Wide celebrates the Piaggio Group racing champions and brands

Oct 28 2010 17:27
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In an issue for motorcycle racing enthusiasts, the Group magazine looks at the most successful bikes from Aprilia, Derbi, Gilera and Moto Guzzi and the legendary names who have ridden them to triumph

A special issue available for all motorcycling devotees!

Pontedera, 28 October 2010. The third issue of Wide – the new Piaggio Group magazine – celebrates the passion for racing and the extraordinary “school of talents” formed by the Group racing brands today.

The protagonists of the magazine edited by Piaggio external relations director Francesco Delzìo are Aprilia, Moto Guzzi, Derbi and Gilera: four brands that share an impressive racing history, legendary champions and bikes, and boast a unique collection of world championship titles.

The Wide "racing" issue is published just weeks after Max Biaggi and Aprilia’s World Superbikes triumphs, with the driver and manufacturer double title secured at the Imola and Magny Cours races. This is the starting point for a look back at the milestones that have built the legend of the Piaggio Group racing brands in world motorcycle racing: together, the Group brands that race or have raced in the world championships – Aprilia, Moto Guzzi, Derbi and Gilera – have achieved an extraordinary total of 93 world titles.

The first place in this hall of fame belongs to Aprilia, with 45 world titles won over twenty years and 277 Grand Prix victories, a record that makes it the most successful Italian and European manufacturer in world motorcycle racing.

The myth began in the 1950s with Gilera and drivers like Masetti, Liberati and Geoffrey Duke, OBE, the "Duke of Mann", six-times world champion and six-times winner of the Tourist Trophy, who tells Wide about his arrival in Italy and his trail-blazing career with the “two-ring” brand.

The 1970s saw the reign of Angel Nieto, a 15-year career with Derbi, 23-times Spanish champion, 90 Grand Prix wins and, as he superstitiously observes, 12+1 world titles. Nieto has been followed by an incredible series of champions who grew up and made their name with the bikes developed in the Racing divisions of the Piaggio Group: from Capirossi to Valentino Rossi, Jorge Lorenzo, Casey Stoner, Gilera 250 winner Marco Simoncelli, and San Marino-born Manuel Poggiali, crowned world champion for both Gilera and Aprilia.

Today’s scene is dominated by Max Biaggi: five world championship titles, including four with Aprilia, the first Italian rider ever to win the World Superbikes. Meanwhile the stars in the Grand Prix championship are Pol Espargaró and Marc Marquez, two very young Derbi riders who are currently battling it out for the 125 world title. Indeed, with two races still to go, the Piaggio Group’s Spanish arm has already secured the Manufacturers title.

The third issue of Wide talks to the experts: Paolo Flammini, CEO of Infront Sport, the World Superbikes organising company, examines the future of the championship for tuned versions of road-going bikes. Gigi Dall'Igna, the technical and sports manager behind Aprilia’s SBK triumph, looks back over a glorious season, from the pre-season worries to the double world victory.

The third issue of Wide is also available here!

 

 

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