MV Agusta
Encyclopedia
MV Agusta is a motorcycle
manufacturer founded in 1945 near Milan
in Cascina Costa, Italy. The company began as an offshoot of the Agusta
aviation company formed by Count Giovanni Agusta in 1923. The Count died in 1927, leaving the company in the hands of his wife and sons, Domenico, Vincenzo, Mario and Corrado. Count Vincenzo Agusta together with his brother Domenico formed MV Agusta at the end of the Second World War
as a means to save the jobs of employees of the Agusta firm and also to fill the post-war need for cheap, efficient transportation. The initials MV stood for Meccanica, or mechanics, Verghera, the city in Italy where the first MV's were made. The company manufactured small-displacement, Café racer
style motorcycles (mostly 125 to 150 cc) through the 1950s and 1960s. In the 1960s small motorcycle sales declined, and MV started producing larger displacement cycles in more limited quantities. A 250 cc, and later a 350 cc twin were produced, and a 600 cc four-cylinder evolved into a 750 cc.
Count Vincenzo and Domenico Agusta had a passion for mechanical workings and for motorcycle racing. Much like Enzo Ferrari
, they produced and sold motorcycles almost exclusively to fund their racing efforts. They were determined to have the best Grand Prix motorcycle racing
team in the world and spared no expense on their passion. MV Agusta produced their first prototype, called "Vespa 98", in 1945. After learning that the name had already been registered by Piaggio
for its Vespa
motorscooter, it was referred to simply by the number “98”. In 1948, the company built a 125 cc two-stroke single and entered Franco Bertoni in the Italian Grand Prix. Bertoni won the event held in Monza
and instantly put the new motorcycle manufacturer on the map.
In the 1949 season
, the 125 cc or Ultra light weight class gained new prestige. More motorcycle manufacturers were competing in the inaugural World Championships that were held in Switzerland, Netherlands and Italy. The Mondial
125 cc DOHC design dominated the 1949 season. The MV riders placed 9th and 10th in the final standings. In 1950, Arturo Magni and Piero Remor joined the company after working with Gilera
. Magni was the chief mechanic and Remor was chief designer. The 1950 season
and 1951 season
were development years, as the company adopted the 125 Dohc
four-stroke engine. Racing efforts only produced a fifth place finish at the Dutch TT
in 1950. The 1951 results were only slightly better.
The 1952 season
saw the introduction of telescopic forks, full width alloy brake hubs and a sleek fuel tank on the 125 race bike. Power was 15 bhp @ 10800 rpm. Britain's Cecil Sandford
piloted the new MV 125 to a 1952 Isle of Man TT
victory and went on to win MV Agusta's first world championship.
With the success of the 1952 season, independent or "privateer" riders could now purchase a "catalog" version of the 125 Dohc, now available through the company. The Sport Competizione
racer had many of the same features as the factory bike. These included a multi-plate clutch, gear-driven oil pump, Dell'Orto 27 mm SS1 carburetor and remote float chamber. The bike was nicknamed “The Boy Racer”. In 1953
the race engineers adopted the Earl-type forks to help with handling problems on the works racers. The 1953 season saw the introduction of the 350 Four. MV’s racing efforts now included the 500 cc, 350 cc and 125 cc class.
1953 saw the introduction of a new 175 cc overhead cam model. MV Agusta produced the 175 CST and CSTL (Turismo Lusso) for street use and soon developed a sportier 175 cc version with larger carburetor, a larger cylinder head with bigger fins, aluminum wheel rims and plenty of glossy red paint. The first year version (1954) of the 175 Sport featured a beautifully sculpted fuel tank that quickly earned it the unofficial nickname "Disco Volante" ("flying saucer") as, viewed from the front, the tank shape was reminiscent of a flying saucer. Soon after, MV began offering a very limited-availability racing version 175 cc "Super Sport" for MSDS racing (production club racing) equipped with unusual Earles-design front forks. In 1955, it was superseded by a new and improved Super Sport model with radical new styling and a 5-speed gearbox. It's design earned it the nickname "Squalo" (Shark). This 175 cc racing machine was very popular in Britain in the mid 1950s, where tuners learned to bore it out to over 200 cc capacity. Racers including Micheal O’Rourke, Derek Minter
, and Bob Keeler raced the 175 and 125 Sport Competizione around Europe with a great deal of success. The marketing strategy of "race it on Sunday, sell it on Monday" was adhered to, and it worked. MV street motorcycles enjoyed immense popularity throughout Europe. In 1958 American rider Dave Schuler, riding a borrowed and barely modified MV 175 Sport street bike, won the 175 class at the famed Catalina Island GP off-road race, in California.
After the 1957 season
, the Italian motorcycle manufacturers Gilera, Moto Guzzi
and Mondial
jointly agreed to withdraw from Grand Prix competition due to escalating costs and diminishing sales. Count Agusta originally agreed to withdraw, but then had second thoughts. MV Agusta went on to dominate Grand Prix racing, winning 17 consecutive 500 cc world championships. Count Agusta's competitive nature usually saw him hire some of the best riders of the time, namely Carlo Ubbiali
, John Surtees
, Mike Hailwood
, Giacomo Agostini
, Phil Read
, among others, and having the best engineers, most notably Arturo Magni. The three- and four-cylinder race bikes were known for their excellent road handling. The fire-engine red racing machines became a hallmark of Grand Prix racing in the 1960s and early 1970s.
and by the 1980 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season
they were out of racing. Shortly thereafter, they ceased motorcycle production. Between 1948 and 1976 MV Agusta motorcycles had won over 3000 races and 63 World Championships overall. After MV Agusta left the racing scene in 1980, Magni began producing his own custom-framed MV motorcycles.
