from Italy and abroad, on TV and in the cinema. This is the work of a true devotee, and offers some unexpected surprises. Here’s the list: Sabato, domenica e venerdì (1979); Mani di velluto (1979); The Fall Guy, Ep. 1.04 (1981); The Fall Guy, Ep. 1.14 (1982); Night Train Murders (1975); Italia a mano armata (1976); La faille (1974); Il Presidente del Borgorosso Football Club (1970); Trastevere (1971); Il Gatto Mammone (1975); La moglie più bella (1970); Io sono un autarchico (1976); Sette Note in Nero (1977).

Moto Guzzi V7 Collection - Vol. 8


The Outfit (1973); Waiting for Fidel (1974); Larga noche de Julio (1974); La poliziotta a New York (1981); La poliziotta (1974); Rats - Notte di terrore (1984); Troppo forte (1986); La califfa (1971); La donna della domenica (1975); La orca (1976); The Infidel (2010).

Moto Guzzi V7 Collection - Vol. 7


Scuola di ladri (1986); Ecce Bombo (1978); Der Kommissar - "Schwierigkeiten eines Außenseiters " - Ep. 78 (1974).

Moto Guzzi V7 Collection - Vol. 6


Le fantôme de la liberté (1974); Night on Earth (1992); Escape to Witch Mountain (1975); Starsky & Hutch - "La ragazza di Starsky", Series 2 Ep.19 (1976); Viuuulentemente mia (1982); Cannonball (1976); Un Prophète (1968).

Moto Guzzi V7 Collection - Vol. 6


Octopussy (1983); Jake 2.0 - "Guardia del corpo" - Series 1 Ep.11 (2003); Warrior of the Lost World (1983); Thank God it’s Friday (1978).

Moto Guzzi V7 Collection - Vol. 4


L'ingorgo - Una storia impossibile (1979); Year of the Gun (1991); Baretta - Serie 1 Ep. 6 (1975); Assault on Precinct 13 (1976); Le Clan des Siciliens (1969); The Car (1977); Identikit (1974); Gräsänklingar (1982); Hooper (1978); Harold and Maude (1971).

Moto Guzzi V7 Collection - Vol. 2


Caterina va in città (2003); The Electric Horseman (1979); Milano odia: la polizia non può sparare (1974); Magnum Force (1973).

INFO:
www.motoguzzi-v7club.it
People

USA: DAVEY G. JOHNSON
AN EXPERIMENT IN MOTORCYCLING

“Year of the Goose” is West Coast editor Davey G. Johnson’s dive into the two-wheeled world, writing for “Car and Driver” magazine. Spending a year on a Moto Guzzi V7 Stone, Davey is exploring life with a bike as a new rider, talking about motorcycles and culture and ultimately figuring out how riding can help you be a batter car driver.


Photography by Davey G. Johnson

He called it “Year of the Goose”, an “experiment in motorcycling”: learning to ride a bike and dedicating a whole year to this feat. It’s an idea of the American journalist Davey G. Johnson, who publishes his relationship with the world of bikes as a new rider, in episodes on the acclaimed “Car and Driver” magazines, specifically his experience on a Moto Guzzi V7, an experience that started in January and is still ongoing. But why did he chose specifically a Moto Guzzi? He explains why in the first installment, telling of his boyhood passion for BMX push bikes in the late 1980s and of his school mate Robert, who broadened Davey’s “mechanized world”: not just bicycles and cars, but also bikes.


Photography by Davey G. Johnson

Robert was a bit of a daredevil, he loved running on a bicycle, unfazed by falls, scratches and band-aids. Davey says that during junior high, Robert “had amassed more stitches than an NHL player, yet he shook it off every time and kept going. I have a feeling his dad never got around to fixing Robert’s ratty Mini Trail because he was afraid it’d be the end of his hapless son. That crapcan bike was Robert’s favorite thing in the world. He’d get on and I’d push him around the yard. Once, we accidentally got it started. He was so excited that he immediately inadvertently killed the bike. We never did get it to run again. “But Dad!” he’d protest. “It just needs starting fluid!”. “You got starting fluid on the brain, Robert.” was his answer. Robert also had Moto Guzzis on the brain. I don’t recall him ever spouting off specific models, though I know he loved the Guzzi police bikes.


