THE MOTOR BIKE EXPO 2024 IN VERONA, ITALY. SATURDAY’S PRESS RELEASE AND IMAGES.

Press release provided by the Motor Bike Expo, Images by Polina Krasnova from Bikers Insider.

MOTOR BIKE EXPO
Veronafiere, 19 – 21 January 2024

PRESS RELEASE

The crowd invades the pavilions for homes, custom, travel and awards
Motor Bike Expo: a busy Saturday at Veronafiere
Harley-Davidson, Moto Guzzi and Yamaha… not just mass-produced products
T4 Motorcycles wins the coveted “MBE Award” and the title of “King of the custom”

According to what we are told, all the visitors subjected to checks following the accident that occurred yesterday, during the performance of a stuntman who hit the fence, have been discharged. Fortunately, the consequences of the event were mild, we are sorry for what happened and wish everyone a speedy recovery.

An intense and constant influx from the early hours of Saturday until closing, a crowded fair in all spaces, in all pavilions: this is the photo of the second day of Motor Bike Expo, the motorbike show underway at the Verona fair, where visitors were able to make the most of the fairground, the exhibition and the sunny day. Fabrizio Corona, a Ducati rider, was also recognized among the audience.

For Harley-Davidson, Motor Bike Expo is the event dedicated to customers, many of whom belong to H.O.G. (Harley Davidson Owner Group), who will meet in the 30th edition of the famous gathering, the European H.O.G. Rally, scheduled for 6/9 June in Senigallia. The colorful customized versions, created by the major European customizers, will be present in Verona in a space dedicated to them. MBE is also an opportunity for the company to reach out to enthusiasts, offering them the opportunity to try out the motorbikes in the “Demo Rides” available in the external areas of the Fair. Present was the “hero” of the Africa Eco Race rally, Joan Pedrero, an expert and tenacious Dakarian, who, with a completely standard Panamerica 1250, tackled the African rally, finishing in twenty-fifth position.

Traditionally present at MBE, Moto Guzzi unveiled the premiere of the V7 Stone Ten dedicated to Guzzisti who find themselves in “The Clan”, the official community of fans of the brand. MBE is also an opportunity for Piaggio group companies to promote the 2024 Experiences, the “all inclusive” packages, the Aprilia Racer Days and Aprilia Tuareg which offer customers “all inclusive” packages, to appreciate the performance of the bikes on the tracks of speed, together with qualified Federal Instructors, or on tortuous off road routes. The Guzzi Experience also offers, in the name of sharing, long journeys of road kilometres. Last but not least the celebration of Jacopo Cerutti, fresh from the Africa Eco Race, where he took first place with his Aprilia Tuareg. Jacopo was awarded on the occasion of the inaugural evening of MBE, at the Palazzo della Grand Guardia, where he received the “The Braves on Wheels” award, dedicated to the bravest. Also present at the Fair for the public on Fridays and Saturdays.

Yamaha has been present at the fair organized by Somma and Agnoletto for at least twenty years because it is the first event of the year dedicated to motorcyclists and because it believes in the formula that brings a manufacturer closer to enthusiasts than any other. The brand’s attention and commitment to professional training is of great importance: Yamaha was in fact particularly active in MB Education, a workshop dedicated to students from technical institutes in central-northern Italy. Fabio Mandelli and Luca Lussana, highly trained Yamaha Europe technicians, were among the speakers, transferring their know-how to the kids, together with direct testimonies from riders Alessandro Botturi and Andrea Del Bianco. In the impressive Yamaha exhibition area, there are the iconic scooters, the Hyper Naked, the XSR900GP of the evocative Heritage line, the Tènèrè and much more. For track and curb enthusiasts, Andrea Locatelli’s Superbike and Fabio Quartararo’s Motogp.