Cagiva
purchased the MV Agusta name trademarks in 1991. In 1997 it introduced the first new MV Agusta motorcycle. The new bikes were four-cylinder 750 cc sports machines, the F4 range
, which included a series of limited production run models, such as the all black paint work SPR model ("Special Production Racing") which was featured in the movie I, Robot
. In 2004 they introduced their first 1,000 cc bike. 2004 marked the end of production for the 750 sports machines, with a limited production of 300 SR (Special Racing) model in the traditional red and silver livery.
MV Agusta also made a limited number of F4 750 cc and F4 1,000 cc Senna editions in memory of the late Formula One Champion Ayrton Senna
, an avid Ducati and MV Agusta collector, in aid of the Instituto Ayrton Senna, his charity foundation in Brazil for children and young people. Three hundred of each model were made in the early 2000s.
They also produce a range of 750 and 910 naked bikes called the Brutale
. Production is limited, as it is the policy of the company to produce an elite machine similar to Ferrari
in motor cars. They do not compete directly with Japanese manufacturers, whose motorcycles typically sell for considerably lower prices; rather, they compete with other Italian models such as Ducati's sports bikes 996
, 998
, 999
, 1098
, and the naked Monster
. In 2005 MV Agusta introduced the Tamburini 1000, which is named after its creator, Massimo Tamburini
, who had previously worked for Ducati, where he designed the Ducati 916. Cycle World
and Australian Motorcycle News magazine named it the best sportbike in the world. Tamburini designed the Ducati 916 sports bike (predecessor of the 748 and 996 series) which marked the return of Ducati as a successful motorcycle manufacturer in the early twentyfirst century. The MV Agusta F4 refined the innovative design of the 916. Claimed power of the new F4 312R model is 183 hp. In 1999 the Cagiva group was restructured for strategic purposes and MV Agusta become the main division, comprising Cagiva and Husqvarna.
in December 2004 for €
70 million. In December 2005 Proton sold MV Agusta to GEVI SpA, a Genoa
-based financing company related to Carige, for a token one euro excluding debt. By 2006 GEVI SpA, with 65% of the share capital, had refinanced MV Agusta, allowing the company to continue, in its native Italy.
In July 2007 MV Agusta Motor S.p.A, sold the Husqvarna
motorcycle brand to BMW
for an undisclosed amount. According to MV Agusta president Claudio Castiglioni, the sale was a strategic step to concentrate all of the company's resources in order to expand MV Agusta and Cagiva
presence in the international markets having more financial resources for new model development.
Following years of stalled ownership, the Guggenheim's "Art of the Motorcycle" icon, the F4 model, was ready for a refresh, but the financial status of the company did not allow it. On July 11, 2008, Harley-Davidson
announced they had signed a definitive agreement to acquire the MV Agusta Group for US$109 million (€70m),
completing the acquisition on August 8, 2008.
On October 15, 2009, Harley-Davidson announced that it would divest its interest in MV Agusta;
on August 6, 2010, Harley-Davidson announced that it had concluded the sale of MV Agusta to Claudio Castiglioni and his wholly owned holding company, MV Agusta Motor Holding, S.r.l.
MV Agusta announced that for the first three months of 2010 bike sales increased by 50%.
The manufacturer started a domination in all class in 1956. They won the 125 cc, 250 cc and 500 cc class simultaneously in 1956, 1958, 1959 and 1960. The manufacturer won 270 Grand Prix motorcycle races, with legendary riders such as Giacomo Agostini, Mike Hailwood, Phil Read, Carlo Ubbiali, Gary Hocking and John Surtess.
MV Agusta says on its USA Website about that period: "Dressed in red and silver, these invincible ‘record machines' took the hearts of all fans sensitive to the esoteric charm of the inline four-cylinder. An engine endowed with an extraordinary force largely underlined by the four megaphone-like exhausts, responsible for an unforgettable and terrifying roar. Distinguishing features that could not remain an exclusive heritage of the fortunate witnesses of that unforgettable era, needed to testify also in the future."
MV Agusta won the following World Titles:
MV Agusta also won races in the famous Tourist Trophy. Giacomo Agostini
made his Tourist Trophy debut in 1965 in the Junior class on an MV 350 three-cylinder and finish third. He participated in 16 TT races, all on MV Agustas, he won the race 10 times, retired 3 times and was on the podium in the other races. He completed a Senior/Junior double in 1968, 1969, 1970 and 1972. Mike Hailwood
won the Tourist Trophy on a MV Agusta 4 times, 3 on Senior class and 1 in Junior class. John Surtees
turned to MV Agusta in 1956 and won the Senior class. In 1958, he finish the Junior and Senior class in 1st position, a feat he repeated in 1959. He also won the 1960 edition. MV Agusta won the Tourist Trophy 34 times.
Although there were no factory racing efforts, independent ("privateer") teams were racing the F4 750. In 2003 Big Show Racing of Chicago
Illinois, USA fielded an F4 750 in the Formula USA, Daytona International Speedway
200 Mile Team Challenge. The team placed second overall with riders Larry Denning and Aaron Risinger piloting the bike.
In May 2007 the company confirmed its return to racing in the 2008 Superbike World Championship season
. Carl Fogarty
's English-based Team Foggy Racing was going to run the team; Fogarty however abandoned the plans to return to the Superbike World Championship because of lack of sponsorship.