Moto Guzzi V7 (Los Angeles Police Department), 1968-1969.

The Mandello del Lario firm’s 1970s glory days still held a warm glow for those who weren’t swept up by the Honda Hurricanes and Kawasaki Ninjas taking over the streets in the mid-1980s. Guzzis, to Robert, were just utterly emblematic of motorcycle cool. And since Robert knew a lot more about motorcycles than I did, I decided they were cool, too.”


Moto Guzzi California 850, United States, 1972.

Then Davey tells that, as an adult, he “had thought about getting a bike for years... But for one reason or another—lack of money, lack of decent health insurance, a disapproving significant other—I never got around to doing it. But over the years, I noticed that the guys who rode motorcycles could also drive. So when I arrived at Car and Driver last spring, I started considering my slowness relative to some of our resident shoes—august speedsters like Tony Quiroga, Don Sherman, and Aaron Robinson... Given this publication’s legacy, I felt it was my duty to be faster, surer, and better. Why not see what riding a motorcycle for a year teaches me? So I sent Moto Guzzi an email. Since Piaggio purchased Italy’s oldest continuously operating motorcycle concern, they’ve had somewhat of a resurgence in the States. Guzzi quickly agreed to my damn-fool proposition and offered me the use of a 2015 V7 Stone for a year. It’s their bestselling model, the sort of machine one can learn on and then grow with a bit. Especially if one lacks Kenny Roberts aspirations. Conveniently, I lack Kenny Roberts aspirations.”


Moto Guzzi V7 Stone, 2014

2014 Moto Guzzi V7 Stone Walkaround
Davey continues: “Powered by Guzzi’s long-running small-block engine, the V7 is a modest machine, rated at 50 horsepower and weighing 395 pounds. Under the iconic flared tank sits a 744-cc air-cooled V-twin splayed sideways, spinning the rear wheel via driveshaft. Like something Robert would’ve liked. Like something I could’ve ridden to the Sacramento Mile to watch Mert Lawwill race back in 1969. The sort of bike where a jaunt in the rolling hills at the western edge of the Sierra Nevada would invariably be soundtracked by squawnking clarinet, airy trumpet, and smooth, smooth Fender Jazz Bass.”
The journalist goes on to tell his feelings on the eve of the delivery of the motorcycle, starting from his gear: “a helmet in eye-searing fluorescent yellow, a sharp leather jacket and armored pants, as well as a pair of winter gloves, lightweight gloves, and casual boots. I also picked up a jacket, a three-layer adventure-oriented monstrosity on clearance at my local big-box motorcycle-gear retailer, and a pair of bulky waterproof boots.” “So equipped, I went and took my written test at the DMV and signed up for the Motorcycle Safety Foundation’s Basic Rider Course, the completion of which allowed me to get my motorcycle license without taking the state’s skills test.”
I thought to myself, “Well, if I scare the bejeezus out of myself, there’s no shame in admitting defeat. It’ll make for a good story and I can just give the bike back to Guzzi with an apology.”... Thus, the Davey’s Year of the Goose began. “Over the next 12 months, I’ll knock around the world of motorcycles and hopefully figure out how riding can help you as a driver. Expect tomfoolery, hare-brained schemes, camaraderie, spills, travel, and a lot of pictures of the little Verde Guzzi in interesting places throughout the American West. And Robert, if you happen to run across this piece? Thanks, man. It only took me 30 years or so, but I get it now. I totally get it.


Photography by Davey G. Johnson

At the end of each episode (the first was published in January, the second in April, the third in September), the journalist adds some reflections, such as these, at the beginning of this “experiment in motorcycling”:
What I learned: Got a deferred dream? You might as well do something about that, bub. You’re not getting any younger.
Don’t do what I did: If you think you want a motorcycle, don’t wait until you’re pushing 40 to get around to trying it out. Injuries heal faster when you’re younger.

In the second episode he tells of the typical mistakes of “rookies” at the riding course, of his success on the final test, of the arrival of the Moto Guzzi V7 and of his first tours on the bike on “the back roads and trying to stay out of traffic. So I’d meander out Auburn-Folsom Road, then putter up State Route 49 out toward Placerville”, with its unexpected events and potholes, riding in the dark and under the rain, with fear and determination. Basically all that a true rider faces!


