Press Release | November 6, 2024
The International Motorcycling Federation (FIM) launched a program aimed at conserving motorcycle competition heritage at global level and promoting its historic heritage. Certifying the technical and historic value of competition machines forms a big part of this program, and within the Foundation, the FIM set up a “Heritage” program to certifying the authenticity of racing motorcycles. At a recent FIM Heritage Program event in late October, an exhibition called Amicale Spirit of Speed showcased some of those bikes along and was attended by some who rode them or worked on them.
Here is the complete press release from the FIM…
The International Motorcycling Federation (FIM) exhibited at the Moto e Auto d’Epoca Bologna with a dedicated exhibition space for the ‘jewels’ of the Amicale Spirit of Speed. This is an association that represents the heritage of important international collectors, with over 5000 competition motorcycles perfectly preserved.
The aim of the FIM was to promote the FIM Heritage Program, an initiative which aims to preserve and enhance the great heritage of racing motorcycles of immeasurable sporting and historical value, in particular as part of the celebration of the FIM’s 120-year anniversary.
The Certification issued by the FIM, after a careful analysis by the Technical Committee made up of FIM and Amicale Spirit of Speed experts, includes a unique identification number, a digital certificate and a plate, witnesses of authenticity, and of which owners, large collectors and museums will be able to use to confirm the authenticity of their motorcycle. All the information relating to the technical and historical characteristics of the motorcycle will be available via a unique QR code.
To date, certified competition motorcycles are those that have competed in national, international and world championships (Grand Prix World Championship, Superbike and Supersport, Endurance, Road Races and all previous championships) but it will expand in the future to off road and other disciplines.
The stand was animated by ‘Walking between the Stars’ with stories and details of the bikes on display from the collectors and some iconic figures of motorsport, who rode them or worked on them.
Franco Uncini
Franco Uncini, 1982 Grand Prix World Champion, with sincere emotion told the story of his Suzuki, of his five race wins and his world title victory. Claudio Lusuardi meticulously described how he built the bike with which he successfully competed on in both the Italian Championship plus the World Championship in 1982 and 1983.
Suzuki “Gamma” 500
Andrea Bonassoli, an expert technician in MotoGP and World Superbike teams, immediately gathered the enthusiasts, explaining details of the work he did on the Cagiva 500, a jewel for those years and technically innovative. Others followed one another on the microphone, Stefano Caracchi, former rider but above all son of Rino Caracchi, a frame builder who together with the historic engineer Nepoti, founded the legendary Ducati NCR team, crowning the Borgo Panigale company with great successes from the 1960s to the 1990s.
Cagiva 500
Attentive and passionate fans followed the lives of the Champions whilst also admiring the precious motorcycles on display. Among these, a 1976 Harley-Davidson 350 GP, former official motorcycle of Walter Villa, restored and used for the world title in the 350 class, with a 2-stroke twin-cylinder 80HP engine, reaching a speed of 260 km/h. The 2022 2Kalex Triumph Moto2, was the bike of the Mooney VR46 Racing Team ridden by Celestino Vietti, winner of 3 Grand Prix, a 3-cylinder 145 HP engine with a top speed of 300 km/h. Much admired was the 1993 Cagiva C-593 GP 500 that John Kocinski and Doug Chandler had the privilege of riding, enviously preserved by a Turin collector. This unique specimen was the first to introduce innovations such as the quick shift gearbox and telescopic exhausts, 165 HP and a top speed of 300 km/h.
Claudio Lusuardi
Suzuki XR 40 GP 500, the ‘Queen’, so called by Franco Uncini, the 1982 Grand Prix world championship winning motorcycle with 123 HP and a top speed of 280 km/h. Yamaha 500 YZR Replica, an accurate replica of the legendary 500 two-stroke made after four years of work in 2023. Suzuki SERT GSX-R 1000 EWC 1986 Endurance World Championship wining machine ridden by Vincent Philippe / Keiichi Kitagawa / Matthieu Lagrive. It has 175 HP and a top speed of 320 km/h. Villa 50 GP from 1983 – 50cc with which Claudio Lusuardi competed in the World Championship in 1983, 20 HP engine and an astonishing top speed of 210 km/h. An excited Lusuardi wanted to climb on it and get inside the fairing. Aprilia RSV4 SMR WSBK from 2018, Lorenzo Savadori’s bike that participated in the Superbike World Championship, with a 235 HP V4 engine.
All the information on the FIM Heritage Program can be found at www.FIM-Heritage.com