MV Agusta in 2008 competed in the Italian Superbike Championship. Luca Scassa won the Italian Superbike Championship on a MV Agusta factory-backed machine from the racing department in Schiranna, Varese
Italy
.
MV Agusta F4
Limited Editions
MV Agusta F4
Limited Editions
MV Agusta F4
Limited Editions
MV Agusta Brutale
Limited Editions
MV Agusta Brutale
Limited Editions
MV Agusta Brutale
Limited Editions
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
manufacturer founded in 1945 near Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
in Cascina Costa, Italy. The company began as an offshoot of the Agusta
Agusta
Agusta is an Italian helicopter manufacturer. It is based in Samarate, Northern Italy. It is a subsidiary of Finmeccanica. The company was founded by Count Giovanni Agusta in 1923, who flew his first airplane in 1907...
aviation company formed by Count Giovanni Agusta in 1923. The Count died in 1927, leaving the company in the hands of his wife and sons, Domenico, Vincenzo, Mario and Corrado. Count Vincenzo Agusta together with his brother Domenico formed MV Agusta at the end of the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
as a means to save the jobs of employees of the Agusta firm and also to fill the post-war need for cheap, efficient transportation. The initials MV stood for Meccanica, or mechanics, Verghera, the city in Italy where the first MV's were made. The company manufactured small-displacement, Café racer
Café racer
A café racer is a type of motorcycle as well as a type of motorcyclist. Both meanings have their roots in the 1960s British counterculture group the Rockers, or the Ton-up boys, although they were also common in Italy, Germany, and other European countries...
style motorcycles (mostly 125 to 150 cc) through the 1950s and 1960s. In the 1960s small motorcycle sales declined, and MV started producing larger displacement cycles in more limited quantities. A 250 cc, and later a 350 cc twin were produced, and a 600 cc four-cylinder evolved into a 750 cc.
Racing philosophy (1945-1971)
Enzo Ferrari
Enzo Anselmo Ferrari Cavaliere di Gran Croce OMRI was an Italian race car driver and entrepreneur, the founder of the Scuderia Ferrari Grand Prix motor racing team, and subsequently of the Ferrari car manufacturer...
, they produced and sold motorcycles almost exclusively to fund their racing efforts. They were determined to have the best Grand Prix motorcycle racing
Grand Prix motorcycle racing
Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix is the premier championship of motorcycle road racing currently divided into three distinct classes: 125cc, Moto2 and MotoGP. The 125cc class uses a two-stroke engine while Moto2 and MotoGP use four-stroke engines. In 2010 the 250cc two-stroke was replaced...
team in the world and spared no expense on their passion. MV Agusta produced their first prototype, called "Vespa 98", in 1945. After learning that the name had already been registered by Piaggio
Piaggio
Piaggio based in Pontedera, Italy encompasses seven brands of scooters, motorcycles and compact commercial vehicles. As the fourth largest producer of scooters and motorcycles in the world, Piaggio produces more than 600,000 vehicles annually, with five research and development centers, more than...
for its Vespa
Vespa
Vespa is an Italian brand of scooter manufactured by Piaggio. The name means wasp in Italian.The Vespa has evolved from a single model motor scooter manufactured in 1946 by Piaggio & Co. S.p.A...
motorscooter, it was referred to simply by the number “98”. In 1948, the company built a 125 cc two-stroke single and entered Franco Bertoni in the Italian Grand Prix. Bertoni won the event held in Monza
Autodromo Nazionale Monza
The Autodromo Nazionale Monza is a race track located near the town of Monza, north of Milan, in Italy. The circuit's biggest event is the Formula One Italian Grand Prix, which has been hosted there since the sport's inception....
and instantly put the new motorcycle manufacturer on the map.
In the 1949 season
1949 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season
The 1949 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the inaugural F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix season. The season consisted of six Grand Prix races in five classes: 500cc, 350cc, 250cc, 125cc and Sidecars 600cc...
, the 125 cc or Ultra light weight class gained new prestige. More motorcycle manufacturers were competing in the inaugural World Championships that were held in Switzerland, Netherlands and Italy. The Mondial
Mondial (motorcycle manufacturer)
FB-Mondial was a motorcycle manufacturer from Milan, Italy between 1948 and 1979, known for its Grand Prix motorcycle racing successes during the 1950s. Prior to World War II, it manufactured delivery tricycles...
125 cc DOHC design dominated the 1949 season. The MV riders placed 9th and 10th in the final standings. In 1950, Arturo Magni and Piero Remor joined the company after working with Gilera
Gilera
Gilera is an Italian motorcycle manufacturer founded in Arcore in 1909 by Giuseppe Gilera. In 1969 the company was purchased by Piaggio, which now holds six marques and is the world's fourth largest motorcycle manufacturer.-History:...
. Magni was the chief mechanic and Remor was chief designer. The 1950 season
1950 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season
The 1950 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 2nd F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix season. The season consisted of six Grand Prix races in five classes: 500cc, 350cc, 250cc, 125cc and Sidecars 600cc...
and 1951 season
1951 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season
The 1951 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 3rd F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix season. The season consisted of eight Grand Prix races in five classes: 500cc, 350cc, 250cc, 125cc and Sidecars 500cc...
were development years, as the company adopted the 125 Dohc
MV Agusta 125 Sohc
The MV Agusta 125 SOHC was a motorcycle produced by MV Agusta as a "Catalog" racer for the public in 1953. Privateer racers could purchase this race bike and could be highly competitive with a machine that was very similar to MV Agusta's works built motorcycles...
four-stroke engine. Racing efforts only produced a fifth place finish at the Dutch TT
Dutch TT
The Dutch TT is a motorcycling event, traditionally held on the last Saturday of June at the TT Circuit Assen in the Netherlands, as part of the MotoGP World Championship. In the past all classes , nowadays only the 125 cc, Moto2 and the MotoGP...
in 1950. The 1951 results were only slightly better.
