ROBERTO COLANINNO: 30 WORLD TITLES WON IN LESS THAN 10 YEARS

Misano, 12 September 2014 – Aprilia (Piaggio Group) officially announced that they will enter the Grand Prix motorcycle racing in the MotoGP class. The Aprilia brand's return to the top world motorcycling competition will take place in 2015, a year ahead of their previously announced plans.

The intent of the Piaggio Group's strategy to commit the Aprilia brand in the MotoGP class is to favour a rapid growth of competitiveness, focusing all Aprilia Racing's technical and organisational efforts on developing prototypes. For this reason, Aprilia Racing will send its bikes onto the track supported by a cooperation agreement which has been reached with Gresini Racing.

This agreement will allow Aprilia Racing - a representative of Italian sport excellence and a protagonist in motorcycle racing on a global level - to take advantage of Gresini Racing's significant contribution in terms of MotoGP experience and know-how, enough to solidify the strategic decision to début already next season. This is a four year agreement, so Gresini Racing will be managing the Aprilia bikes on the track in MotoGP until the 2018 season. Aprilia racing is currently making assessments to determine which riders will take part in the MotoGP project.

“We decided to make our début a year earlier than planned because Aprilia Racing's technical and competitive skills are absolutely top notch” commented Piaggio Group's Chairman and CEO, Roberto Colaninno. “Growth in Superbike has been exemplary in this direction from our rookie year in 2009 to the five world titles we've won so far with the RSV4”. Aprilia's track record over the past decade has been extraordinary: “Piaggio Group has been managing Aprilia since 2005” Roberto Colaninno reminded us. “and in less than ten years Aprilia won 26 of the 52 world titles earned in the entire brand history. In addition to these there are also four more titles: Marco Simoncelli's 250 world championship with Gilera and three 125 class world championships won by Derbi, which is also part of the Piaggio Group and which took a very young Marc Marquez to his first world title win.”

Aprilia Racing boasts the most victorious European Racing Department in recent decades. It represents extraordinary Italian assets in technical skill which, in just over twenty years, has made the manufacturer from Noale a protagonist in all the most important motorcycle racing arenas, taking an impressive 52 world titles. The Aprilia trophy case currently includes 294 wins and 38 championship titles in the Grand Prix motorcycle racing championship (19 Manufacturer and 19 Rider), 45 wins and 5 world titles in WSBK (3 manufacturer and 2 Rider) and 9 world championships in off road disciplines.

Many recent protagonists in the motorcycle racing world have raced, won and been educated astride Aprilia bikes such as Max Biaggi, Loris Capirossi, Valentino Rossi, Marco Melandri, Manuel Poggiali, Jorge Lorenzo and Casey Stoner. And even Marc Marquez earned his first world title astride a Derbi 125, also a Piaggio Group brand, contributing to the 102 world titles that the Piaggio Group can boast in its own collection of wreaths, achieved not only by Aprilia but also by legendary brands such as Moto Guzzi, Gilera and Derbi.

Managed by two-time 125cc class world champion Fausto Gresini, Gresini Racing has been in Grand Prix motorcycle racing since 1997, achieving prestigious results: in addition to the two titles won in 2001 with Daijiro Kato (250cc) and in 2010 with Toni Elias (Moto2), the 40 wins and 114 podiums earned, there are also the MotoGP runner up titles achieved for three consecutive seasons in 2003 and 2004 with Sete Gibernau and in 2005 with Marco Melandri.

Gresini Racing has been home to top calibre champions such as Alex Barros, Loris Capirossi, Colin Edwards and Marco Simoncelli. The Gresini Racing organisation is currently involved in all the Grand Prix motorcycle racing classes. In fact, they are key players in the 2014 season with Alvaro Bautista and Scott Redding in MotoGP, Xavier Siméon and Lorenzo Baldassarri in Moto2 and with Niccolò Antonelli and Enea Bastianini in Moto3.

Eight-times TT winner Ian Hutchinson has joined the Penrith-based Paul Bird Motorsport Team in a deal which will see him compete for the remainder of 2014 in the team's Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki colours, as well as a full season in 2015.

35-year-old 'Hutchy', from Bingley in West Yorkshire, will contest the final two rounds of the Pirelli National Superstock 1000 Championship aboard the Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R at Silverstone and Brands Hatch in October before competing at the Macau Grand Prix the month after.

The deal then extends into 2015, which will see a concerted factory-backed effort at the 2015 Isle of Man TT Races fuelled by Monster Energy as well the other two major road races - the North West 200 and Ulster Grand Prix with Supersport, Superstock and Superbike machinery.

In addition, Hutchinson will contest the opening three rounds of the 2015 MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship for one of Paul Bird's teams with a view to doing further rounds throughout the season.

The eight time TT Race winner, including his historic five in a week in 2010, also has wins at the North West 200, the Ulster Grand Prix as well as in the various support races to the British Superbike Championship over the past ten years.  Hutchinson also won the 2013 Macau Grand Prix.

Ian Hutchinson:

"I'm mega happy that Paul has offered me a deal for the remainder of this year and for 2015 also. I've ridden for the team before and we all know each other so to be joining them once again is brilliant. I was disappointed that this year didn't work out as I'd hoped, especially with having such high expectations but now I know I've got a real chance of success. The team is proven and hopefully I can get back to winning ways very soon." 