Photography by Davey G. Johnson

Reflections after the second episode.
What I learned: On a motorcycle, relaxation is not just an asset, it’s a necessity.
Don’t do what I did: If a storm’s coming, don’t think you can outrun it. Go ahead and dress for it.


Photography by Davey G. Johnson

In the third episode, life gets hard for the new rider Davey: misadventures (the mirror of the bike falls off) and desire to travel freely, between the delta of the Sacramento river, Highway 12, the difficult road section between the Montezuma Hills and Suisun City, then Bodega Bay and Napa County, facing the concrete risk of hypothermia.


Photography by Davey G. Johnson

“I was still new and learning by trial and error, I was scared but I was always determined to come to a day where everything would go smoothly. To come to a day when being on a bike would not be a continuous fight. I was strangely convinced that that day would have come, I just didn’t know when”, comments Davey, who is turning out to be an exceptionally determined and brave rider-apprentice.


Photography by Davey G. Johnson

Reflections after the third episode.
What I learned: Tension and uncertainty are the bane of the motorcyclist. But if you are confident that confidence will come, confidence will come.
Don’t do what I did: Avoid holding the bars in a death grip. The most valuable piece of advice I’ve heard related to this is to hold onto the grips as if they were baby birds.


Photography by Davey G. Johnson

MORE ON “CAR AND DRIVER”:

Waiting for the next episode, here are the links to the original articles by Davey G. Johnson.

FIRST:
blog.caranddriver.com/year-of-the-goose-part-1-an-experiment-in-motorcycling

SECOND:
blog.caranddriver.com/year-of-the-goose-part-2-educational-anxiety-and-rattlesnake-bar

THIRD:
blog.caranddriver.com/year-of-the-goose-part-3-the-graceless-art-of-crashing-in-the-rain
Adventure

WHERE THE GUZZINO V35 II HAS VENTURED TO:
CARLO ALBERTO DUÈ IN MOSCOW

FROM TUSCANY EASTWARD, CROSSING RUSSIA TO REACH SAINT PETERSBURG AND RETURNING THROUGH FINLAND: 7,500 KILOMETERS, THREE SUMMER WEEKS RIDING THE VINTAGE MOTO GUZZI, AMONG BREATHTAKING LANDSCAPES AND AMAZING ROADS. AND NOW HE LONGS FOR A STELVIO 1200 NTX

It’s hard to keep him at rest: Carlo Alberto Dué is greatly passionate about traveling and motorcycles. We already met him in 2011, when he tackled the most extreme winter motorcycle raid, the “Kristal Rally”, in Norway, that takes place in February. He participated riding a maxi scooter Piaggio MP3 250, together with his friend Alessandro Matteoni, on a Gilera Fuoco 500, and the photographer Valerio Carpini. The “crazy challenge” then was to prove to the rider community that it was possible to reach Gol, in the deep Norway North, on Krystall Lake, even riding a scooter. The Mototeram bike dealer, in Pisa, sponsored the raid and the three travelers rode for 3,000 kilometers under harsh conditions, among icy roads and wind storms, at temperatures between 15 and 30 Celsius degrees below zero. It should have been enough, right? Absolutely not. Here’s the last adventure of Carlo Alberto in Russian territory.

THE JOURNEY: EASTBOUND

Carlo, known as “Carlone” (a well-deserved superlative due to his body size, congeniality and adventurous spirit), this summer has gotten on his beloved and glorious vintage Moto Guzzi B35 II (the model known as “Guzzino”) and, with his friend Paolo on another motorcycle, they took off heading to Russia, counting on the great support of the Moto Guzzi Club “Aquile Etrusche”, based in Venturina Terme (Province of Livorno), the beautiful place where Carlone lives (41 years old, native to Pisa). He had announced the trip to Wilde’s newsroom, asking for references on Muscovite dealers to which turn to in case of technical difficulties. From April 2015, the new Aprilia and Moto Guzzi importer for Moscow is Motorro LLc.: Mr. Ilkov and his team were alerted, just in case, but, thanks to Carlone’s “lucky star”, his old and resistant Guzzino did not need any technical assistance.
Carlo Alberto says, “My friend Paolo and I have had in mind this journey for years, Eastbound: to Vladivostok, and from there to Japan, where some friends were waiting for us; but once we reached Moscow, we ran out of resources and we had to reluctantly head back.” The outward journey: Venturina/Tuscany, Austria, Czech Republic, Poland (with stop at Auschwitz), Lithuania and then we entered the Russian territory from Latvia, finally reaching Moscow after 4,000 km and continuing to the beautiful St. Petersburg.”
A thrifty baggage (jacket, pants, gloves, and Moto Guzzi branded shirts), helmet and a providential spare wheel (that saved them after a punctured tire). Maximum average speed 110 km/h, 600 km traveled each day and, at dusk, a “base camp” in low-cost hostels or pensions. “Usually, it rains a lot in Russia during summer, but we were lucky: a wonderful and windy weather, with an average temperature of 25 Celsius degrees. While heading back, we cut by land through Finland, then we took a ferry from Helsinki to Lubecca, and we continued to Berlin, where we stopped to see some friends, and then to Nuremberg and back home, after three wonderful weeks, and a honorary stop – before heading back to Tuscany – at Mandello del Lario, the land of Moto Guzzi”.