1952 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season
The 1952 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 4th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix season. The season consisted of eight Grand Prix races in five classes: 500cc, 350cc, 250cc, 125cc and Sidecars 500cc...
saw the introduction of telescopic forks, full width alloy brake hubs and a sleek fuel tank on the 125 race bike. Power was 15 bhp @ 10800 rpm. Britain's Cecil Sandford
Cecil Sandford
Cecil Charles Sandford is a British former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. He was a two-time World Champion and a two-time Isle of Man TT winner....
piloted the new MV 125 to a 1952 Isle of Man TT
1952 Isle of Man TT
The 1952 Isle of Man Tourist Trophy was the start of Bob McIntyres association with the Isle of Man, when he came second in the Junior Clubman TT that year. Irishman Reg Armstrong won his first Senior TT event as well as coming in second in the Junior TT race on a Norton...
victory and went on to win MV Agusta's first world championship.
With the success of the 1952 season, independent or "privateer" riders could now purchase a "catalog" version of the 125 Dohc, now available through the company. The Sport Competizione
MV Agusta 125 Sohc
The MV Agusta 125 SOHC was a motorcycle produced by MV Agusta as a "Catalog" racer for the public in 1953. Privateer racers could purchase this race bike and could be highly competitive with a machine that was very similar to MV Agusta's works built motorcycles...
racer had many of the same features as the factory bike. These included a multi-plate clutch, gear-driven oil pump, Dell'Orto 27 mm SS1 carburetor and remote float chamber. The bike was nicknamed “The Boy Racer”. In 1953
1953 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season
The 1953 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 5th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix season. The season consisted of nine Grand Prix races in five classes: 500cc, 350cc, 250cc, 125cc and Sidecars 500cc...
the race engineers adopted the Earl-type forks to help with handling problems on the works racers. The 1953 season saw the introduction of the 350 Four. MV’s racing efforts now included the 500 cc, 350 cc and 125 cc class.
1953 saw the introduction of a new 175 cc overhead cam model. MV Agusta produced the 175 CST and CSTL (Turismo Lusso) for street use and soon developed a sportier 175 cc version with larger carburetor, a larger cylinder head with bigger fins, aluminum wheel rims and plenty of glossy red paint. The first year version (1954) of the 175 Sport featured a beautifully sculpted fuel tank that quickly earned it the unofficial nickname "Disco Volante" ("flying saucer") as, viewed from the front, the tank shape was reminiscent of a flying saucer. Soon after, MV began offering a very limited-availability racing version 175 cc "Super Sport" for MSDS racing (production club racing) equipped with unusual Earles-design front forks. In 1955, it was superseded by a new and improved Super Sport model with radical new styling and a 5-speed gearbox. It's design earned it the nickname "Squalo" (Shark). This 175 cc racing machine was very popular in Britain in the mid 1950s, where tuners learned to bore it out to over 200 cc capacity. Racers including Micheal O’Rourke, Derek Minter
Derek Minter
Derek Minter was a British former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. His best season was in 1958 when he finished the year in fifth place in the 500cc world championship. In 1960, Minter won the North West 200 race in Northern Ireland. In 1962, he won the Isle of Man 250cc Lightweight TT -References:...
, and Bob Keeler raced the 175 and 125 Sport Competizione around Europe with a great deal of success. The marketing strategy of "race it on Sunday, sell it on Monday" was adhered to, and it worked. MV street motorcycles enjoyed immense popularity throughout Europe. In 1958 American rider Dave Schuler, riding a borrowed and barely modified MV 175 Sport street bike, won the 175 class at the famed Catalina Island GP off-road race, in California.
After the 1957 season
1957 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season
The 1957 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 9th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix season. The season consisted of six Grand Prix races in five classes: 500cc, 350cc, 250cc, 125cc and Sidecars 500cc...
, the Italian motorcycle manufacturers Gilera, Moto Guzzi
Moto Guzzi
Moto Guzzi is an Italian motorcycle manufacturer. It is one of seven brands owned by Piaggio.Established in 1921 in Mandello del Lario, Italy, the company is noted for its central historic role in Italy's motorcycling manufacture, its prominence worldwide in motorcycle racing, and a series of...
and Mondial
Mondial (motorcycle manufacturer)
FB-Mondial was a motorcycle manufacturer from Milan, Italy between 1948 and 1979, known for its Grand Prix motorcycle racing successes during the 1950s. Prior to World War II, it manufactured delivery tricycles...
jointly agreed to withdraw from Grand Prix competition due to escalating costs and diminishing sales. Count Agusta originally agreed to withdraw, but then had second thoughts. MV Agusta went on to dominate Grand Prix racing, winning 17 consecutive 500 cc world championships. Count Agusta's competitive nature usually saw him hire some of the best riders of the time, namely Carlo Ubbiali
Carlo Ubbiali
Carlo Ubbiali is an Italian nine-time World Champion motorcycle road racer. In the 1950s, he was a dominant force in the smaller classes of Grand Prix motorcycle racing.-Career:...
