VOL. 53 ISSUE 45 NOVEMBER 15, 2016 P87
with Yamaha, Cagiva and Kawasaki. The reason
the Filorosso isn't homologated for the street is
simply one of cost, plus the time needed to add
ABS, sanitize the exhaust system via a catalyst,
and figure out a way of wrapping the throttle
bodies in some kind of airbox. However, there's
a good reason for that. "We have many orders
for the bike in spite of the fact it's not road legal
in Italy," says Giovanni Magni. "We leave it to our
customers in whichever country they live in to
get it registered there if they wish to. But I know
some of them prefer just to ride it on the track, it's
their choice."
The result is a motorcycle that's as authentic
a modern-day tribute as it's possible to get to
what's arguably the most iconic Italian racebike
ever made, even if the only thing missing is the
tennis ball with the top cut off that Ago used to
mount on the left clipon, in which he'd carry a
damp sponge with which to wipe insects off his
goggles during the hour-long GP races, or two-
hour TTs, of the day. We have tear-offs today,
instead!
Another more important difference is that,
while not exactly inexpensive, the Magni Filoros-
so is worth a fraction of the cost in purely cash
terms, let alone in historic value, of a genuine
factory MV-3 racer. So that means you can ride
it in something approaching anger in a way that
would be unthinkable today on a period bike; the
MV triples you see racing today in the Goodwood
Revival and Classic TT are all replicas. Doing so
at the Pista Pirelli revealed a bike that feels small,
light, low slung and very well balanced, with light,
agile steering and good feedback from the front
(Above) Giacomo
Agostini would
be proud.
(Left) Author
Alan Cathcart is
still impressed
by the MV's retro
performance.
