Moto Guzzi considers a return to racing! Merged threadfest

[LowRyter]

http://www.gpone.com/en/2016091032252/motogp/moto-guzzi-considers-a-return-to-racing.html

MotoGP, Moto Guzzi considers a return to racing!

Zanolini: "The legacy of the brand is pushing us to consider it. And then it will be Gilera's turn"

 
 
Gianmaria Rosati

This is an important weekend for Moto Guzzi, which is celebrating its 95th anniversary, having been founded on 15 March 1921.

And while a three-day event for 20,000 Guzzi enthusiasts is underway in Mandello del Lario, home to Guzzi, at Misano the FMI, represented by president Paolo Sesti himself, has chosen to pay homage to the manufacturer with a celebrative plate.

On site to receive this award is Davide Zanolini, marketing and communication director for the Piaggio group.

�I thank the FIM very much for this award, and am pleased that the ceremony is taking place at Misano and not at Mandello. This is because � explains Zanolini � Misano is a temple to bikes and so is in keeping with the Guzzi spirit, while it would have perhaps been rather commonplace if held at our base. Moto Guzzi was the first manufacturer to consider creating and using the wind tunnel, and this tells you something about the prestige of this brand that, right now, is experiencing a second youth. In the next five years leading up to our centenary, we have many important projects planned, with one eye on the younger audience that is returning to our brand�.

So a manufacturer that needs no introduction and that boasts 15 world titles (7 riders' and 8 manufacturers' titles). Moto Guzzi has not competed in racing since 1957, but this lengthy absence might soon come to an end.

�As we celebrate 95 years, we are also beginning a five-year period that will lead up to the centenary of this glorious brand. We will have some extraordinary new products that will extend a range that is already giving us great satisfaction, while also attracting a new, young generation of fans to the Moto Guzzi brand and to motorcycling- said Zanolini -  But Moto Guzzi also boasts an extremely significant racing history, an extraordinary legacy that is pushing us to consider a return to racing. Aprilia Racing is at the pinnacle of technological research within the Piaggio Group and there is nothing preventing us from transferring, as already occurs with the production bikes, this technology also to the Moto Guzzi brand with a view to racing. It might not happen right now, but we definitely don't want to exclude this exciting possibility�.

Are we dreaming or actually awake? Guzzi back on the track, perhaps in the Endurance championship?

�As I've said, a return to racing is always possible, never say never. Where would we return? Of course it's difficult to go straight into MotoGP; at the moment all doors are open, even the world of reliability trials. We need to remember that Moto Guzzi is already involved in racing to a certain extent in the sense that it is absorbed in Aprilia Racing�.

Speaking of winning brands that are currently not involved in racing, our thoughts also turn to Gilera, which won its last title with Marco Simoncelli in 250 in 2008.

�Gilera's return is closely linked to the budget of the Piaggio group. Right now the priority is to relaunch the Aprilia and Moto Guzzi lines; once that is done, everybody, from president Colaninno down, hopes to be able make Gilera great once more�. 

[fotoguzzi]

LOL

[oldbike54]

 Let's take a rational look at the idea of MG returning to racing . First , it will take an entirely new engine that will have no connection to what they build now . Second , even a relative giant like Kawasaki has not been capable of mounting a competitive GP bike , and BMW's efforts were also highly unsuccessful , both after spending roughly the GDP of some small countries . Even BMW's SBK effort didn't fare all that well , and that bike was built on one of the best production supersport liter bikes built . Third, since Moto 3 is populated by all single cylinder 250 CC engines , and Moto 2 is a spec engine class , all 4 cylinder engines supplied by Honda , and Moto 1 is dominated by 4 cylinder engines, where does MG fit in ? No , it would be a disaster for even Piaggio to spend the money on a racing machine , when what needs to happen at Guzzi involves making sure that the production bikes actually get grease in all of the appropriate places , and the turn indicators work on their new bikes .