, John Surtees
John Surtees
John Surtees, OBE is a British former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer and Formula One driver from England. He was 500cc motorcycle World Champion in 1956 and 1958–60, Formula One World Champion in 1964, and remains the only person to have won World Championships on both two and four wheels...
, Mike Hailwood
Mike Hailwood
Stanley Michael Bailey Hailwood, MBE, GM was a British Grand Prix motorcycle road racer regarded by many as one of the greatest racers of all time. He was known as "Mike The Bike" because of his natural riding ability...
, Giacomo Agostini
Giacomo Agostini
-Non-riding career:Like John Surtees and Mike Hailwood before him, Agostini raced in Formula One cars. He competed in non-championship Formula One races in 1978. He competed in the European Formula 2 series in a Chevron B42-BMW and British Aurora Formula 1 with his own team and a Williams FW06...
, Phil Read
Phil Read
Phillip William Read is an English former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer nicknamed "The Prince of Speed." Although he would often be overshadowed by his contemporary, Mike Hailwood, he would become the first man to win world championships in the 125cc, 250cc and 500cc classes.-Biography:In 1964,...
, among others, and having the best engineers, most notably Arturo Magni. The three- and four-cylinder race bikes were known for their excellent road handling. The fire-engine red racing machines became a hallmark of Grand Prix racing in the 1960s and early 1970s.
Loss of the guiding force (1971 - 1980)
With the death of Count Domenico Agusta in 1971, the company lost its guiding force. The company won their last Grand Prix in 19761976 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season
The 1976 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 28th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.-Season summary:1976 marked the beginning of the era of Suzuki domination with the Japanese firm taking 11 of the first 12 places in the premier class. Angel Nieto would take his fifth world title...
and by the 1980 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season
1980 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season
The 1980 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 32nd F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.-Season summary:Yamaha's Kenny Roberts claimed his third successive 500cc world championship in a season shortened by the cancellations of the Venezuelan and Austrian rounds. Randy Mamola took...
they were out of racing. Shortly thereafter, they ceased motorcycle production. Between 1948 and 1976 MV Agusta motorcycles had won over 3000 races and 63 World Championships overall. After MV Agusta left the racing scene in 1980, Magni began producing his own custom-framed MV motorcycles.
Resurrected by Cagiva (1991 - 1999)
Cagiva
Cagiva is an Italian motorcycle manufacturer. It was founded in 1950 by Giovanni Castiglioni in Varese, originally producing small metal components. It went into the motorcycle industry in 1978. The name is a portmanteau derived from the founder and the founding location, i.e. CAstiglioni GIovanni...
purchased the MV Agusta name trademarks in 1991. In 1997 it introduced the first new MV Agusta motorcycle. The new bikes were four-cylinder 750 cc sports machines, the F4 range
MV Agusta F4 series
The MV Agusta F4 was the motorcycle that launched the resurrection of MV Agusta in 1998. The F4 was created by famous motorcycle designer Massimo Tamburini at CRC , following his work on the Ducati 916...
, which included a series of limited production run models, such as the all black paint work SPR model ("Special Production Racing") which was featured in the movie I, Robot
I, Robot (film)
I, Robot is a 2004 science-fiction action film directed by Alex Proyas. The screenplay was written by Jeff Vintar, Akiva Goldsman and Hillary Seitz, and is very loosely based on Isaac Asimov's short-story collection of the same name. Will Smith stars in the lead role of the film as Detective Del...
. In 2004 they introduced their first 1,000 cc bike. 2004 marked the end of production for the 750 sports machines, with a limited production of 300 SR (Special Racing) model in the traditional red and silver livery.
MV Agusta also made a limited number of F4 750 cc and F4 1,000 cc Senna editions in memory of the late Formula One Champion Ayrton Senna
Ayrton Senna
Ayrton Senna da Silva was a Brazilian racing driver. A three-time Formula One world champion, he is widely regarded as one of the greatest F1 drivers of all time...
, an avid Ducati and MV Agusta collector, in aid of the Instituto Ayrton Senna, his charity foundation in Brazil for children and young people. Three hundred of each model were made in the early 2000s.
They also produce a range of 750 and 910 naked bikes called the Brutale
MV Agusta Brutale series
The Brutale series of motorcycles are manufactured by MV Agusta of Italy. Its style is classified as a naked bike and the series consists of several models powered by either 749.5 cc or 909.1 cc inline-four, dohc-engines....
. Production is limited, as it is the policy of the company to produce an elite machine similar to Ferrari
Ferrari
Ferrari S.p.A. is an Italian sports car manufacturer based in Maranello, Italy. Founded by Enzo Ferrari in 1929, as Scuderia Ferrari, the company sponsored drivers and manufactured race cars before moving into production of street-legal vehicles as Ferrari S.p.A. in 1947...
in motor cars. They do not compete directly with Japanese manufacturers, whose motorcycles typically sell for considerably lower prices; rather, they compete with other Italian models such as Ducati's sports bikes 996
Ducati 996
The Ducati 996 is an Italian street motorcycle manufactured by Ducati from 1999 to 2002. It was based upon the earlier 916.-Model history:...
, 998
Ducati 998
The Ducati 998, a successor to the Ducati 996 and the final variation on the Ducati 916, was produced in various models from 2002 to 2004. The new Testastretta engine shared many similarities with the previous Desmoquattro engine in the 996, although it was completely new from the crankshaft up....
, 999
Ducati 999
The Ducati 999 superseded the Massimo Tamburini designed Ducati 916, Ducati 996 and Ducati 998 range of superbikes in 2003, and was produced through 2006...
