MARCO TOMASSINI RIDES HIS GILERA TO VICTORY IN SICILY IN THIS YEAR’S MOTOGIRO D’ITALIA

Ducati Motor was the main sponsor of the event organized by Dream Engine and supported by the Region of Sicily and other sponsors.

Bologna, May 30, 2007

After five gruelling days traversing over 1,200 kilometres of scenic and challenging Sicilian roads, Marco Tomassini rode to victory on his Gilera 150 Super Sport, winning this year’s Motogiro d’Italia, Italy’s oldest vintage motorbike competition.

Hundreds of motorcyclists from around the world participated in this year’s event, which ran from May 20th -24th. In addition to a core group of Italians, participants arrived from Great Britain, USA, Germany, France, Spain, Ireland, Holland, Belgium, South Africa, Japan, Australia, Canada, Greece, and Israel. The Motogiro d’Italia is divided into three classifications: the Vintage Racing Class, reserved for motorbikes manufactured through 1957; the Memorial Taglioni, dedicated to motorbikes manufactured between 1968 and 1978 and the Touring Class, open to all contemporary bikes of all makes. The first two categories are competitive and riders are subject to ability and timed trials, while the Touring Class is non-competitive.

Marco Tomassini, performed brilliantly on each day’s course and in the ability trials, earning first place overall in the Vintage Racing classification. He won the grand prize, a Ducati Sport1000 motorbike. Winning second and third places are fellow Italians, Enzo Coppolecchia on his MV Agusta Rais and Marco Bonanomi on his MV Agusta GSTL. English rider Giuseppe Garozzo placed 5th in the overall Vintage Racing classification.

In the Memorial Taglioni Class, Guido Lenzi Calisti took first place on his Moto Morini 3 ½, followed by Tiziano Bernardoni on his Morini 350 and Matteo Vocino aboard his Moto Morini 500 6V.
Team Castelli MV (Bonanomi, Moneta e Venturi) won in the brand team classification, while MC Ceriano Laghetto (Coppolecchia, Viganò, Mattioli) gained the first place in the club team classification.

This year’s itinerary led participants along rugged and beautiful Sicilian terrain through many of the island’s most intriguing regions, such as Agrigento, Palermo, Enna, Caltanissetta, Ragusa, Siracusa, Catania. The event started and ended five days later in Sciacca (Agrigento). Participants were able to take in picturesque views both from along the coast and from the mountains, including panoramas of Cattolica Eraclea, Chiusa Sclafani, Sambuca di Sicilia, Agrigento with its Greek ruins, Caltanissetta, Piazza Armerina, Lentini, Siracusa, Noto, Modica, Ragusa Ibla, Augusta, Brucoli, Catania, Mascalucia, Nicolosi, Zafferana Etnea, Giarre, Acireale, Acitrezza, Lentini, Grammichele, Caltagirone and the Etna volcano.

The Motogiro d’Italia 2007 relied on the support of Ducati Motor, the event’s main sponsor. The event was also made possible thanks to the support of: Presidenza Regione Siciliana, Motociclismo d'Epoca, Assessorato al Turismo Regione Siciliana, Assessorato all’Agricoltura e Foreste Regione Siciliana, Comune di Sciacca, Comune di Augusta, Cantine Calatasi. For the organization of the event, under the aegis of the Federazione Motociclistica Italiana, Dream Engine relies on the support of the Motoclub Terni “L. Liberati” and the Auto Moto Club Viterbo. The Curve&Tornanti team made up of Federal FMI ‘safe riding’ instructors accompanied participants in the Touring Class and the Italian Polizia Stradale followed the race.

Since its revival in 2001, the Motogiro d’Italia has experienced overwhelming international appeal, resulting in a steady increase in the number of participants and media attention.
In a nod to its historic roots, several champions from the Motogiro Hall of Fame participated in the 2007 event, including Giuliano Maoggi (winner of the 1956 Motogiro), Emilio Mendogni (winner in 1953 edition) and Remo Venturi, who won fifty years ago, in 1957.

The Motogiro 2007 was open to motorcycles authorized for road use of all marques and was divided into three classes:
Vintage Racing Class
With an overall limit of 120 participants, this class features motorbikes of up to 175cc manufactured prior to 1957 inspired on the motorcycles that raced in the original Motogiro. Competitors in the Vintage Racing Class were subject to timed, competitive ability tests en-route.
Taglioni Memorial Class
This class is open to street legal motorbikes of all marques, 350 cc or higher, produced between 1968 and 1978. Competitors in this class took part in ability trials.
Touring Class
For riders of newer bikes, who wish to participate in the excitement of the Motogiro on a more relaxed, non-competitive basis.

For general information:

Dream Engine
Via San Mamolo 155 -40136 Bologna
tel. +39 051 6440881 -fax +39 051 3394319
info@motogiroditalia.com