The stage in pavilion 2 hosted the MBE Pick awards ceremony, the contest which brings together, as judges, editors of international magazines and managers of MBE partner companies.
The Brianza-based customizer Lorenzo Nisi of Bad Boys Garage won awards with his two Harley-Davidson Sportsters, representatives of the old and new generation of the “small blocks” of the Milwaukee company. The most awarded in the Muggiò (MB) garage was a Nightster with a 975 cc Revolution Max engine. It received three “nominations” from as many magazines: the American Hot Bike, the German Dream Machines and the Italian Bikers Life, plus a special award from the aftermarket parts company Rebuffini Cycles. The Indonesian lifestyle and motoring magazine Outcult instead awarded the Sportster Be(e) Warrior on a Forty-Eight base with an Evolution 1200 engine by Jurij Re Cecconi, co-founder of the Sporty Meeting rally together with Paolo Ghiringhelli of the Duecilindri blog and of the homonymous web magazine.
The latter instead presented the prize plaque to the French of South-Riders Garage for a 1989 Evolution 1340. Among other Italian awards, LowRide magazine chose a Softail Slim from Harley-Davidson Padova, which collected the prize through some members of his HOG chapter.

This was followed by the MBE Award, the bike show organized directly by the creators of Motor Bike Expo which awarded the bike the title “King of the custom”. In the top ten of motorcycles chosen by well-known figures in the world of American customizing, such as the photographer Michael Lichter, Jeff Holt of V-Twin Visionary, Bob Seeger Jr of Indian Larry Motorcycles and Cristian Sosa of Sosa Metalworks, there was again the Nightster 975 of Nisi. In the end, however, the Swiss Stéphane Grand of T4 Motorcycles prevailed with a completely handcrafted motorbike, created by assembling a 1930s Harley-Davidson VL frame with a 1942 Knucklehead engine. The DIYer from Geneva takes home an engine from Ultima brand in Shovel style, offered by the sponsor Custom Chrome Europe, worth 10,000 euros.

From independent trips to super-organised packages: the motorbike tourism area of Motor Bike Expo is full of motorcyclists because the new year’s calendars and tourist packages start in January, and it’s time to plan. In Italy every road is a tourist itinerary, given the enormous landscape and cultural heritage scattered in all directions. Today the motorbike tourism turnover is estimated at 3 billion euros, with great room for growth especially for the less obvious destinations, which are increasingly present at the Motor Bike Expo. For example, the 328 Most Beautiful Villages in Italy that have been focusing on the Veronese event for years. For abroad, the proposals focus on the complete offer which covers customs, health, logistics and on-site assistance aspects, up to motorbike rental and internal travel: among the most requested destinations are Tunisia, Scotland, Ireland, Iceland, Pamir, North Cape and Baltic countries.

Maroil and Benelli have chosen Moto Bike Expo 2024 to announce an important agreement which sees Maroil-Bardahl Italia become Benelli’s “Official lubricant partner”. The agreement, lasting two years, provides for the supply of Maroil-Bardahl lubricating products to all Benelli dealers in Italy and Europe. For the occasion, the Tuscan company, which for 50 years has been developing, producing and marketing the top of the range Bardahl oils and additives for motorbikes all over the world, will create a specific lubricant expressly dedicated to Benelli, available from next spring. Two Italian brands that share values and traditions, committed to offering a product of excellence.

The “In Moto con l’Africa” Team, directed by Marco Visonà from Padua, in view of the 2024 season, has expanded its presence in the “Moto Guzzi Fast Endurance” and in the newly created Trofeo Eagle, gr. 4, always with the V7. The team was officially presented at MBE 2024 with two bikes and crews made up of the Capitoline veteran Cristiano Franco with the young Treviso Nicola Marcato, 2023 Sprint champion, and the Ferrarese Marco Grandi, paired with the Varese native Claudio Figiacconi. Visonà himself, with Giuseppe Lisi from Bari, will line up in group 4. The team continues its activity in support of the non-profit organization “Doctors with Africa – CUAMM” by raising funds, mainly by renting, to enthusiasts who want to live the experience of race, the Guzzi V7, no. 46, branded with “Team Italia” graphics.