THE MOTORCYCLE: THE INCREDIBLE GUZZINO

Carlo Alberto continues: “My Guzzino managed just fine. Only in the stretch between Moscow and Saint Petersburg, the transmission had some issues: a mechanic welded a spare piece and didn’t ask for any money in return, as he was so surprised to be working on a Moto Guzzi. Which has drawn attention to itself everywhere, with the other riders we met on the road that greeted us in a friendly way (I even saw a Moto Guzzi Griso and I was really moved). It is customary in the rider community to greet each other at a distance of one kilometer before passing each other; but some Russians (who, considering the weather, may only use their motorcycles for two months a year, and really use them a lot, in those two months), have even escorted us while exiting Moscow (we only had a map and no GPS!). We wrongly thought that they would be unwelcoming, and we couldn’t be more wrong. And then, another pleasant surprise: Russia is rather inexpensive: 7 euro for a full tank of petrol, and just as much for a complete meal. The most amazing things were the places we saw, traveling amidst untamed nature.” The greater challenge? “The major roads are free, but at night-time they’re very dangerous, you never know which obstacles you may find on your path. Major issues were the “devastating” works in progress, with differences in height between the lanes up to 25 centimeters, can you imagine the Guzzino tacking them? Consider also that I’m 1.95 meters high and I weight 180 kg, I was afraid that the frame would crumble on those drops. But it made it, overcoming atrocious strains.”
THE EAGLE BRAND, A FAMILY PASSION

Test and school bus driver, Carlone inherited his passion for the two wheels from his grandfathers: “My paternal grandfather, Otello, was a Piaggio technician and used to fine-tune the wonderful PX engines; my maternal grandfather was a Guzzi fan and had a MG Airone 250; you can truly say that the eagle from Mandello has always been hovering above our family.” Carlone continues: “I alway had a desire to cross borders; since my first bike trip in high school till today, I have been on a bike for 25 years”. In these two decades, Duè – who never owned a car – travelled many km, taking part to some extreme bike meeeting: “Since I was 18, I travelled across Europe with the Guzzi Le Mans 1 (known as “the elderly”) of my uncle; other trips were on the MG V11 Sport first series and then the MG Daytona 1000 to Cape North in 2008, and twice to the Isle of Man in 2007 and 2011, to watch the legendary Tourist Trophy race. In the meantime the Guzzino of my dad Luciano (dating to 1985, its 350cc engine reached 250,000 km: while still running, it was fatigued, so we “overhauled” it with a 500cc engine) moved from “second bike” to first bike of choice for my trips, without ever stopping being my day-to-day means of transport”.
On the Guzzino, Carlone has also been to the Elenfantentreffen (famous winter motorcycle raid) in 2008; in 2010, to the motorcycle raids in France and to the Sziget Sound Festival, which takes place each year on the Óbudai-Sziget island (in the middle of the Danube), in Budapest, Hungary; then another two tough Elephant Raids, in 2010 and 2015. “My V35 never stops, is always on the road. Its quality: the constructional simplicity, you always get by, I always trusted my vehicle, from the original 350 cc to the revamping to 500 cc.” Only in 2009, the Guzzino was not with him for the “coast to coast” trip in USA, with a rented motorcycle, pursuing the Easy Rider myth. “The Americans, when they discovered that I was Italian, always mentioned the national brands as Moto Guzzi and Aprilia, and I was very happy and proud.”
DREAMING OF THE MOTO GUZZI STELVIO NTX