, 1098
Ducati 1098
The Ducati 1098 is a sport bike manufactured by the Italian motorcycle company Ducati since 2007. There were three different versions, called the 1098, 1098S, and 1098R...
, and the naked Monster
Ducati Monster
The Monster is a motorcycle designed by Miguel Angel Galluzzi and produced by Ducati Motor Holding in Bologna, Italy since 1993...
. In 2005 MV Agusta introduced the Tamburini 1000, which is named after its creator, Massimo Tamburini
Massimo Tamburini
Massimo Tamburini is an Italian motorcycle designer for motorcycle companies including: Cagiva, Ducati, MV Agusta; and Bimota, which he founded, together with Bianchi and Morri ....
, who had previously worked for Ducati, where he designed the Ducati 916. Cycle World
Cycle World
Cycle World is a motorcycling magazine in the United States. It was founded in 1962 by Joe Parkhurst, who was inducted to the Motorcycle Hall of Fame as "the person responsible for bringing a new era of objective journalism" to the U.S. and is now the largest motorcycling magazine in the world...
and Australian Motorcycle News magazine named it the best sportbike in the world. Tamburini designed the Ducati 916 sports bike (predecessor of the 748 and 996 series) which marked the return of Ducati as a successful motorcycle manufacturer in the early twentyfirst century. The MV Agusta F4 refined the innovative design of the 916. Claimed power of the new F4 312R model is 183 hp. In 1999 the Cagiva group was restructured for strategic purposes and MV Agusta become the main division, comprising Cagiva and Husqvarna.
Since 1999
Heavily in debt, the manufacturer was bought by Malaysian car maker ProtonProton (company)
Proton is a Malaysian automobile manufacturer headquartered in Subang Jaya and Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia, with a manufacturing plant in Tanjung Malim, Perak. Founded in 1983, it was Malaysia's only carmaker until the establishment of its competitor and arch-rival, Perodua, in 1993...
in December 2004 for €
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
70 million. In December 2005 Proton sold MV Agusta to GEVI SpA, a Genoa
Genoa
Genoa |Ligurian]] Zena ; Latin and, archaically, English Genua) is a city and an important seaport in northern Italy, the capital of the Province of Genoa and of the region of Liguria....
-based financing company related to Carige, for a token one euro excluding debt. By 2006 GEVI SpA, with 65% of the share capital, had refinanced MV Agusta, allowing the company to continue, in its native Italy.
In July 2007 MV Agusta Motor S.p.A, sold the Husqvarna
Husqvarna Motorcycles
Husqvarna Motorcycles, a subsidiary of BMW, is a company manufacturing motocross, enduro and supermoto motorcycles. The company began producing motorcycles in 1903 at Huskvarna, Sweden, as a branch of the Husqvarna armament firm which had supplied the Swedish army with rifles since 1689.-History:As...
motorcycle brand to BMW
BMW
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company founded in 1916. It also owns and produces the Mini marque, and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. BMW produces motorcycles under BMW Motorrad and Husqvarna brands...
for an undisclosed amount. According to MV Agusta president Claudio Castiglioni, the sale was a strategic step to concentrate all of the company's resources in order to expand MV Agusta and Cagiva
Cagiva
Cagiva is an Italian motorcycle manufacturer. It was founded in 1950 by Giovanni Castiglioni in Varese, originally producing small metal components. It went into the motorcycle industry in 1978. The name is a portmanteau derived from the founder and the founding location, i.e. CAstiglioni GIovanni...
presence in the international markets having more financial resources for new model development.
Following years of stalled ownership, the Guggenheim's "Art of the Motorcycle" icon, the F4 model, was ready for a refresh, but the financial status of the company did not allow it. On July 11, 2008, Harley-Davidson
Harley-Davidson
Harley-Davidson , often abbreviated H-D or Harley, is an American motorcycle manufacturer. Founded in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, during the first decade of the 20th century, it was one of two major American motorcycle manufacturers to survive the Great Depression...
announced they had signed a definitive agreement to acquire the MV Agusta Group for US$109 million (€70m),
completing the acquisition on August 8, 2008.
On October 15, 2009, Harley-Davidson announced that it would divest its interest in MV Agusta;
on August 6, 2010, Harley-Davidson announced that it had concluded the sale of MV Agusta to Claudio Castiglioni and his wholly owned holding company, MV Agusta Motor Holding, S.r.l.
MV Agusta announced that for the first three months of 2010 bike sales increased by 50%.
The glory (1948 - 1980)
The name of MV Agusta became popular in 1948 when Franco Bertoni won the Italian Grand Prix. By that time MV Agusta adopted the commercial slogan: "Racing experience at the service of mass production."The manufacturer started a domination in all class in 1956. They won the 125 cc, 250 cc and 500 cc class simultaneously in 1956, 1958, 1959 and 1960. The manufacturer won 270 Grand Prix motorcycle races, with legendary riders such as Giacomo Agostini, Mike Hailwood, Phil Read, Carlo Ubbiali, Gary Hocking and John Surtess.
MV Agusta says on its USA Website about that period: "Dressed in red and silver, these invincible ‘record machines' took the hearts of all fans sensitive to the esoteric charm of the inline four-cylinder. An engine endowed with an extraordinary force largely underlined by the four megaphone-like exhausts, responsible for an unforgettable and terrifying roar. Distinguishing features that could not remain an exclusive heritage of the fortunate witnesses of that unforgettable era, needed to testify also in the future."