Paul Bird (Team Owner):

"We are all very excited to have Hutchy joining us and as soon as I knew he was out of a job, I wanted him to ride for us. He's a quality rider and you don't win five TTs in a week by chance. He'll ride our Superstocker for the final two rounds at BSB and then we'll decide what to put him out on at Macau. We might even try him on the MotoGP bike there! For 2015, we will have a proper attack on the roads, which will give him his best chance in recent years and we are really serious about winning. We'll do other selected races too as part of our expanded squad for 2015 so there are some exciting times ahead."

Eight-times TT winner Ian Hutchinson has joined the Penrith-based Paul Bird Motorsport Team in a deal which will see him compete for the remainder of 2014 in the team's Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki colours, as well as a full season in 2015.

35-year-old 'Hutchy', from Bingley in West Yorkshire, will contest the final two rounds of the Pirelli National Superstock 1000 Championship aboard the Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R at Silverstone and Brands Hatch in October before competing at the Macau Grand Prix the month after.

The deal then extends into 2015, which will see a concerted factory-backed effort at the 2015 Isle of Man TT Races fuelled by Monster Energy as well the other two major road races - the North West 200 and Ulster Grand Prix with Supersport, Superstock and Superbike machinery.

In addition, Hutchinson will contest the opening three rounds of the 2015 MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship for one of Paul Bird's teams with a view to doing further rounds throughout the season.

The eight time TT Race winner, including his historic five in a week in 2010, also has wins at the North West 200, the Ulster Grand Prix as well as in the various support races to the British Superbike Championship over the past ten years.  Hutchinson also won the 2013 Macau Grand Prix.

Ian Hutchinson:

"I'm mega happy that Paul has offered me a deal for the remainder of this year and for 2015 also. I've ridden for the team before and we all know each other so to be joining them once again is brilliant. I was disappointed that this year didn't work out as I'd hoped, especially with having such high expectations but now I know I've got a real chance of success. The team is proven and hopefully I can get back to winning ways very soon." 

Paul Bird (Team Owner):

"We are all very excited to have Hutchy joining us and as soon as I knew he was out of a job, I wanted him to ride for us. He's a quality rider and you don't win five TTs in a week by chance. He'll ride our Superstocker for the final two rounds at BSB and then we'll decide what to put him out on at Macau. We might even try him on the MotoGP bike there! For 2015, we will have a proper attack on the roads, which will give him his best chance in recent years and we are really serious about winning. We'll do other selected races too as part of our expanded squad for 2015 so there are some exciting times ahead."  

ANGLIA CAR AUCTIONS UNCOVERS 1951 VINCENT BLACK SHADOW FOR SEPTEMBER SALE

A 1951 Vincent Black Shadow is set to be the star by at Anglia Car Auction’s Classic Motorcycle and Automobilia Sale on Saturday 20th September.

Not used since being bought by the vendor in 1978, the rare Vincent is accompanied by some technical correspondence between a previous owner and the factory covering engine modifications. While it cannot be confirmed, it’s thought the bike could have competed in club sprints during the 1960s.

Fitted with highly coveted Lightning brakes, it’s estimated at £55,000-65,000.

If the Black Shadow’s too expensive, a 1961 Velocette Venom 500 with an estimate of between £10,000-11,500 might be a good substitute, and Velocette enthusiasts will also be able to bid on a 350 MAC which has a £3750-4500 estimate.

A pair of Triumph Tiger Cubs, one of which is a project with an estimate of £800-900, line-up alongside an awaiting-estimate 1964 Thunderbird and a 1961 Triton Café Racer, estimated at  £5000-6000.

BSAs get a look-in too, with an 10 Golden Flash, estimated at £2500-3000, joined by a 1934 G14 V-twin that’s had plenty of recent work to make it highly usable, and it has a £14,750-16,500 estimate. With a tempting £800-1200 estimate, a 1960 Norton Jubilee makes a straightforward restoration project.

A host of Japanese bikes add more flavour to the sale, with a great choice of Hondas, ranging from a barn-find 1966 CA110 Sport 50 (estimated: £400-600) and Norfolk-residing 1976 CB200 (estimated: £600-800) offered alongside a 1978 CB750K (estimated: £1200-1600) and an unused-for-two-years, no-reserve 1984 XL 200R.

A quartet of ’70s Kawasaki triples adds some noise to the sale: a 1971 350 S and a 500 H1A are offered along with a 1974 500 H1B and a 1974 750 H2 and for big performance at a low price, the 1985 Z1100 (estimated: £1600-1900) is definitely worth a look. 

And for those wanting to relive their 1970s teenage bus-stop burn-up years, a concours-condition 1976 Yamaha FS1E-DX fits the bill nicely, and is estimated at £4000-6000.

Italian pizzazz comes from a fully-rebuilt 1976 Lambretta GP150 (est: £2000-2500) and an MoTd 1979 Moto Guzzi V50, which is estimated at £1500-1800.

Anglia Car Auctions’ Motorcycle sale sees the doors open at 10am, with the sale of automobilia starting at 12 noon and the motorbikes thereafter.

www.angliacarauctions.co.uk

Barry Steven Frank Sheene MBE (11th September 1950 – 10th March 2003