Motor Bike Expo 2024 kicks off with a record-breaking Friday

Luca Zaia: “You have to believe in what you do, like Paola Somma and Francesco Agnoletto”

Motor Bike Expo 2024, the large international exhibition dedicated to motorcyclists, opened today at Veronafiere, with a record-breaking Friday: 100,000 square metres, 700 exhibitors, of which 20% from abroad, 7 pavilions, 6 external areas, a program which includes over 150 appointments, events and meetings.

Massive turnout of the public to admire over 3,000 motorbikes and articles to cover everything that the street, custom, racing, touring, off road, vintage, lifestyle, urban mobility, “small wheels” and travel sectors offer. And then shopping area, motorcycle market and much more.

On the occasion of the ribbon cutting, Federico Bricolo, President of Veronafiere, said: “There is already an incredible turnout of the public, it’s a great success. Motor Bike Expo is a flagship of the Italian exhibition system” . Previously, during the preview of the event, at the Gran Guardia, President Bricolo, together with the CEO Maurizio Danese, had presented an award to the creators and organizers Paola Somma and Francesco Agnoletto for thirty years of trade fair activity.

Also present at the inauguration was Luca Zaia, President of the Veneto Region, who, in congratulating the turnout, focused on the exemplary case of Venetian entrepreneurship of the event, which started thirty years ago from the idea and enthusiasm of the two protagonists: “These two “boys” (Somma and Agnoletto, ed.) are an example for young people. You have to believe in what you do, as they show us.”

“The motorbike begins with the motorcyclist” – recalled Francesco Agnoletto – “and Motor Bike Expo is a fundamental starting point for the market. Here for three days styles, passions and trends are compared: companies and operators have the task to collect them” .

For Paola Somma, this great growth and this international affirmation required “a good dose of enthusiasm to start, tenacity to continue and acquire international credibility, carrying out an incessant search all over the world for innovations and quality that constantly renew our exhibition”.

10 years after the birth of the nineT, BMW Motorrad finally revealed the new R 12 and R 12 nineT to the public in the early morning, choosing MBE as the stage. The two new models, created on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the first motorcycle from the Monaco company, are a classic roadster and a cruiser united by the 1,170 cc boxer twin. Both offer numerous configurations and customizations, in perfect harmony with the custom spirit of MBE.

Subsequently, after the first unveiling preview in the Brave on Wheels evening on Thursday 18th at the Gran Guardia, the BMW R 18 One Eight “C” created by Paul Yaffe, one of the greatest exponents of bagger preparations in America, was also revealed to the public . The customizer maintained the standard electronics, modifying the bodywork and chassis. The 26-inch front wheel with 180 mm tire stands out. This R 18-based special, together with the one created by the German customizer Fred Kodlin, will be visible for the entire duration of MBE in pavilion 1 at the LowRide stand.

Three special models and a charitable initiative. Suzuki begins 2024 at the Motor Bike Expo, presenting the Sport and Touring versions of the GSX-S 1000GX and the Djebel V-STROM, a modern edition of a successful concept. How successful is the scooter used in the 2022 MotoGP paddock by Joan Mir, 2020 World Champion, whose Address 110 number 36 and the 42 of his teammate Alex Rins are auctioned on CharityStars, with a starting price of 800 euros , with raises of 50. The amount will be donated to Casa Ugi Torino.

Friday saw a concentration of custom-themed presentations never seen before. The Dutch exhaust manufacturer Dr. Jekill & Mr. Hyde exhibited two new versions of the Twenty-One variable sound system: one dedicated to the Indian Chief and the other to Harley-Davidson Touring models, also mounted on a racing motorcycle for the King of the Baggers championship, created thanks to the contribution of numerous partners, including the carbon parts manufacturer Carbon Visionary. The latter also unveiled two Harley-Davidson Road Glide models at its stand, one created in partnership with MBE.

