Gianmaria Rosati
This is an important weekend for Guzzi motorcycles, which celebrates its 95th anniversary and was founded on March 15, 1921.
And while a three-day event for 20,000 Guzzi enthusiasts is taking place in Mandello del Lario, home of Guzzi, in Misano, the FMI will be represented by the President Paolo Sesti himself, has decided to pay homage to the manufacturer with a festive plate.
Is on site to receive this award Davide Zanolini, Marketing and Communications Director of the Piaggio Group.
“I would like to thank FIM very much for this award and I am delighted that the ceremony is taking place in Misano and not in Mandello. Because – explains Zanolini – Misano is a bicycle temple and in the spirit of Guzzi, while it might have been pretty mundane if it had been kept in our base. Moto Guzzi was the first manufacturer to consider the development and use of the wind tunnel. and that says something about the prestige of this brand that is currently experiencing a second youth. In the next five years leading up to our 100th anniversary, we have many important projects planned with a view to the younger audience returning to our brand. “
In other words, a manufacturer who doesn’t need any introduction and who boasts 15 world championship titles (7 driver and 8 manufacturer titles). Moto Guzzi hasn’t raced since 1957, but that long absence could soon come to an end.
“With our 95th anniversary, we are also starting a five-year period that will lead to the centenary of this glorious brand. We will have some extraordinary new products that will expand a range that we are already enjoying while attracting a new, young generation of fans to the Moto Guzzi brand and motorcycling – Zanolini said – But Moto Guzzi also has an extremely important racing history to look back on, an extraordinary legacy that makes us think about returning to racing. Aprilia Racing is at the forefront of technological research within the Piaggio Group and nothing prevents us from transferring this technology to the Moto Guzzi brand with a view to racing, as we did with production bikes. It may not happen at the moment, but we definitely don’t want to rule out this exciting possibility. “
Are we dreaming or are we actually awake? Guzzi back on track, maybe in the endurance championship?
“As I said, a return to racing is always possible, never say never. Where would we go back? Obviously, it’s difficult to get straight into MotoGP; At the moment all doors are open, even the world of reliability tests. We have to remember that Moto Guzzi is already involved in racing to some extent, in the sense that it is absorbed into Aprilia Racing. “
Speaking of winning brands that are not currently active in racing, our thoughts also turn to them Gilera, which won its last title in 2008 with Marco Simoncelli 250.
“The return of Gilera is closely tied to the Piaggio Group’s budget. At the moment the priority is on the relaunch of the Aprilia and Moto Guzzi lines; Once that is done, everyone, from President Colaninno down, hopes to make Gilera great again ”.