Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1546650
P116 FEATURE I MOTO GUZZI WORLD DAYS 2026 The 105th Anniversary also brought special-edition Stelvio, V100 Mandello, V85 Strada and V7 Stone models featuring distinctive anniversary liveries inspired by the new Mandello complex. But the motorcycles were almost secondary to the larger celebration. GMG 2026 demon- strated how comfortably Moto Guzzi's past and future now sit alongside one another. The new museum celebrates the brand's eccentricities, housing its racing machines, military motorcycles, touring bikes, prototypes and production models alongside the modern factory. More than 60,000 people descended on a town of roughly 10,000 residents, an extraor- dinary demonstration of the strength of the Moto Guzzi com- munity. For four days, Mandello belonged to the Guzzisti, with motorcycles filling the streets and visitors arriving from around the world. Factory workers, engi- neers, racers, collectors, families and lifelong owners shared the same space, while music, food, test rides and the spectacular parade of 1500 Guzzis provided a constant sense of celebration. After 105 years, the Eagle continues to fly from the same place where it first took flight. The new museum preserves an extraordinary history, while the transformed factory provides the foundation for the next chapter. GMG 2026 wasn't merely a birth- day party; it was a demonstra- tion that the affection for Moto Guzzi remains as strong as ever and that Mandello will remain its home for generations to come. CN Stelvios being assembled using technology that would have been unimaginable to Moto Guzzi's engineers in the 1950s. The factory remains in the town where Moto Guzzi began producing motorcycles in 1921. Despite changes in owner- ship and enormous shifts in the motorcycle industry, Man- dello has remained the brand's spiritual home. The redevelop- ment reinforces that connection and confirms that the town will remain at the center of Moto Guzzi's future. The factory now incorporates modern production technol- ogy and robotics, with capacity planned to exceed 30,000 motor- cycles annually. Yet automation is intended to improve safety, efficiency and sustainability while retaining the character of Moto Guzzi's production. Visi- tors can see the process directly from the new museum, creating a remarkable connection be- tween the company's past and future. The legendary V8 Grand Prix motorcycle sits within sight of modern V100 Mandellos and The walls are filled with classic images from Moto Guzzi's past, including this gem of Bruno Ruffo from the mid-1950s.