From 10 to 12 October 2025, Pontedera (Tuscany, Italy) was transformed into the European hub of Vespa sport. Three days of panoramic roads, historic villages and precision trials, with plenty of convivial moments and opportunities to explore the region. On Sunday 12, the winners of the Italian stage and the 2025 European Champions were crowned.
Vespa World Club press release - From 10 to 12 October 2025, Pontedera was once again the European Vespa capital, as it welcomed hundreds of participants for the third, final and decisive stage of the Vespa Rally 2025 European Championship.
Three intense days which spanned Tuscan landscapes, regularity trials and moments of real conviviality, with the annual winners celebrated on Sunday afternoon in the Teatro Era, during a ceremony brimming with excitement and pride.
A challenge of precision and passion organised under the auspices of the Vespa Club of Italy and the Vespa World Club, by Vespa Club Pontedera, Vespa Club Rho and Motoclub Pontedera, with sponsorship from the Comune of Pontedera (Municipality of Pontedera) and the association Pontedera Città dei Motori (Pontedera City of Motors) which brought together fans from all over Europe. As tradition dictates, it was precision and regularity rather than speed that counted: kilometres of navigation documented in the road book, and time trials down to the tenth of a second put the skill and concentration of the Vespa riders to the test.
After the stages in Germany and Austria, Pontedera delivered the final verdict of the championship. In the overall rankings, Gerhard Ott from Vespa Club Hollabrunn (Austria) took the top spot with 33 points, followed by Hans-Werner Both of VC Dusseldorf (Germany) with 30 points and Christian Mangel from VC Hollabrunn (25 points), the stars of a season marked by the highest levels of precision and regularity in the three continental trials.
The three days combined sport and discovery of the region: from the hills of Buti and Calci to the villages of Terricciola and Palaia (in the province of Pisa, Tuscany), taking in stunning views, regularity trials and stops for gastronomic treats.
The event was also a public success, with a host of fans gathering at the Teatro Era Village to watch the trials, admire the historical Vespa models and share their passion for this eternal icon.
“The weekend was characterised by exemplary teamwork – commented the organisers – and seeing Pontedera welcoming so many Vespa enthusiasts from all over Europe served as confirmation that this region has Vespa and its values in its blood.”
For the record, the winners of the various categories of the third stage in Pontedera are listed below: 1st place for the 8-inch category was taken by Simone Ardolfi, VC Chiari, while 1st place for the 10-inch category was won by Gabriele Mafezzoni, VC Chiari (who was also victorious in the Coppa Andreani category, with the participation of Mauro Calestrini, President of the Vespa World Club); finally, 1st place in the Automatic category went to Alberto Menciassi, VC Pisa.
Images of the weekend, shot by film director Ivan Drudi, will soon be made into an official film which will evoke the magic of this edition of the event, and will be available to watch on the Vespa World Club and Vespa Rally social media channels, shared across the 65 countries who are part of this international association.
The Italian stage brings the 2025 European Championship to a close, but the road to new adventures and new destinations remains open: because every Vespa Rally is a journey into passion and beauty first and foremost!
THE PHOTOS OF THE EVENT AND THE PRIZE GIVING CAN BE VIEWED
ON THE VESPA WORLD CLUB FB PAGE:
https://www.facebook.com/VespaWorldClub/?locale=it_IT
VESPA WORLD CLUB/VESPA RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP:
https://vespaworldclub.org/vespa-rally-pontedera/
WIDE REWIND – READ THE ARTICLE ABOUT THE SECOND STAGE IN AUSTRIA:
https://wide.piaggiogroup.com/en/articles/community/vespa-rally-2025-in-austria-report-from-the-second-stage-in-langenlois/index.html
WIDE REWIND – READ THE ARTICLE ABOUT THE FIRST STAGE IN GERMANY:
https://wide.piaggiogroup.com/en/articles/community/vespa-rally-2025-the-first-stage-in-celle-germany-is-a-success/index.html