Carlone admits, “From this trip, I came back with the desire of a Guzzi Stelvio, a no-limit motorcycle, with which I could go anywhere. Before taking off, my friend Antonio Paparo (owner of the Venturina dealer “Non solo moto”, also headquarters of the Moto Guzzi Club Aquile Etrusche) said so, “Carlone, with the Guzzino you’ll go and even manage to come back, but after 200 km, you’ll long for a Stelvio.” And he was right!”.
In September, after his trip, we met Carlo Alberto Duè in Pontedera, during a visit to the Piaggio Museum. Carlone confirms, “I love the Guzzino, but I really ‘need’ a Moto Guzzi Stelvio 1200 NTX to continue my travels. During the last Russian raid (a lot of traffic, especially of trucks, due to the scarcity of railroads), I understood the meaning of the enduro to tackle all the road, even the unpaved roads; there I saw the road motorcycles suffer, while the enduros, even when chuck-full of luggage, yet resistant and with suitable sizes, overcame any challenge and nothing could stop them, not even 25-centimeter lane drops!”

Community

MOTO GUZZI WORLD CLUB:
FRIENDS OF THE EAGLE AROUND THE WORLD

Passion for Moto Guzzi is as old as the company itself, established 94 years ago. Over the decades, countless Guzzi biker clubs have been formed, and many have become members of the Moto Guzzi World Club, officially established through a decision of the Moto Guzzi company on 5 December 2002 (the members of the first steering committee were Mario Arosio, President; Alis Agostini, owner of the Agostini dealership in Mandello del Lario; Stefano Bonacina, President of the Moto Guzzi Club Mandello del Lario; Bruno Scola, owner of the dealership in Carate Brianza). The current committee members are Mario Arosio, Philip Chircop, Paolo Racano, Michele Sfratta, Massimo Vasquez-Giuliano. The MGWC currently has about 60 Italian and international associates, with thousands of members and sympathisers. Apart from these clubs, dozens of other clubs operate around the world, some devoted to a specific model, such as the fans of the Griso or the vintage Sport 15 of the Clan del Volano. Not to mention the innumerable blogs dedicated to the eagle brand. In other words, there is no limit to people’s love for Mandello bikes. Every year, the MGWC organises closely followed rallies and trophies: Trofeo Moto Guzzi (a track trophy, at the best Italian racetracks); Mondo Moto Guzzi, which includes V7 Day; the Area Mediterranea rally, an exploration of locations and cultures in Italy and abroad; the MGWC also cooperates in the organisation of the Moto Guzzi Open House events in Mandello.

MOTO GUZZI WORLD CLUB 2014

Vintage Guzzi

Below is a brief round-up of the clubs that currently belong to the Moto Guzzi World Club: they organise journeys, rallies and convivial meetings and take part in the official Moto Guzzi events. Contacts on the web and the social networks.

IN ITALY. “Moto Guzzi V7 Club Italia – Cilindri Italiani” is a group of fans of the legendary Guzzi V7 formed in 1999 (base: Bagnocavallo, Ravenna). The “Moto Guzzi Club Galli Cisalpini”, established in 2000, is based in Collegno (Turin). Another Piedmontese club, in Turin, is “Manipolo Guzzista”. “MGC Salerno Aquila Felix”: formed in 2007 in Mercato San Severino (Salerno). “Quelli del California”, consisting largely of followers of the California, set up in 2014 in Caserta. Another young group is “Anonima Guzzista” formed in 2012 in Sanremo.