 Dusty

[fotoguzzi]

. Where would we return?   all doors are open, even the world of reliability trials. 

LOL again.. how many years have the in tank fuel lines been falling apart and filters swelling. about 14 I think..

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Did I fall asleep and awaken on April 1st? :-)

[gsp0702]

Moto Guzzi could return to racing superbikes the same way Norton returned to the Isle of Mann TT in the last four years, running a rebadged Aprilia V4 engine(Used their own Chassis and fairing etc). So won't necessarily be a new Guzzi engined sports bike maybe just an Aprilia in a new set of fairings. So if they would get more value from the Moto Guzzi brand in say the American superbike series than Aprilia maybe they would try that.

But would suspect it falls into the category of never say never at the moment rather than something that is going to happen.

[swooshdave]

How many GP bikes are based on production bikes or engines? Moto Guzzi has one of the better brands in the scooter group's stable. Perhaps a Vespa GP bike would make more sense? 

[vintage53]

We can only dream.   
Remember when......

[Scud]

How about a V9-powered Stelvio for the Dakar Rally?  Introducing a new ADV with a few finishes (they don't have to be wins) would be good for the brand.

[oldbike54]

How about a V9-powered Stelvio for the Dakar Rally?  Introducing a new ADV with a few finishes (they don't have to be wins) would be good for the brand.

 Seems the Dakar is limited to 450 CC singles now , the factory twins were making 130 HP ,or more .

 Dusty

[vintage53]

If Piaggio awakes the Gilera Brand ,   It's only been 50 years. 










 

[Arizona Wayne]

If Aprilia is no longer competitive in world superperbike since it has gone to Moto GP and is not competitive there the last 2 years, what makes you think Moto Guzzi can be competitive in either of these series of racing.    Talk is cheap.

[flip]

MotoGP, Moto Guzzi considers a return to racing!

Zanolini: "The legacy of the brand is pushing us to consider it. And then it will be Gilera's turn"

Maybe management is buying MotoGP tickets for the employees...

[Xlratr]

Hard to imagine. I think it's just a nod to the FIM as part of the thank you speech. He can hardly rule out a return to motor sport while receiving a plaque from a motor sports association!

But still, it's a very upbeat speech and the part about exciting new models coming in the next 5 years is encouraging. It doesn't sound like a company with a 100% cruiser focus.

[pete roper]

Just another Piaggio suit insulting the intelligence of anybody with an IQ higher than an ant!

[dan_s]

I'm considering lots of thing too

[Jukebox]

 
Just another Piaggio suit insulting the intelligence of anybody with an IQ higher than an ant!  :1:

Did I fall asleep and awaken on April 1st? :-)   :1:

Talk is cheap  :1:

Seems I think it's bull shit  :1:

Harry

[Aaron D.]

Peugeot is in Moto3. KTM starts in Moto2 next year. Neither make the engine, Peugeot doesn't make their frame I think.

Just rebadge the Aprilia MotoGP bike and voila.

[leafman60]

Hard to imagine. I think it's just a nod to the FIM as part of the thank you speech. He can hardly rule out a return to motor sport while receiving a plaque from a motor sports association!

But still, it's a very upbeat speech and the part about exciting new models coming in the next 5 years is encouraging. It doesn't sound like a company with a 100% cruiser focus.

ditto

[Chuck in Indiana]

071197a1-1b16-4a7b-8780-9425c292e1fe by Charles Stottlemyer, on Flickr

[mtiberio]

Guzzi could return to racing in the Moto 3 class. Small bikes, single cylinders, right up their historical alley... No collision with Aprilia. Works for me. Ultimately, we may get a new Guzzi Thumper out of it...

Another 4 cylinder like the MV would be boring...

[steven c]

 Calling DR John!

[clubman]

Moto Guzzi could return to racing superbikes the same way Norton returned to the Isle of Mann TT in the last four years, running a rebadged Aprilia V4 engine(Used their own Chassis and fairing etc). So won't necessarily be a new Guzzi engined sports bike maybe just an Aprilia in a new set of fairings. So if they would get more value from the Moto Guzzi brand in say the American superbike series than Aprilia maybe they would try that.

