From a press release issued by Benelli Canada: Benelli Canada (a Division of Crono Motorcraft), is very proud to introduce our 2008 Canadian motorcycle road racing contingency program in conjunction with the release of the evolution of Benelli’s WSBK weapon, a true superbike, the Tornado Tre 1130 and the exciting Tre-K 1130 for spring of 2008. All models of Benelli motorcycles are eligible: Tornado Tre, TNT, TNT Sport, TNT CafeRacer, Tre-K and TNT / TNT S 899cc models. Later, announcements will be made on contingency funds for Benelli’s 449cc BXcross motocross bike, the 505cc BXenduro and supermoto models. Any nationally or regionally run, motorcycle road race, recognized by a legitimate sanctioning body, all motorcycle classes in Canada, that would normally allow entrance to 1130cc / 899cc three cylinder, fuel injected, liquid cooled motorcycles, are eligible for the following: 1st place – $1000.00* 2nd $750* 3rd $650* 4th $500* 5th $450* 6th $400* 7th $350* 8th $300* 9th $250* 10th $150* Awards will be processed based on result confirmation with the sanctioning bodies. Riders must be registered with Benelli Canada, to receive their awards. Eligible motorcycles must retain the stock “Benelli” logo on the tank and also bear the name Benelli on the upper part of the belly pan. Send your contingency registration form to Benelli Canada. Benelli Canada also offers further club racing support with “racer only” pricing on all new Benelli’s, as well as specially discounted racing kits for specific models. *Awards issued as parts credit redeemable at any Canadian Benelli dealer. Please contact Paul Moes at [email protected] for more information on these programs. About Benelli, The six Benelli brothers opened their first shop in 1911, funded by their widowed mother, Teresa Benelli, in a bid to keep the family together and give the boys jobs. By 1920 they built their first motor in-house, and put it on a bicycle frame, 1921 saw the first Benelli motorcycle, so, the next logical step was to go racing. By 1927, Antonio ‘Tonino The Terrible’ Benelli won the Italian 175cc national championship and again in ’28,’30 and ’31 his winning streak ended with his death in a “silly” automobile accident. By 1939, the ultimate road racing prize in the world, the Isle of Man TT was won by Ted Mellors. In1950 Dario Ambrosini was on fire winning the Isle of Man TT, in the same year won the European GP championship and the Italian national championship. From 1965 to 68 the Italian 250 and 350 championships were dominated by Benelli motorcycles in the hands of Tarquinio Provini and the legendary, Renzo Pasolini. Pasolini had a great rival, Giacomo Agostini, countless races had a 1 / 2 podium with the two sharing the top spots, if the MV Agusta didn’t win it was a Benelli on the top podium. The greatest prize again was won by Benelli on the Isle of Man, with Kel Carruthers, who also went on to win the GP world championship in the same year, 1969, also of note it was the last GP win on a four stroke until MotoGP went back to four stroke bikes in 2003. Some of the worlds greatest road racers rode factory Benelli motorcycles, Joey Dunlop, Phil Read, Mike Hailwood, Jarno Saaranin, last race win was in ’90 with Antonio Rossi and in 2001, Peter Goddard raced the Benelli Tornado Tre 900cc triple in the World Superbike championship. Currently Benelli Australia, with help from former GP racer Mark Willis is campaigning TNT Sport models in the Australian naked bike series. The TNT’s started in the first and second row in its maiden outing and has finished as high as third, so far. Lets not forget the land speed records set by Benelli during the last century. Benelli and racing, the legend continues. Corri con il Leone!