Awards ceremony for the 2023 winners and launch of the 2024 season. In the packed Auditorium Verdi Palaexpo, the Italian Speed Championship celebrated the exploits of Lorenzo Zanetti, Simone Corsi, Vicente Perez Selfa, Bruno Ieraci and Edoardo Liguori, holders of the Superbike, Supersport and Moto3 titles respectively , Supersport 300 and Premoto3. Applause from the crowd for the national heroes, in the congratulations from Giovanni Copioli and Simone Folgori, in the figures President of Federmoto and Head of the Speed sector. Awards were also given to Roberta Ponziani, champion of the women’s series, and to the very young riders who came first in the CIV Junior and Minimoto, supported by team managers, sponsors and industry partners. The presentation of the Dunlop CIV confirmed the presence of 5 classes, top-level television coverage, guaranteed on world circuits such as Misano, Mugello, Vallelunga and Imola. The stage was also attended by sports managers and company representatives, who reiterated the goodness of the local panorama, in competitive, organizational and technical terms.

Present at the Dainese stand, Luca Salvadori attracted fans of the sector and beyond, who know him as a successful driver and digital influencer (he has almost half a million followers on YouTube), a double role in which he will again participate in the National Trophy 1000, defending the colors of the Broncos Ducati team: “Defending?

If anything, attacking: the goal is to win the championship, at the same time taking part in the uphill races, in which I’m also aiming high.”

Frequented by enthusiasts and investors, the “Ruote da Sogno” space is a sort of “business club” in the Motor Bike Expo, with a selection of rare and particularly valuable motorbikes intended for collectors. The company founded in 2016, which also operates in the automotive sector, started mainly with motorcycles from the 1970s. Then the phenomenon extended to the classic vintage myths such as Vespa, up to the most recent development of the “90s” segment. Today, motorcycle collecting is a rapidly expanding market, and values are continually rising. Among the motorbikes on display at the fair are special Cagiva Mitos, a Guzzi Gucci V7 Storm produced in 50 runs, the Ducati Lamborghini in the Streetfighter version and various Vespa models, although the most valuable piece was “placed” by the owner Stefano Aleotti at a price of 230,000 euros, with the intention of buying it back soon: “Of course, because it was a Vespa, in this case the number 3 in its history” they recall at the stand; “Our clientele is selected and of an international level, and 40% of our sales go abroad”. The “Ruote da Sogno” stand covers a large space, offering exclusive models, sought after and requested by the specialized public, by brands Japanese 70s at the European ones, including pre- and post-war Italian ones, exhibited in Verona.

Great participation of the Armed Forces at Motor Bike Expo, in a particularly rich stand constantly full of visitors. The Army presents a selection of historic motorcycles: among these a 1940 Bianchi 500, a 1941 Indian, appreciated for their agility, mobility and ability to cross difficult terrain, making them invaluable for reconnaissance, communications and the transport of personnel and small supplies. Also on display were the 1951 Saturno, the 1943 Guzzi Superalce, the 1957 Guzzi Airone, the new 1970 Falcone. The Carabinieri proposed a tour of the two-wheeled wonders of the force: the 2022 Yamaha Tracer 9 Radiomobile, the Guzzi V50 post service 1985, up to the MV Agusta created for the bicentenary of the foundation of the Army. Among the most photographed, the California Touring 1400 “Corazzieri”, made in 20 examples tailored to the minimum height of one meter and ninety cuirassiers. The Air Force also wanted to participate, proposing the complete provision of the service that deals with the refueling and rearming of vehicles in complex or unreachable areas: the “tactical enduro motorbikes” have the task of identifying suitable spaces that can be reached by air vehicles and from the mobile refueling units, also exhibited at the Fair. The Navy, even without a motorcycle division, did not want to be outdone: visitors find a simulator that drives a naval raider, a fast means of transport, which requires complex maneuvers for continuous adaptation to sea conditions. It’s not a motorbike, but… for the technicians and visitors it’s very close.