But would suspect it falls into the category of never say never at the moment rather than something that is going to happen.

  +1:This. The Aprillia connection would be logical and an obvious fastrack. Chassis development could be easily contracted out. Only takes money and desire.

[oldbike54]

 HRC always blamed any race bike failure on an electrical glitch , even when it was obvious that a motor had exploded in a spectacular fashion leaving an oil slick and requiring the fire brigade . Wonder what MG's excuse will be , "well , apparently we forgot to grease the swingarm" 

 Dusty

[LowRyter]

Let's take a rational look at the idea of MG returning to racing . First , it will take an entirely new engine that will have no connection to what they build now . Second , even a relative giant like Kawasaki has not been capable of mounting a competitive GP bike , and BMW's efforts were also highly unsuccessful , both after spending roughly the GDP of some small countries . Even BMW's SBK effort didn't fare all that well , and that bike was built on one of the best production supersport liter bikes built . Third, since Moto 3 is populated by all single cylinder 250 CC engines , and Moto 2 is a spec engine class , all 4 cylinder engines supplied by Honda , and Moto 1 is dominated by 4 cylinder engines, where does MG fit in ? No , it would be a disaster for even Piaggio to spend the money on a racing machine , when what needs to happen at Guzzi involves making sure that the production bikes actually get grease in all of the appropriate places , and the turn indicators work on their new bikes .

 Dusty

I might add that the mention was leveraging from Aprilia (already in MotoGP and WSBK Champs) and no mention was a made of MotoGP in the interview.  And the interview was with a Guzzi insider, not a speculator. 

Also mentioned is this impetus is anticipation to Guzzi's 100th Anniv in 5 years. 

All this was mentioned in the interview.

[twhitaker]

Hard to imagine. I think it's just a nod to the FIM as part of the thank you speech. He can hardly rule out a return to motor sport while receiving a plaque from a motor sports association!

But still, it's a very upbeat speech and the part about exciting new models coming in the next 5 years is encouraging. It doesn't sound like a company with a 100% cruiser focus.

This.

[LowRyter]

Hard to imagine. I think it's just a nod to the FIM as part of the thank you speech. He can hardly rule out a return to motor sport while receiving a plaque from a motor sports association!

But still, it's a very upbeat speech and the part about exciting new models coming in the next 5 years is encouraging. It doesn't sound like a company with a 100% cruiser focus.

that was my thinking. 

But the Aprilia engines and R&D are sunk cost.  I've speculated here that Guzzi derived RSV4 might be a great basis for a new LeMans.  Perhaps more street oriented than track oriented?   Maybe a run at IoM (like Norton).  it would be pretty easy to do and to broaden the brand. 

And it's something we've been saying on the board since I've been on it from 2007. 

[LowRyter]

Just another Piaggio suit insulting the intelligence of anybody with an IQ higher than an ant!

I must resemble that remark.

[LowRyter]

I was thinking this might be a fun thread but it's turned out worse than the Rossi haters in  the Moto GP thread.

I suppose we should just kill the thread. 

[oldbike54]

I might add that the mention was leveraging from Aprilia (already in MotoGP and WSBK Champs) and no mention was a made of MotoGP in the interview.  And the interview was with a Guzzi insider, not a speculator. 

Also mentioned is this impetus is anticipation to Guzzi's 100th Anniv in 5 years. 

All this was mentioned in the interview.

 Yeah , like even the mothership knows what is going to happen  It takes what , $50,000,000,000 to develop any kind of serious race bike , and if they started now it would be an all out frantic effort to field a bike that was remotely competitive in 5 years . Of course as has been mentioned , they could just rebadge some 250 single as a Moto Guzzi , heck , we would all believe that is authentic  Maybe Rossi will still be racing , Guzzi could give him a ride 

 Dusty