Rolling Classic: Motogiro d’Italia 2025

A New Zealander on a Benelli, a Brit driving an MV Agusta, a Polish rider aboard his spouse’s Ducati – on the Motogiro d’Italia, bike lovers from across the globe come collectively for every week of Italian roads, shared historical past, native delicacies, and limitless curves.

I had dreamed of driving within the Motogiro for years. The concept goes again to my days in southern Germany, once I stumbled throughout a gaggle of classic bikes parked in a piazza whereas on vacation in Italy. That unforgettable scene stayed with me. This yr, I lastly made it occur. I left my residence in New Zealand and launched into a 26-hour journey to Bologna to meet that long-held dream.

The prepare experience from Bologna to Imola was full of Ferrari followers headed to the Emilia-Romagna Components One Grand Prix. My vacation spot lay farther east: Pesaro, birthplace of composer Gioachino Rossini, residence to bike model Benelli, and this yr’s begin and end for the Motogiro.

Associated: Tracing 111 Years of Benelli Historical past

As a non-EU citizen, renting a bike in Italy is not any simple feat. Rental companies are hesitant to lease their valuable Italian machines to non-Europeans. Fortunately, Benelli – the occasion’s predominant sponsor – stepped up and offered me with a Leoncino 500 Path, a contemporary basic with classic aptitude. I used to be the one participant from Oceania, and I’m grateful to Michael Cassel, the German Motogiro liaison, who provided steerage and welcomed me into the German rider contingent.

The Motogiro d’Italia has a storied historical past. From 1914 to 1957, it was a prestigious roadrace for bikes with 75cc to 175cc engines, with manufacturers like Benelli, Moto Guzzi, Ducati, and MV Agusta competeing fiercely for glory. However in 1957, a tragic crash on the Mille Miglia – when a Ferrari left the highway and killed 11 individuals – prompted the Italian authorities to ban all roadracing.

The Motogiro was revived in 1989 by Moto Membership Terni. Not a velocity race, it was reborn as a rally, targeted on type, precision, and endurance. Right this moment, the occasion is open to bikes of all eras, whether or not you’re driving competitively or cruising within the vacationer class with no time stress.

Every rider receives a every day begin time and a timecard to be stamped at official checkpoints, that are used not just for timekeeping however as relaxation and refreshment stops providing every little thing from selfmade cake to savory snacks and drinks, typically hosted by native golf equipment. Some phases even characteristic ability checks, and the day’s outcomes are introduced at dinner every night.

The occasion is escorted by motorcycle-riding carabinieri who guided us out of cities – or in true Italian vogue, blasted previous site visitors jams on the improper facet of the highway with lights flashing.

The route adjustments yearly. In 2025, we rode by way of 5 areas: Marche, Emilia-Romagna, Umbria, Lazio, and Abruzzo – a various mixture of shoreline, rolling hills, mountain passes, and medieval cities. Round 1,000 miles of largely rural backroads and facet streets delivered pure driving pleasure, although potholes, cracks, and earthquake harm saved us alert. The surroundings greater than made up for the obstacles: fortresses, monasteries, previous metropolis partitions, sea views, fountains – Italy in full coloration.

Unforgettable moments? Lots. The scent of untamed broom alongside a excessive ridge highway with ocean views. A cease on the Benelli Museum in Pesaro. An enormous Valentino Rossi mural in Tavullia. The dramatic climb to Campotosto Lake, framed by snowcapped Abruzzo peaks.

We averaged 155 to 185 miles per day. My scheduled begin time was 9:33 a.m., and I often completed the day’s experience between 5:30 and 6 p.m. One tip I’m joyful to go on, courtesy of Michael Cassel: all the time carry money! Not all fuel stations settle for bank cards, and a few machines don’t give change when you overpay. I discovered that the onerous approach.

Night dinners started, in basic Italian type, round 8:30 p.m. However the wait was price it: multicourse meals with pasta, wine, and native aptitude, served on the host motels.

My Benelli Leoncino 500 Path – No. 86 – match proper in with its spoked wheels and classic design. The longer suspension made tough roads tolerable. The bike ran robust, sounded nice, and had loads of energy – till about 30 miles from the end, when the engine began sputtering. I referred to as for a tow and made it simply in time for the ultimate gala dinner again in Pesaro.

Bike verdict? The gas injection was a bit jerky at low speeds, and the gas gauge wasn’t very correct. However total, the Leoncino was a playful companion, and I might simply see including one to my very own storage.

The Motogiro d’Italia is greater than a bike occasion. It’s a rolling museum, a global class reunion, and a time-traveling experience that blends previous and current. For many who embrace the spirit of the Motogiro, it delivers extra than simply curvy roads – it creates a way of group. And perhaps, simply perhaps, it helps you discover a new residence within the saddle of an previous machine.

The 2026 Motogiro d’Italia will happen Could 24-30 in Sardinia. For extra info, go to the Motogiro web site.

Uli Cloesen was born in Stuttgart, Germany. Cloesen presently lives in Christchurch, New Zealand, the place he writes about bikes. He’s the writer of seven books on customized bikes and cafe racers, revealed by Veloce within the U.Ok.