Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

Enduro, for a total of twelve in total. In the case of aesthetics are concerned, the styling will remain MV Agusta, I'm afraid that the many enthusiasts essentially unchanged, because we believe this is a who dream of seeing MV back on the race tracks timeless work of art which will be as desirable ten will have to wait a while. Our commercial and busiyears from now as it was the day it was launched ness necessities require that we concentrate for the just like the previous model Tamburini created for time being on customer products and on the develme, the Ducati 916. When you have a beautiful bike opment of new models - today, MV Agusta's image like either of these, you need to understand that you is so strong that we have no need as others do of have to develop it, to evolve it - not to throw it away going Superbike racing, for example, in order to and try to do something better, because you won't. promote the marque. At the point we decide to do Look at Porsche - what a wonderful example. After so, it will only be with an engine and a motorcycle years of manufacturing the legendary 911, one fine capable of challenging for victory - because it is not day they came up with the 928, which they explicitly part of MV Agusta's culture to be making up the intended should replace the 911, simply on the numbers, trailing home in midfield. grounds that it was "different" and "modern." Well, Let's go back to Husqvarna: given KTM's eventually they realized that what they had to do was success with its new V -twin, do you envisage drop the 928, throw it in the trash can and pull out the expanding your off-road range with bikes of more 911 again, then develop it, evolve it into the best-sellthan one cylinder in the future? ing form it's in today more than 30 years after its birth. Not just yet - right now, we're going to focus We have no intention of making a similar mistake - as on making what we already have even better, Ducati have certainly done by creating the 999 with a by concentrating on improving reliability and percar silencer stuck in the seat, instead of evolving the formance still further. It's worth pointing out that all 916, which is a landmark design in motorcycle history. our four-stroke products from 250cc up already They're crazy - even if we're the ones that will benefit, have electric starters, and we're going to focus on so I suppose I should thank them! But look why Supermoto very closely, which Husqvarna after all they've done it: The 999 has been built the way it is was the first to make a bike specifically for. -e-'re<:----nrimarily with the intention of saving costs - but for this ognize the huge potential of the off-road market at kind of motorcycle, which represents the dream of so the present time, and we have some great products many enthusiasts like myself to own; whether you save in the pipeline. 300 euros here or 20 euros there absolutely should not Turning to Cagiva, this is a brand rather sufcome into it. We're producing dynamically excellent fering from a loss of identity in the recent two-wheeled works of art at a price which customers past. What do you plan to do about this, and will can afford to buy in significant numbers and which you still continue to buy engines from Suzuki, perallows us a good enough profit to stay in business and haps also to expand the range into the custom or keep developing them. So that's why the F4 Mille will sport touring markets? have the same unique, exquisite styling as the F4, but We have too much going on in the R&D with subtle changes representing an "evoluzione" of A department to have the luxury of jettisoning a the existing model. It's the only proper way. family of engines which perform as well as the Ql've heard the F4 Mille is delivering impressive Suzukis do, in favor of our own V-twin design for performance in preproduction testing. Can you Cagiva. We're considering expanding the range into confirm that? other sectors, but right now the most important ALet's just say that the version we will sell to the thing is to start producing the models we already public will deliver 180 bhp in street-legal form. have. We lost several thousand sales of the 650 That's not a figure plucked out of the air, but real Raptor because of the situation we were placed in horsepower - your readers can hold me to it! The during the past two years, so first we need to satisfy prototype street bike has already lapped Nardo at the outstanding demand for the existing models. more than 300 kph. Look - it's a function of the radiMoving to MV, aside from the F4S and Bruai-valve technology which we employ in the engine, tale S, will you fmally produce the high-perwhich gives a huge advantage between 10,000 rpm formance SPR version of the F4 you've had under and 13,900 rpm, where we will place the limiter on development for so long? the streetbike, although on the engine dyno it's Yes, this will be manufactured in 300 examples proved safe to rev it consistently to 14,700 rpm. between April and June, when we will also proWhen you ride it, the engine note suddenly changes duce the same number of F4 Ago models which we when you reach those revs - it starts to almost whislaunched at Intermot last year. These will both have tie through the intakes in a very distinctive way, and a high-performance version of our