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If I were within 500 miles (805 Km) of this, I would want to be there...however, a high-definition screen sees much more than I could were I actually at the event. (Plus, I do believe computers are giving me eye cancer...) Guy Martin in his first four-wheeled race piloting a Caterham Superlight R300 - an open-wheeled car reminiscent of a early 20th Century racer - is nothing if not historic. It is something one would relate to their grandchildren. Go have a read at this local paper. Oh, and feast your eyes on those chops. Guy Martin and his boat, his bike and his Caterham Superlight.I am writing you this letter to personally thank you for the outpouring of affection that you have demonstrated both towards my father and our family.
All of you have come to know Claudio, but I believe that I knew him more intimately than anybody else as he was more than a father to me, he was also my best friend, business partner, reference point and the person whom I could call on at anytime, day or night, to share both good and bad news.
I would like to tell you a little bit about him. In a few words he could only be defined as crazy, a volcano full of energy and infinite well of ideas… courageous, tenacious and a risk taker. Sometimes he would even risk a little bit too much.
He was different than most other business men in that he never put a lot of importance on money or personal success. He was driven by his emotions and lived for his company and his motorcycles.
My father personally re-launched the Italian motorcycle industry in the last 25 years and he did so risking everything, working day and night, fighting against a complex system in an industrial sector that is continually more difficult, and going up against the colossal motorcycle manufacturers without fear. Rather, he continually challenged them thanks to the brands and historic models that he came up with and developed.
I am not going to list all of the things that would not be if not for him, we all know the impact he had. But, I would like to explain how the company developed during the periods starting from 2007, the year that Husqvarna was sold to the multinational BMW, and 2008 when MV and Cagiva were sold to the glorious Harley-Davidson. In this period, the company was in financial difficulty due to the large investments and lack of liquidity. But, this was not the crisis that made him lose his resolve. Reflecting on the situation, we thought that our Group needed a stronger partner that would help us guarantee the continuity, as happened with a large number of privately held, family-owned companies in various sectors.
And that’s what we did.
But, companies run by these colossal giants do not always improve…
Besides the fact of the difficult times, the day that Harley-Davidson decided to put MV Agusta up for sale, my father whom was already battling his illness said “We will never give up on MV and all of the people who work there, we need to save it at all costs”.
I said to my father, for the thousandth time, that this would be crazy. But, his craziness infected even me and we came up with a new plan for this great adventure. A challenge against everyone…
Today, my father is no longer with us, but he has left us a grand inheritance: the best brand in the world, a four-cylinder line-up from 920cc to 1090cc with two F4’s and three Brutale’s that are all new and the new F3 675 and Brutale 675 that will allow us to increase our volumes while entering in the middle weight class. But, above all, he set the path for our future. Two concepts for new models were formed by him during the fight against his illness and I will continue his work developing these new models together with our strong team.
Today, MV is a solid company with strong economic results that are very different from those in the past and we are a company that is without debt, something very rare in these challenging economic times. This is a unique historical period, the crisis and the difficulty in finding financial support for product development do not help, but we are full of resolve. With our clear plan and direction we are certain that we will grow stronger than ever.
I cannot be everything that my father was, nor could the Engineer Bordi, who is a key figure in our present and future success, be. None of us can replace my father, but one thing is certain: none of us are afraid of the future and we will never give up. We will continue to go forward as before, but with even more determination and resolve. We will tighten our belts and make whatever sacrifices will need to be made to bring MV the success that it deserves.
My father has taught me many things, the most important of which is that you need to be a man and never give up.
We have all the tools at our disposal to achieve a new level of success and to grow together in the future. I am confident that we have all of your continued support for this great challenge.
Buon lavoro e grazie
Giovanni Castiglioni
Loris Capirossi announced today that 2011 would be his final season in motorcycle racing. Two decades is a long time to do anything other than breathe or, say, workout, and 22 years competing at the very edge of life and death is a long time indeed. Read on in an article I wish I had written.
http://www.tinyurl.com/4yemcp5
The article linked here, "Why the Hate for Dani Pedroosa", is something I was actually working on for some time - around two years ago I thought of writing my feelings down. They are just that, my feelings, and I am aware they mean very little overall. However, if you do enjoy MotoGP, I do suggest you read the piece as Pedrosa deserves it from every fan.
It is even more true now that the unfortunate Spaniard has a broken collar bone...it's like he's cursed; maybe Rossi does know some voodoo sorcery...