The “Guzzi Club Easyriders” was created in Caiazzo (Caserta) in 2004. The no-profit motorcycling association “Aquile dello Ionio” was formed in 2010, in Nunziata di Mascali (Catania). The “1000 SPIII Group” brings together owners of the “legendary tourer” from Mandello, who have their own blog. The “Aquile Aretusee” club was set up in cooperation with the Siracusa Motorsud dealership. The “Guzzisti dell’Etna” meet in Acireale (Catania). The “Moto Guzzi Bari Club” was formed in 2008, in the capital of the region of Apulia. “Stormo Guzzista Pescara” was formed in 2011 in Montesilvano (Pescara). The “V7 Touring Club” was created in 2011 in Avezzano, Abruzzo, and the “Motor Bike Guzzi Club” in 1996 in Senago (Milan). The “Moto Guzzi Roma” club has been active in the capital since 2003. The “Moto Guzzi Club Capo di Leuca” since 2010, in Alessano (Lecce). The “MGWC Rimini” since 2003. The “Motoclub Le Aquile Palermo” was formed in 2003 in the Sicilian capital. The “Triangolo delle Aquile Guzzi Club” in Lucca Versilia Garfagnana was formed in 2001, and meets in Viareggio (Lucca). “Moto Guzzi Club Vizzolo” has been meeting in Vizzolo (Milan) since 1992, the “Guzzi Club Motosport Zingoni” since 2001 in Empoli (Florence). The “Aquile Sannite” eagles have been flying since 2008, in San Salvatore Telesino (Benevento). The “Moto Guzzi Club Campo dei Galli” was formed in 1994 (Campogalliano, Modena). The “Aquile nel Delta” is the MG section of the MC Delta F.M.I. (2008, Migliarino, Ferrara). The “Aquile Etrusche Moto Guzzi Club” has been in Venturina (Livorno) since 1998. The “Aquile del Conero” in Ancona since 2007. “Anima Guzzista” in Capriate San Gervasio (Bergamo) since 2001. The “Guzzi Club Reggio Calabria” was formed in the Calabrian capital in 1994. The “Guzzi Club Dolomitico” was established in 1994, in Appiano sulla Strada del Vino (Bolzano). The “Aquile della notte” in 2003, Forlimpopoli (Forlì). The “Aquile del Seprio” in 2002, Cardano al Campo (Varese).

ABROAD. The “Squadra Guzzista” is about to celebrate 10 years of activity; formed in 2006, it meets in Rochester, Kent, UK. The “Penya Guzzi Cat” club is even older, founded in 1998 in Llica D'Amunt, Barcelona, Spain. In Malta, the “Moto Guzzi Malta Club” was created in 2009 in Attard.

The “Moto Guzzi Klub Danmark” was formed back in 1981 (34 years ago!) and is based in Hvalsoe, Denmark. Denmark’s other club, the “Moto Guzzi Danmark”, is younger, formed in 2012 in Hareskovby. The “Moto Guzzi Club Paderborn” is ready to celebrate its silver anniversary, having been formed in 1991 in Bentfeld NRW, Germany. Veteran “Moto Guzzi Club Belgium” was formed in 1981, in Oud Turnhout Antwerp, Belgium. The “Moto Guzzi Club Albania” of Tirana was set up in 2011. In the Czech Republic, the “Moto Guzzi Bohemia” was established in 2006.

6° Moto Guzzi Club Bohemia
The “MK Moto Guzzi Slovenia” club of Ljubljana was formed in 1999. France’s “Les Amis Guzzistes” have been meeting since 2010 in Villebon sur Yvette, IDF. The “Hellenic MG Club” was formed 20 years ago in 1995 in Athens. Greece also has the “Guzzisti Hellas” club formed in 2012 in the Greek capital. “GuzziTube” was established in 2008 in Tonbridge, Kent, United Kingdom. In Switzerland, the “Guzzi Fan Leman” club was formed in 1988 in Lausanne Romandie. The “Guzzi Club Poland”, formed in 2002 in Warsaw, operates nationwide, as does the “Moto Guzzi Finland Group”, formed back in 1982 in Hyvinkaa. The “España Moto Guzzi Club” began activities in 1996 in Zaragoza. “Amicale Motoguzzistes” is a French club based in Les Settons Monsauche, active since 1990. In Australia, the “Moto Guzzi Club of Victoria” has been in Collingwood, Victoria, since 1981, the “Moto Guzzi Club of Queensland” in Albion since 1982, and the “Italian Motorcycle Club Tasmania” since 1996. In New Zealand, “IMOC.NZ.inc” has been active in Auckland since 1979 (“Bike Italian”: Italian Motorcycle Owners Club NZ” (36 years of activity!). In Japan, the “Moto Guzzi Owner’s Club Japan” in Suginami-ku Tokyo, was formed in 1985 (30 years ago!). In Malibu, California, the “GuzziTech.com” club was formed in 2001.