MV Agusta won the following World Titles:
- 500 cc class (John SurteesJohn SurteesJohn Surtees, OBE is a British former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer and Formula One driver from England. He was 500cc motorcycle World Champion in 1956 and 1958–60, Formula One World Champion in 1964, and remains the only person to have won World Championships on both two and four wheels...
, Gary HockingGary HockingGary Stuart Hocking was a Grand Prix motorcycle road racing world champion from Rhodesia who raced in the late 1950s and early 1960s.- Early life :...
, Mike HailwoodMike HailwoodStanley Michael Bailey Hailwood, MBE, GM was a British Grand Prix motorcycle road racer regarded by many as one of the greatest racers of all time. He was known as "Mike The Bike" because of his natural riding ability...
, Giacomo AgostiniGiacomo Agostini-Non-riding career:Like John Surtees and Mike Hailwood before him, Agostini raced in Formula One cars. He competed in non-championship Formula One races in 1978. He competed in the European Formula 2 series in a Chevron B42-BMW and British Aurora Formula 1 with his own team and a Williams FW06...
)- 1956, 1958 to 1974
- 250 cc class :
- 1956, 1958 to 1960
- 125 cc class :
- 1952, 1956, 1958 to 1960
MV Agusta also won races in the famous Tourist Trophy. Giacomo Agostini
Giacomo Agostini
-Non-riding career:Like John Surtees and Mike Hailwood before him, Agostini raced in Formula One cars. He competed in non-championship Formula One races in 1978. He competed in the European Formula 2 series in a Chevron B42-BMW and British Aurora Formula 1 with his own team and a Williams FW06...
made his Tourist Trophy debut in 1965 in the Junior class on an MV 350 three-cylinder and finish third. He participated in 16 TT races, all on MV Agustas, he won the race 10 times, retired 3 times and was on the podium in the other races. He completed a Senior/Junior double in 1968, 1969, 1970 and 1972. Mike Hailwood
Mike Hailwood
Stanley Michael Bailey Hailwood, MBE, GM was a British Grand Prix motorcycle road racer regarded by many as one of the greatest racers of all time. He was known as "Mike The Bike" because of his natural riding ability...
won the Tourist Trophy on a MV Agusta 4 times, 3 on Senior class and 1 in Junior class. John Surtees
John Surtees
John Surtees, OBE is a British former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer and Formula One driver from England. He was 500cc motorcycle World Champion in 1956 and 1958–60, Formula One World Champion in 1964, and remains the only person to have won World Championships on both two and four wheels...
turned to MV Agusta in 1956 and won the Senior class. In 1958, he finish the Junior and Senior class in 1st position, a feat he repeated in 1959. He also won the 1960 edition. MV Agusta won the Tourist Trophy 34 times.
Return to racing
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
Illinois, USA fielded an F4 750 in the Formula USA, Daytona International Speedway
Daytona International Speedway
Daytona International Speedway is a race track in Daytona Beach, Florida, United States. Since opening in 1959, it has been the home of the Daytona 500, one of the most prestigious races in NASCAR. In addition to NASCAR, the track also hosts races of ARCA, AMA Superbike, Grand-Am and Motocross...
200 Mile Team Challenge. The team placed second overall with riders Larry Denning and Aaron Risinger piloting the bike.
In May 2007 the company confirmed its return to racing in the 2008 Superbike World Championship season
2008 Superbike World Championship season
The 2008 World Superbike racing season was the 21st season of the Superbike World Championship. Corona Extra ceased to be the championship's title sponsor, as it had been since 1998...
. Carl Fogarty
Carl Fogarty
Carl 'Foggy' Fogarty is the most successful World Superbike racer of all time in terms of the number of championships and number of race wins...
's English-based Team Foggy Racing was going to run the team; Fogarty however abandoned the plans to return to the Superbike World Championship because of lack of sponsorship.
MV Agusta in 2008 competed in the Italian Superbike Championship. Luca Scassa won the Italian Superbike Championship on a MV Agusta factory-backed machine from the racing department in Schiranna, Varese
Varese
Varese is a town and comune in north-western Lombardy, northern Italy, 55 km north of Milan.It is the capital of the Province of Varese. The hinterland or urban part of the city is called Varesotto.- Geography :...
Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
.
Classic street models (1946 – 1980)
- 98 cc 1946–1949
- 125 Twin 1947
- 125 3-Speed 1948–1949
- 125 TEL 1949–1954
- 125 CSL Scooter 1949–1951
- 250 1947–1951
- 125 Motore Lungo 1950–1953
- 125 CGT Scooter 1950–1952
- 500 Turismo 1950
- Ovunque Scooter 1951–1954
- 150 1952–1953
- 175 CS 1953–1959
- Pullman 1953-1956
- 125 Turismo Rapido 1954–1958
- 48 Moped 1955–1959
- Superpullman 1955–1957
- 300 Twin 1955
- Raid 250 cc and 300 cc 1956–1962
- Ottantatre 83 cc 1958–1960
- 175 A B 1958-1959
- 125 TREL. Centomila 1959–1963
- 150 4T 1959–1970
- Chicco Scooter 1960–1964
- Tevere 235 1959–1960
- Checca ( 83 cc, 99 cc, 125 cc ) 1960–1969
- Liberty 50 cc 1962–1969
- Germano 50 cc 1964–1968
- Arno 166 GT 1964–1965
- 125 GT-GTL 1964–1973
- 125 Regolarita 1965–1970
- 250 Twin 1966–1971
- Four Cylinder series 1965–1980
- 600 tourer
- 750 GT
- 750SS
- 750 Sport (drum brake) 1972–1974
- 750 Sport (Disc brake) 1974
- 750 Sport America 1975–1978
- 850SS
- MV Agusta 350B SportMV Agusta 350B SportMV Agusta 350B Sport is a motorcycle made by MV Agusta. The Motorcycle was first introduced at the Milan motorcycle show in 1969. This mid-sized bike had great acceleration and sporty looks. Between 1970-1974 a number of MV Agusta 350’s were based on the engine and frame design...