Please have a read and feel free to share!
http://tinyurl.com/6zpkgnq
Well, dearest readers (if there is actually someone out there), I have been away from this blog for some time. It was not by choice, let me assure you, but by necessity. Numerous hard drive failures and problems with the data contained on them have placed a significant strain on my finances and my time. I have been very busy writing, though, as that is my only source of income these days. So, without anymore excuses, here is a list of links to some of the work I have done lately. I am planning to keep this up as much as possible and I do hope to start the blog itself again soon...it all depends on whether I an recover my lost data in the next two weeks or so...
Macau Grand Prix
Charlie Mullins Wins AMA Rekluse National Enduro Championship
Motorcycle Fixtures!
Own Rossi's TT R1
Az Heyadri and Riders for Health
Yamaha World Crosser Super Tenere
ASV's F3 Holiday Pro Pack Deal
Telefonica Movistar to Return to MotoGP
Honda Announces New Color for VFR1200F ABS
Royal Enfield in California
Billy Joel Opens Motorcycle Shop
Althea Racing's Gensio Bevilacqua puts his Motorcycle Collection online
Josh Herrin Remains with Graves Yamaha
Honda's CBR250RR to be at EICMA 2010
Schuberth Returns to North America
Zero Motorcycles Gathers Another $2 Million
MV Agusta F4 Voted Most Beautiful on the Web
Scary Study Shows Black Riders More Likely to Become Fatalities
KLIM Supports Team USA at ISDE
Wayne Maxwell Secures Dream Moto2 Ride at Phillip Island
Since it seems that very few people on this side of the pond know this, I figured it would be a good idea to post it. It seems that the big and exclusive 'secret story' which MCN (UK) had been prepping us with over the last 24 hours is that Yamaha MotoGP racer Valentino Rossi has fled Yamaha and will ride on a Ducati for the 2011 MotoGP Championship. The details are not clear as of yet, but you can confirm this by taking the link below.
http://tinyurl.com/2buctow
It is simply part of racing at this time; that is often used to explain a death on any motorcycle race circuit, but the Isle of Man TT has a special place for the people who give their lives to race in this prestigious annual event. The truth of the matter is that those who race motorcycles are risking their lives. Modern safety equipment and even better track design has noticeably reduced the numbers in recent decades - and that is a very good thing for all of us! The TT, however, will always be this way. It is a real roads race which demands the best of the people moving at high speed over its course on motorcycles. Ask anyone out there, though, and you will find not one individual with a 'death wish'. To them, this is life and it sometimes takes that from you. They know the risks and try to be as safe as they can be, but pushing the limit puts you on a fine edge between stable and unstable. This time the price was a 29-year-old man from the U.K. named Matthew Alexander Evans. He crashed while piloting his Honda Fireblade at high speed in the left-hand curves near the Mountain Box. Please see the link for more...
Sorry this is so late, but the inaugural TTXGP race for the 2010 season will begin today at Infineon Raceway in California. The series will have 13 rounds and will end with a huge Grand Finale event in Spain. It is a historic weekend for all motorcycle racing - this is the first ever global electric racing series! You may be able to catch some of the action on your local motorsports TV channel if you cannot get to the track...check your local schedule. In the meantime, take the link below to learn more.
http://tinyurl.com/397dhpu
This is not the usual 'news' fare here. This is an opinion piece - 'serious journalism' as stated in the column - from MotorcycleUSA online from Frank Melling. If you have ever heard of Thundersprint, you know one of the more interesting components of our sport today, and you know what Melling is responsible for. In this piece he speaks from his own side where MotoGP may go towards in the coming years, or where it might go if he were to make the rules. It is worth a read...check it out. There is more to it than what I can write here...
http://tinyurl.com/yddpg4j
The AFM Season started this past weekend at Buttonwillow Raceway in California. In the premier Formula Pacific class, Suzuki mounted Michael Earnest of Pacific Track Time took the victory. It was his first win in over 26 years of racing. Suzuki GSX-Rs filled the podium in that class. In Open Superbike, it was the second place finisher in the Formula Pacific class, one Correy Sarros, took the win. In the 750 Superbike and 600 Superbike, it was the YZF-R6 of Lenny Hale across the finish line first in both classes. For the other 25 classes, please take the link...
http://tinyurl.com/yehtq9b
Brandon Cretu, a racer in the WERA series, has been accepted as a Newcomer in the Isle of Man TT - he may be the youngest American ever. He will be riding a Suzuki prepared by Mark Hamilton of Irish Bike Magazine as he did in the 2009 Ulster GP. It is an amazing nod for the young Cretu and a real credit to his ability with a bike. It is going to be a cool TT this year as some six or more marques will have factory supported efforts. I will find a way to watch it! Take the link to see the important details...