four-cylinder there's a significant improvement in performance. radial-valve engine producing 148 bhp and will be It's incredibly exciting when it happens - just you the ultimate in the 750cc MV Agusta family. wait and see when you ride itl But how about the long-awaited F5, the Can't wait! But what if a private team decided 1000cc version of the MV F4 which you've to go World Superbike racing with the F4 been successfully developing in endurance racing Mille, which certainly seems to have the basis to be for the past year or more? When do you plan to competitive when the rules change next year to launch this - and has Tamburini already finished 1000cc across the board. Would the factory assist his work on the styling? them? The F4 Mille will be launched as a 2004 model, AYou're being very unfair asking me that, with the first customer bikes entering producbecause you know my heart is in racing, and I'd A tion in November, and the first 300 we will make give anything to be involved again at the highest will be a CRC Speciale version called the F4 Mille level! But we have other priorities in the short term Tamburini, with certain special features I won't disand must concentrate on returning the company to close now. Probably we will launch it at the Milan profitability. Still, if customers want to go racing with Show in September - but supplies will be available our products, I wouldn't try to stop them ... very soon afterwards, which was a mistake we QHOW about the Brutale - will there be a made in the past we won't repeat again. Then, after 1000cc version of that? that, the F4 Mille S volume production models will No, the Brutale will remain a 750 for the forseecommence manufacture early in 2004. As far as able future - there's more than enough engine Q Q Q A 2 ¥;q;;::::::; ;a e performance with this capacity for a naked bike, and the important thing is to get it into the hands of our customers who have been waiting so patiently for so long to own and enjoy it. Once they do, they'll realize this bike is so much fun to ride, they have more than enough power to entertain themselves! Lookin g into the future, what new MY Agusta models are you envisaging? How about a sports tourer, or a 600 Supersport contender? Look, Alan - MY Agusta has a very specific image which we will guard closely. It's a marque with the most glorious sporting history on two wheels, which means we can only contemplate making hypersports models or ultra-aggressive, strippedout naked bikes. So - no, definitely no sports tourer. But a 600cc four-cylinder Supersport F3? Absolutely, yes. Of course, that will come in due course, once we've firmly re-established the company and have achieved profitability. I'd guess this is something we can project for 2006 or so - and when we do it, it'll be like the F4, the pinnacle of desirability and performance in its category. What steps have you taken to meet the aftermarket potential for MY Agusta? The lack of an official range of accessories or leisurewear has always seemed a lost opportunity. You're right, and we recognize that. However, Massimo Tamburini's son Andrea has recently started a company known as MY Agusta Special Parts, which, thanks to his drive and good technical ability, will develop a wide range of extremely interesting aftermarket parts and clothing, which we will promote around the world via our dealers. speaking of Massimo Tamburini, I understand that Ducati recently approached him to do some work for them. Is that true, and if so, will the facilities of CRC be put at their disposal even though they're your commercial rivals? The answer to that is that, firstly, there still exist A people in the world today who are loyal and know instinctively how to behave properly - not everyone is a bandit; there are still sincere people in the world of motorcycles. And, secondly - no, CRC will only create new products for MY Agusta Motorcycles, no one else! So here you are, with MY Agusta's troubles of the past two years apparently resolved at last, and production already restarted. How do you feel right now? Relieved? More tired than I was six months ago - but much happier! And also, I must admit, satisfied with the way things have been resolved, particularly because so many people doubted our ability to survive, without understanding the essence of this company. Look, Alan - I have a great admiration for the Japanese way of making motorcycles, manufacturing such a wide range of products in such quantity, then selling them at very affordable prices. We in Europe can never hope to operate in a similar way, only to produce luxury products and to do them very well. We are sellers of emotions, not just sellers of motorcycles - and emotions are expensive, not only in the cost of supplying them to the customer, but of creating them in the first place. When you walk down a city street and stop to look in a shop window, it's because something has caught your eye which gives you a thrill, which excites and pleases you - that's why you stopped. Same with motorcycles - we sell products that are luxury goods, which give our customers a thrill, which make them proud to own them, which please and stimulate their emotions. That's what MY Agusta is good at - and that's what we're going to focus on doing from now on. eN Q Q A Q Q A ;;; cue I e n e _ s

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