1970–1974 - 350 Ipotesi 1975–1980
- 125 Sport 1975–1980
Race models (1946 – 1976)
- 98/125 Two Stroke 1946–1949
- 125 Twin-Cam 1950–1960
- 500 cc Shaft Drive Four
- MV Agusta 125 SohcMV Agusta 125 SohcThe MV Agusta 125 SOHC was a motorcycle produced by MV Agusta as a "Catalog" racer for the public in 1953. Privateer racers could purchase this race bike and could be highly competitive with a machine that was very similar to MV Agusta's works built motorcycles...
1953–1956 - 175 Twin-Cam 1955–1958
- 250 Single 1955–1959
- 350 Twin 1957
- 250 Twin 1959–1966
- 500 cc Six Cylinder 1957–1958
- 125 Disc Valve 1965
- 350 cc Three Cylinder 1965–1973
- MV Agusta 500 ThreeMV Agusta 500 ThreeMV Agusta 500cc Three is a road racing motorcycle made by MV Agusta to compete in the 500 cc Grand Prix motorcycle racing World Championship. The motorcycle was introduced in 1966 to compete with the ever competitive Honda Racing. The bike was a bored out version of MV Agusta's highly...
1966–1974 - 350 cc Six Cylinder 1969
- 350 cc Four Cylinder 1971–1976
- 500 cc Four Cylinder 1973–1976
MV Agusta F4MV Agusta F4 seriesThe MV Agusta F4 was the motorcycle that launched the resurrection of MV Agusta in 1998. The F4 was created by famous motorcycle designer Massimo Tamburini at CRC , following his work on the Ducati 916...
750 cc
- F4 750 S (2000)
- F4 750 S 1+1 (2000)
Limited Editions
- F4 ORO (1999)
- F4 750 Senna (2003)
- F4 SPR (2004)
- F4 750 Agostini (2004)
- F4 750 S Limited Edition America (2005)
MV Agusta F4MV Agusta F4 seriesThe MV Agusta F4 was the motorcycle that launched the resurrection of MV Agusta in 1998. The F4 was created by famous motorcycle designer Massimo Tamburini at CRC , following his work on the Ducati 916...
1000 cc (First model)
- F4 1000 S (2005)
- F4 1000 S 1+1 (2005)
- F4 1000 R (2006)
- F4 1000 R 1+1 (2006)
- F4 1000 R 312 (2007)
- F4 1078 RR 312 (2008)
Limited Editions
- F4 AGO (2005)
- F4 Mamba (2005)
- F4 Tamburini (2005)
- F4 1000 Senna (2005)
- F4 1000 SP-01 (2005)
- F4 Corse (2006)
- F4 1000 Veltro (2006)
- F4 1000 CR Platino (2007)
- F4CC - Claudio Castiglioni (2007)
- F4 1000 R 312 Scuderia Ferrari (2010)
MV Agusta F4MV Agusta F4 seriesThe MV Agusta F4 was the motorcycle that launched the resurrection of MV Agusta in 1998. The F4 was created by famous motorcycle designer Massimo Tamburini at CRC , following his work on the Ducati 916...
1000 cc (Second model)
- F4 1000 R (2010)
- F4 1000 RR (2011)
Limited Editions
- F4 1078 RR 312 Edizione finale (2010)
- F4 1000 R Frecce Tricolori (2010)
- F4 1000 RR edition 50ans école d’aviation de chasse (2011)
MV Agusta BrutaleMV Agusta Brutale seriesThe Brutale series of motorcycles are manufactured by MV Agusta of Italy. Its style is classified as a naked bike and the series consists of several models powered by either 749.5 cc or 909.1 cc inline-four, dohc-engines....
750 cc
- Brutale 750 S (2003)
Limited Editions
- Brutale 750 ORO (2002)
- Brutale 750 S America (2005)
- Brutale 750 S CRC (2005)
- Brutale 750 S Gladio (2005)
MV Agusta BrutaleMV Agusta Brutale seriesThe Brutale series of motorcycles are manufactured by MV Agusta of Italy. Its style is classified as a naked bike and the series consists of several models powered by either 749.5 cc or 909.1 cc inline-four, dohc-engines....
1000 cc (First model)
- Brutale 910 S (2006)
- Brutale 910 R (2007)
- Brutale 1078 RR (2008)
- Brutale 989 R (2008)
Limited Editions
- Brutale 910 R Italia (2007)
- Brutale 910 R Wally (2007)
- Brutale 1078 RR Jean Richard (2009)
MV Agusta BrutaleMV Agusta Brutale seriesThe Brutale series of motorcycles are manufactured by MV Agusta of Italy. Its style is classified as a naked bike and the series consists of several models powered by either 749.5 cc or 909.1 cc inline-four, dohc-engines....
1000 cc (Second model)
- Brutale 990 R (2010)
- Brutale 1090 R (2010)
- Brutale 920 (2011)
Limited Editions
- Brutale 910 R Starfighter (2010)
- Brutale 990 R Brand Milano (2010)
- Brutale 1090 RR Cannonball (2010)