MV Agusta celebrates 80 years – Road Racing World Magazine

MV AGUSTA celebrates its 80th anniversary.

Since January 19, 1945, MV Agusta has been creating masterpieces on two wheels, handcrafted in Italy with innovation, beauty and pride.

Eighty-year logo

MV Agusta celebrates its 80th anniversary, a remarkable milestone in the motorcycle world that tells a unique story of innovation, passion and success. Since 1945, MV Agusta has been synonymous with excellence in design, engineering and motorcycle racing. For more than eight decades, the Varese-based brand has set both quality and performance standards on the racetrack, with 75 world titles (38 riders and 37 manufacturers) and on the road, it has become an icon of Italian style. and craftsmanship. Since its inception, MV Agusta has embodied the values ​​of innovation, precision and dedication, building models that have gone into motorcycle legend. Each motorcycle designed is the result of an enduring passion for performance, technical perfection and aesthetic exploration – fundamental principles of philosophy that continue to inspire generations of riders and enthusiasts around the world.
A key player in the aviation industry, the Ogas family, unable to produce airplanes immediately after World War II, decided to build motorcycles for their passion for speed and technology. In the year On January 19, 1945, Società Anonima Meccanica Verghera was officially founded in Casina Costa di Samarate, near today’s Malpensa International Airport, in northern Italy.

The first MV Agusta-branded motorcycle was officially launched in late 1945 and went down in history as the MV 98. The Agusta family’s passion for aviation is clearly reflected in their motorcycles, giving them a true racing soul. With the MV 98, an impressive series of victories and achievements began, dominating racing races around the world for decades. Aviation heritage is evident in MV Agusta’s 80-year history. A prime example is the red and silver livery: red is Italian motorsport heritage, while silver pays homage to aviation.

In the year The mass production of vehicles in the 1950s and 1960s led to a decline in the demand for motorcycles as a convenient means of transportation. MV Agusta’s response has been to develop increasingly innovative and high-performance models that are distinguished by constant aesthetic research. These bikes overcame the need to reduce two-wheeled transportation and made them objects of desire. This strategy proved successful, thanks in part to the brand’s continued sporting victories.

Count Domenico Agusta had the ability to choose the best riders, many of whom became motorcycle legends: Franco Bertoni, MV Agusta’s first rider, followed by Arcisio Artesiani, Carlo Ubili (“The Flying Chinaman”), Leslie Graham, Cecil Sandford, Fortunato Libanori, John Surtees. , Mike Hailwood, Gianfranco Bonera, Giacomo Read Agostini and Phil. In August, 30 years of victories are linked to the legacy of the famous MV Agusta production models. The partnership between MV Agusta and Giacomo Agostini remains one of the most famous in motorcycle history: “Ago” became the most successful rider in motorcycle history, winning 13 World Cups, 18 Italian Championships and 10 Touring Cups during his time at Cassina Costa Bikes.

MV Agusta’s 80 years have been known not only for countless sporting achievements, but also for creating genuine collector’s items that are highly sought after by enthusiasts worldwide. For example, the 1954 175 CSS, nicknamed the “Disco Volante”, the 1973 750 S “America”, the legendary F4 launched in 1997, whose uniqueness captivated a generation of motorcyclists, and the famous Brutale, still considered the epitome of a faraway bike. In the year In 2010, with the F3 – the world’s first motorcycle with a counter-rotating crankshaft – MV Agusta adopted a technical solution that revolutionized the handling and stability of mid-size sports bikes.

Recent history has been marked by models such as the Rush, Dragster, Turismo Veloce and Superveloce, each embodying the brand’s DNA of innovation, performance and aesthetics. In the year In 2024, MV Agusta took another bold step with the Enduro Velos, redefining the adventure bike segment with a project that combines performance, advanced technology and sophisticated design.

MV Agusta’s creations are not only major events in motorcycling, but also recognized as true works of art. Some have found places in the world’s most prestigious design and art museums.

In the year Unveiled in 2018, American artist Daniel Arsham, whose neo-retro aesthetic took the world by storm, was selected to create six of the “Modern Artifacts”. The artist selects contemporary pop culture icons and reworks them using his erosion technique, transforming them into objects that combine classic aesthetics with a forward-looking vision. In the year In 2024, the most unique Supervlos Arsham in history was exhibited at the Arsham 3024 exhibition at the Venice Biennale.
The Superveloce name evolved in 2024 with the latest version of the Superveloce 1000 Serie Oro. Produced in just 500 units, this motorcycle was instantly hailed as “the most beautiful bike in the world”. Its beauty inspired Hollywood director Nicolas Winding Ref, who made the short film “Beauty Is Not a Sin,” which was selected for the official lineup of the Venice Film Festival – the first commercial project to receive this honor.

“Motorcycle Art”, the slogan that accompanies MV Agusta embodies the artistic and artistic aspect of the brand, elevating it beyond motorcycle manufacturing to a true factory of dreams on two wheels, with genuine Made in Italy as a core value.

Today, MV Agusta looks to the future with the same pioneering spirit that defined its legacy. Focusing on technological innovation, communication and strengthening relationships with dealers and customers, the brand continues to create unique motorcycles that seamlessly blend tradition and modernity.

In honor of this remarkable story, MV Agusta has created the 2025 Collezione Ottantesimo, unveiled last November at EICMA. Centro Steel MV Agusta designed the historic logo for this occasion, replacing the traditional logo on all motorcycles in the collection.

The six celebratory models (800 Series 3-cylinder range: Brutale RR Ottantesimo, Dragster RR Ottantesimo, F3 RR Ottantesimo and Superveloce S Ottantesimo – 1000 Series 4-cylinder range: Brutale 1000 Ottantesimo and Brutale 1 allRR) limited series of just 500 units, on the model Based on the laser located on the steering board or on the tank protection plate They will be engraved and marked “1 of 500”. Each motorcycle prepared for the 80th anniversary is unique. It’s their own.

The 80th Anniversary Collection celebrates over 80 years of true Made in Italy history of excitement, success and performance. It has provided works of art in the form of motorcycles and has made generations of enthusiasts and design, mechanics and aesthetic lovers dream and fall, always enduring the spectacle.

Luca Martin, CEO of MV Agusta Motors SpA, said: “Being part of MV Agusta in this big year in history is a special feeling and a great responsibility. This milestone is not only a tribute to our heritage, but also a commitment to the future: to continue to innovate while maintaining the values ​​that have made MV Agusta a global icon. We are proud to represent Italian excellence at the Montessitorio ‘100 Italian Excellence’ Awards last December, showcasing our craftsmanship, expertise and passion. Every MV Agusta motorcycle in the world comes completely, and only, from our beautiful factory on the shores of Lake Varese. The knowledge of working in a place where these dreams are shaped is a matter of great pride for all of us.