The Brianza-based customizer Lorenzo Nisi of Bad Boys Garage presented at his stand two sports specials on different Sportster bases: a Forty-Eight with an Evolution 1200 engine and a Nightster with a Revolution Max 975 engine.

Multiple winner in numerous bike shows, the RP Motorcycle bike reaches its third restyling, created in clubstyle style on a 2009 Road Glide base in collaboration with the Swiss manufacturer of Malparidos exhausts.

Boccin Custom Cycles from Eraclea (VE), specialized in cast iron Harley-Davidson engines, presented a 1947 Flathead bobber painted with floral and skull themes by a young art student, sixteen-year-old Syria, inspired by the Japanese artist Takashi Murakami .

Finally, the Bergamo-based tuner Christian of CustomadeGarage proposed a 2019 Fat Boy, building the bodywork almost entirely by hand, painted by the artist Accia Skar.

About eighty disabled guests today visited Motor Bike Expo, the motorbike show taking place at Fiera Verona, in the company of the Freestyle Motocross Daboot crew, coordinated by Vanni Oddera. The visit ended with a motor therapy session organized in an open area of ​​the event. Motorcycle therapy means making people who cannot do it independently experience the emotion of “riding” a motorbike. With the help of the Bolognese champion Massimo Bianconcini, the young promise from Savona Francesco Buetto, the Spaniards Antonio Navas and Albert “Rocky” Florensa, and the Austrian engineer Dominik Splitek, the guests were able to enjoy an hour of celebration as “riders” : and not only. A staff of specialists from the Regina Margherita hospital in Turin has confirmed the beneficial effect of motor therapy in patients.

At MBE we speak femininely. Today there will be two talks dedicated to women and the world of work in motorsport. Rachele Sangiuliano, world-class volleyball player, now speaker and television commentator, moderated the debate of the four guests: Alice Bellotto Valeri Marketing and Sales Manager, Giulia Gherlone Co-Owner Officine Italiane Zard, Morena Cipolletti Entrepreneur Exagon 66 technical clothing, Antonella Martometti, member of the Women’s Commission of the International Motorcycling Federation (FIM), discussed the topic “Female courage and talent to establish themselves in the world of motorsport”. There are numerous interesting ideas and reflections on the difficulties of women in entering the world of work, particularly in motorcycling, but female “courage” has created, for example, technical clothing, of a traditionally masculine taste, “made by women for women”. Of great importance is the FIM program “Portrayal Guidelines” illustrated by Antonella Martometti, a guide on the correct representation of women in the world of two-wheelers aimed at assertively consolidating one’s active presence and bridging the gender gap.

The afternoon panel explored the theme of “The courage to turn your passion into a profession”. Elli Vignudelli, Yamaha rider and testimonial, Elisa Mazzucchelli, from “umbrella” to pit lane correspondent and television presenter, Gilda Dota founded Wheelz Magazine, Francesca Gasperi, photographer and Dakarian rider, and Domitilla Quadrelli, organizer of the Women Motor Bootcamp, were the guests. All united by the desire to become protagonists of the passion for motorbikes, from “ballasts” to motorcyclists, and not only that, entrepreneurs of themselves such as to have the “courage” to each undertake their own professional path. So much courage, passion and determination that they conveyed to the public present at the fair.

Around 1,500 students, coming from 24 high schools in the Veneto and central-northern Italy, participated in the tenth edition of MB Education. The boys met Andrea Brunati (Liqui Moly), Luca Lussiana and Fabio Mandelli (Yamaha Motor Italia), the rally champion Alessandro Botturi (Yamaha), Ferdinando Visconti di Modrone and Alessandro Brevi, both representing Pirelli – Metzeler and the pilot of speed Alessandro Del Bianco. We talked about competitions, the quality of industrial products and, specifically, the characteristics of lubricants, through small practical demonstrations. “Goal achieved. The meeting between the world of school and that of work in the motorcycle field – say the organizers – creates interest and reveals possible professional paths”.