http://tinyurl.com/yfbskr5
Two off-road racing results today...finally! First up is the Dallas, Texas, round of the 2010 AMA Supercross, which went off this past Saturday (20 March 2010). This was the first time that the Supercross circus stopped in Cowboys stadium and Suzuki's Ryan Dungey made it one to remember. Dungey led every lap from the start and is now 24 points ahead of Kawasaki's Ryan Villopoto who finished just off the podium in fourth. The next event is this Saturday in Florida.
http://tinyurl.com/ydalry2
In the 2010 Can-Am Grand National Cross Country series, the recent stop was in North Carolina at Steele Creek. The weather started off nice early, but then a steady rain started to drench every square exposed inch. In that event, Suzuki-mounted Josh Strang again took the win. This is his third win in a row! In the XC2 class, Kailub Russell took victory and the series lead in the mountains of North Carolina...for all the details, please take the link.
http://tinyurl.com/y9xlhha
Well, it seems that Dani Pedrosa is not too happy with where his team is at present. Much more needs to be done before the racing can start for Repsol Honda.
http://tinyurl.com/yzff56f
In other Repsol Honda news, Andrea Dovizioso is more than happy to face his first race in 2010. Dovizioso has been the top Honda rider through the testing and his season looks on track.
http://tinyurl.com/ygzqrlu
Gresini Honda riders Marco Melandri and Marco Simoncelli had a bad test at Qatar as well. The team has now called on Honda to help them out and discover why these two could not break the top 10 during practice...something is not right.
http://tinyurl.com/yk8pjt5
And, well, Valentino Rossi is quite happy with the Yamaha YZR-M1 so far this year. After all, he has led just about every preseason test so far...
http://tinyurl.com/yj2xgcp
The fourth and final round of the Italian Motocross Championship is in the books. This final round took place in the town of San Severino and it was thought that Aprilia rider Josh Coppins would be the man to beat. It did not turn out that way, though, as Coppins had technical issues which kept him from finishing high enough to take the Championship. That honor went to Davide Guarneri for 2010. Take the link to learn more...
http://tinyurl.com/yak9drr
Husaberg has two rider competing in the Spanish Enduro Championship, Oriol Mena in E3 and Xavi Galindo in E2. When the flag fell in the E3 category, Mena was second in the race and fourth overall for the weekend. Galindo had similar luck, but he could not get to the podium slot in time and finished in fourth. Overall, Husaberg was happy with the results when the severely wet weather in taken into account.
http://tinyurl.com/yhmhdod
The Isle of Man TT always brings riders form all over the world to race on its Mountain Course. Well, this year will actually be something special and there are several well-known racers who will be taking to the TT for the first time. Some of these riders are multi-time champions, and yet they have never thrown a leg over during TT week. Well, take the link to learn exactly who will be running the 37.73 mile course this summer...
http://tinyurl.com/yaoyzps
The all-new for 2010 MV Agusta F4 may look very similar to its predecessor, but there are several major changes which add up to make this liter-class Italian exotica something more than just a slight upgrade. The handling is better, engine performance more linear and overall control has been tamed somewhat. Still, it is from MV Agusta, so it will always be the beast it is at heart - and for which we all love the F4!
http://tinyurl.com/y9y6bzt
From each team after every MotoGP event of just about any kind, you will get a press release from each team letting the world know how well the team did and details on the happenings during the event. For the MotoGP test yesterday at Qatar we now have these from each team. If you take the link below today, you will get to see a list of every team's reports. If you click on it tomorrow, you will likely see the PR from today, so go there now if you want to look up Thursday's team press releases.
http://tinyurl.com/yznyogq
Maria Costello has not really been gone, but the fact remains that she is returning to the Isle of Man TT in 2010. She will be riding a BMW S1000RR, supplied by the factory and thus becoming part of their effort to capture some wins at the TT. Given the performance of the new BMW, Costello may have a chance to become an even faster 'fastest woman on the TT'!
http://tinyurl.com/ygk7u7q
MV Agusta, as you surely know by now, is up for sale from current owners Harley-Davidson - the marque having some of the worst financial issues in the industry currently - and a group of Italian investors is interested in taking ownership. It turns out that one of those investors in the brother of the Italian Prime Minister; his name is Paolo Berlusconi. Burlusconi already owns one Italian marque, Garelli...
http://tinyurl.com/yg9or3r
The British Superbike Championship will begin in just a few weeks time during the Easter weekend. For now, though, the teams were out at Brands Hatch doing some testing this week. There is not a great deal of detail available as of yet, so take the link below to get an introduction. If I do find more BSB testing information, I will post it here.
http://tinyurl.com/ylso5az
PR from GNS Racing (Supersport): http://tinyurl.com/yfamlmg
PR from Quay Garage (Superbike): http://tinyurl.com/yf23wpt
