MV Agusta

The story of Agusta started in 1907, when Count Giovanni Agusta, a Sicilian aristocrat with a passion for flying machines, founded the Agusta aeronautics company in Palermo. With the outbreak of WWI, he moved on to produce his own models for the “Regia Aeronautica”, Italy’s royal Air Force. Count Giovanni died in 1927, his widow Countess Giuseppina and son Domenico succeeded him at the helm of the family business, expanding it and consolidating its position in the industry. After the war the airplane industry had dramatically declined, and Domenico decided to diversify into motorcycles, yet airplane production was not abandoned. It soared again through World War II, but motorcycles had definitively entered the company’s DNA. The first MV Agusta branded motorcycle was officially launched in the autumn of that year. Bertoni’s was to be the first of a long streak of MV Agusta victories that lasted for decades. The company constantly experimented with the latest technological advances and this pioneering attitude reflected in its motorcycles, which have always been known for being at the forefront of innovation. The brand’s victories on the racetracks also boosted the sales of its road models. Therefore, Domenico had many reasons, beyond his personal passion for the racing world, to keep investing in best machines and most skilled riders. In 1955, with a daring, bold move, the Agustas decided to go back to their old love for flying machines and acquired the license for the production of Bell Helicopters, giving birth to Agusta helicopters, today one of Italy’s state-owned most important defense industry jewels. Domenico hadn’t abandoned his two-wheeled passion, though, and in 1956 he hired another racetrack legend, Carlo Ubbiali. Nicknamed “the flying Chinaman” because of his particular looks, he was in fact authentically Italian. Ubbiali won five World Championships in the 125 cc category, and two in the 250. He was also three - time Italy’s champion in the 125 class and won the 250 twice. The Agustas’ passion for avionics clearly showed in their motorcycles, giving them a raging racing soul, and their domination of the world’s racetracks was unquestionable. However, mass car ownership caused a sharp decline in the sales of production motorbikes during the late 1950’s and early 1960’s, yet Agusta’s response was to offer ever more innovative models that appealed to the true motorcycle enthusiasts. The strategy paid off also thanks to MV’s uninterrupted racing successes. To support that strategy, in 1961 another racing hero was brought in to guarantee MV Agusta’s continuing domination. Mike Hailwood was one of the greatest riders of all times. He invented the “froglike” riding position, with knees splayed outwards. He was also the winner of the 1965 Tourist Trophy with 4-cylinder 500cc, just before the rise, under the MV Agusta colours, of the most acclaimed champion in motorcycling history, Giacomo Agostini. 1965 was the start of what was probably the most celebrated combination in the history of motorcycle racing: that of Giacomo Agostini and MV’s inline three-cylinder engine. In his career “Ago” won 311 races. He won 13 World Championships titles and 18 Italian titles, making his final, victorious curtain call with the brand in 1976 at the Nürburgring, 5 years after the passing of Count Domenico, at the peak of his and the company’s glory. To succeed Agostini, Agusta called on Phil read, known as the “gentleman rider” for his appearances at racetracks in a white Rolls Royce. He was considered Agostini’s natural successor. He won six World Championships, one of which flying the MV Agusta colours. His reign only lasted one year after Agostini’s last race. Domenico’s brother, Corrado, had taken over at the lead. In 1973, he sold a controlling share of the family business to EFIM, a state-owned conglomerate, who in 1977 decided it was time for the motorcycle part of the business to take a break, after 37 World Champ