SOURCE AND INFO:
www.motoguzziworldclub.it

“THE CLAN”: BOUNDLESS PASSION

In the previous issue of Wide (no. 4-2015), we devoted this feature to “The Clan”: the official worldwide community “where true bikers share their pride in being Guzzi bikers; and have preferential access to the Moto Guzzi world”. The community was launched with great success at last year’s Moto Guzzi Open House. At the 2015 Open House, it celebrated its first birthday, and an impressive increase in the numbers of new members.

INFO:
www.theclan.motoguzzi.com

FORTHCOMING EVENTS AND RALLIES

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THE BEST VIDEOS OF THIS ISSUE

BAJA:
THE APRILIA CAPONORD 1200 ABS ACCORDING TO MOTOGEO

American Jamie Robinson of MotoGeo, the author of exciting videos about engines and motorcycles (adventurous rides, tests and comparisons), has made a great video about the Aprilia Caponord 1200 ABS, in the fully equipped Travel Pack version, for the series “MotoGeo Review”. Powerful and reliable, this technologically advanced bike is a steadfast travel companion on any road.

Aprilia Caponord 1200 ABS - MotoGeo Review
Expert Jamie drove the bike around Baja, testing it on every type of terrain and describing its technical characteristics and equipment (although he needs to update the sticker on the bike marking the Italian brand’s racing triumphs: Aprilia currently has 54 world championship titles!). At the end, Jamie declares: “The Caponord is a good choice, ideal for touring”. If he says so, it must be true. And you can see he loves riding it. Thanks Jamie!

THE ADVENTURE OF THE CAPONORD AT THE “BAJA 1000”

Baja 1000 Aprilia Caponord - MotoGeo Adventures
Still in the saddle of the Aprilia Caponord 1200, fun-loving Jamie went off to take a look at the “Baja 1000”, a gruelling rally held in Baja, Mexico, since 1967. The video, filmed for the series “MotoGeo Adventures”, offers splendid shots of Mexico’s landscapes and roads and a fascinating report on the race. The next dates for Baja 2015 (Score International off-road racing): 5 November, qualifying heats; 19-21 November, 48th Bud Light Score Baja 1000.

INFO:
www.motogeo.com

MY BIKE MOVIE

INDIA: ALI’S APRILIA RSV4

my bike movie

Alì is a young motorcycling fanatic who lives in the Indian state of Gujarat. When he took delivery of his splendid Aprilia RSV4, the news spread throughout the village. Friends and relations hurried to watch the arrival of the bike, documented by a series of video clips. The first shows the delivery of the boxed-up RSV4, the second records the first time a timid Ali started the engine (assisted step by step by the mechanic from the Aprilia dealership), while the third clip documents his first ride on the Italian bike, as he begins to get a feel for the two-wheeler (although, for safety, it would be better if he wore a crash helmet).
Three clips with no pretensions, which have attracted more than 77,000 views and many comments: someone who teases him for his lack of confidence the first time he starts the bike, someone else who asks him how much he paid for the bike and where to find Aprilia dealers in India, others offering riding tips. An imperturbable Ali replies to the comments, keen to share with the people of the web this important event in his life: buying an Aprilia motorcycle, one of the top brands in world motorcycling, with 54 world championship titles, is not a decision for the faint-hearted! Far from it! In the meantime, since those early days, we’re sure Ali has become an expert rider on his RSV4.

  • my 2013 aprilia rsv4
  • my 2013 aprilia rsv4 first time starting up
  • delivery of my aprilia rsv4 in india

JOHN ABRAHAM: THE BOLLYWOOD STAR ON AN APRILIA RSV4

Heartthrob Indian actor and top model John Abraham (the golden boy of Bollywood, named “India’s Sexiest Bachelor” in 2011) is biker Kabir in the film “Dhoom” (the first in a trilogy of action movies with box-office takings of 110 million dollars!), which introduced the great Indian public to the world of motorcycling. The hugely popular John (42, born in Kochi, in the state of Kerala) is a passionate biker, on and off the set, and was recently “awarded” an Aprilia RSV4 1000cc by Piaggio India, of which he declares himself the proud owner. This Bollywood News video reports on the bike’s delivery, covered by the national media.

John Abraham Gifted Super Bike Aprilia RSV4 By Piaggio India

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 new 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 new 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