THIS YEAR’S MOTOGIRO D’ITALIA FOLLOWED SOME OF ITALY’S MOST SCENIC ROUTES, THROUGH THE REGIONS OF ROMAGNA, MARCHE, UMBRIA AND TUSCANY. OVERALL WINNER WAS ENZO COPPOLECCHIA, RIDING A MOTO MORINI 175. Once again following historic race routes, this year’s re-evocation of Italy’s oldest long distance motorcycle race, now in its fifth edition, was another great success. Ducati Motor was once again the main sponsor of the event, organised by Dream Engine. It was a historic revival, a genuine road race, and above all a great festival of motorcycling that terminated in Cattolica on the 28th May 2005. We are talking, of course, about the 2005 edition of the Motogiro d’Italia, Italy’s classic five-day road race, now in its fifth revival edition. The race took place from the 24th to the 28th May, and animated some of the most beautiful roads in central Italy, bringing back to life the legendary motorcycling event trials that, between 1914 and 1957, wrote some of the most unforgettable chapters in the history of international motorcycle racing. This year’s was the fifth edition of the re-evocation event so impeccably organised by Dream Engine. Over 400 motorcyclists took part, not only from Italy but from another 13 nations, including the UK (55 entries), Germany (3 entries), France (10 entries), Ireland (2 entries), Switzerland (20 entries), Holland (21 entries), Belgium (3 entries), Spain (5 entries), USA (30 entries), Canada (8 entries), Australia (2 entries), South Africa (4 entries) and even Japan (4 entries). Competitors covered a total of nearly 1,200 kilometres (1,189 according to the official road-book). The event’s incredible success was confirmed by the fact that so very few entries withdrew (only 35 bikes failing to cross the finishing line in Gradara) and by the warm and enthusiastic welcome given to riders by the public, who packed the start and finish lines of every leg to wave competitors off and welcome them home. This year’s formula was slightly different from that of the previous editions. Rather than follow a straight line course, the route for the 2005 race resembled a virtual ‘daisy’, made up of fascinating, spectacular loops covering some of the most picturesque roads in the whole of Italy, starting from Cattolica and finishing at Gradara castle nearby, after five days of intense and extremely competitive racing. This year’s re-evocation was made up of five daily legs, all along routes followed by the original Motogiro d’Italia in the period 1953-1957. Starting from Piazzale I Maggio in Cattolica, the first day’s racing (230 Km) took riders through Morciano, Pennabilli, Sogliano al Rubicone, Gambettola, Santarcangelo, Coriano, and back to Cattolica. The start was animated by the presence of two new Ducati Sport Classics, the brand new machines that Borgo Panigale is about to launch on the international market, characterised by 1970’s styling but packed with the latest technology. Two “pre-series” machines, a Paul Smart 1000 and a Sport 1000, ridden by Federico Minoli, Chairman and Managing Director of Ducati Motor Holding, and Gianluigi Mengoli, Chairman of Ducati Foundation respectively, set the pace for the first leg. Both the general public and the media demonstrated tremendous interest in the two new bikes, which Ducati fans the world over have been eagerly awaiting, and which are due to hit the official dealer network in October this year. The second leg (182 Km) took the riders to Perugia, through Città di Castello and past the Magione circuit. From Perugia, the third day’s racing and the longest of the individual legs (297 Km), passed through Assisi, Spello, Terni, Collescipoli and Todi before finally returning to Perugia. The fourth leg (266 Km) took the caravan of bikes to Tuscany, as far as Castiglion Fiorentino before turning them back to Acqualagna and San Giovanni in Marignano, to finish the day back in Piazzale 1 Maggio in Cattolica. It was therefore once more from Cattolica that the fifth and decisive leg (214 Km) set off, routing riders through Fano, Mondavio, Jesi and Pesaro before crossing the finish line at Gradara castle. Entrants were divided into three classes. The “Historical Re-evocation” class was reserved for motorcycles manufactured before 1957. The “Taglioni Memorial” class was dedicated to bikes made between 1968 and 1978, and the “Tourist Class” encompassed all modern machines in a single non-competitive category. Overall victory in the “Historical Re-evocation” class of the Motogiro d’Italia 2005, gained only after a series of exciting position switches at the top of the table, went to Enzo Coppolecchia on a Moto Morini 175 cc. The lucky winner walks away with a special Motogiro 2005 version of the Ducati 900 SS as first prize. Overall second was Tullio Passerini, on a Gilera 175 cc, followed by Paolo Mattioli, overall third, on another Moto Morini 175. The “Taglioni Memorial” class was dominated, right from the first leg, by Dutchman Math Koevoet, on a BMW 900, who beat Frenchman Pierre Hertrich (Norton 750) and another Dutchman, Lucas Schols (Guzzi 750) into second and third place respectively. The competition included a total of fifteen special tests including timed regularity and gymkhana trials, held against the backdrop of the wonderfully attractive squares in the towns visited by this fifth edition of the revived event. Past champions had the opportunity to challenge the participants over a route that pushed both men and machines to the limit. The public were able to admire motorcycles like Ducati, Morini, MV Agusta, Moto Guzzi, Benelli, Bianchi, Gilera, Rumi, Motobi. The presence of riders of the calibre of Maoggi, winner of the Motogiro in 1956, and Venturi, who took the trophy at the last edition of the original event in 1957, also made a major contribution to the success and prestige of the 2005 edition. Emilio Mendogni, overall winner exactly 50 years ago in the legendary 1955 race, also graced the final prize giving ceremony and dinner with his presence. For the fifth year in succession, the event was able to count on the support of Ducati Motor as main sponsor, in conjunction with the Emilia Romagna region, Motociclismo d’Epoca, Corriere dello Sport-Stadio, Shell, Marzocchi, Iveco, the Municipality of Gradara, the Municipality of Cattolica, the Municipality of Perugia, and the Cattolica-Le Navi Aquarium. This year’s event was organised under the auspices of the Italian Motorcycling Federation by Dream Engine, who received technical support from the “Libero Liberati” Motorcycle Club of Terni and from Team Curve & Tornanti in the Tourist Class. OVERALL POSITIONS, MOTOGIRO D’ITALIA 2005 “Historical Re-evocation” Class 1 Enzo Coppolecchia (Moto Morini 175): Total penalty 5’02″ 2 Tullio Masserini (Gilera 175): Total penalty 5’26″ 3 Paolo Mattioli (Moto Morini 175): Total penalty 5’35″ 4 Alfio Sorgato (Moto Morini 175): Total penalty 6’18″ 5 Massimo D’Alessio (Moto Morini 175): Total penalty 6’76″ “Taglioni Memorial” Class 1 Math Koevoet (BMW 900): Total penalty 6’36″ 2 Pierre Hertrich (Norton 750): Total penalty 10’20” 3 Lucas Schols (Guzzi 750): Total penalty 12’95” 4 Siebert Thibaut (Norton 850): Total penalty 19’99” 5 Kees Van De Ven (Ducati 860): Total penalty 34’88”