Motorcycle Madness At Motogiro D'Italia

This year marks the (kind of) 30th anniversary of Italy’s epic classic motorcycle rally: Motogiro. This event, unlike any of its kind, began shortly after the second world war and was dubbed by journalist Silvio Ottolenghi ‘one of the most fascinating races that have been performed.’ Originally started in 1914  as a nod to the best in classic biking, the event was sadly shut at the peak of its popularity in 1957 due to fatality numbers. It’s thanks to the Motogiro, in fact, that racing remains banned on public roads in Italy.

But, laws weren’t enough to hold back this fearsome show of appreciation for the best bikes. In the 1960s, the Italian Motorcycle Federation managed to get the Motogiro back on the road, but as a time trial rather than a race. The event yet again shot to the top of public attention in 2001, when Ducati offered sponsorship which took the whole shebang back to its classic roots and brought us to this years anniversary proceedings.

For its 30th event, the Motogorio will consist of a six-day driving bender across 930 miles of Italy’s best scenery. Held from 27th May to 1st June, the event will see riders landing in iconic Rome. And, with around two-thirds of entrants coming from outside Italy, there’s no reason you can’t also give this event a shot. But, why does Motogorio deserve your attention over the endless motorcycle-based options you could choose from this year?

Old is best

In most races/rallies, we focus on the newest, fastest, bikes going. Anyone even hoping to enter needs to spend a small fortune on their motorcycle. Even then, there’s no guarantee that yours is going to be the best. But, Motogorio turns that notion on its head. Instead of focusing on the new, this is an event which started as a nod to pre-war motorcycles. As such, the more classic you can go with your bike, the better. Admittedly, many riders opt to use Ducatis since the sponsorship deal, but there’s no rule saying you need to do the same. All you’d need to do is find a used motorcycle within your price range and get going. Unless you go to real vintage options, this has the benefit of saving you a fair amount of money. And, let’s be honest; those older bikes also make for a much more interesting show. You can bet that you’ll see some astounding designs along the way which you would never see at a modern motorcycle event.

Slow and steady wins...what race?

It’s also worth noting that your experience here is sure to be better than at a high-speed event which can actually call itself a race. As you might remember, Motogorio is now a rally instead. Timed, admittedly, but without a focus on speed. Of course, reaching those checkpoints as soon as you can is still pretty standard, but not for the reason you think. People who whizz around this event do so because they then get to spend more time in each of the stunning locations along the way. And, with this being a special anniversary event, you get those stop-offs will be something special. Even if you don’t fancy the scenery, the Italian food on offer at every checkpoint along the way is reason enough to move fast. Still, there isn’t the pressure to go faster than you’re comfortable with. And, of course, there can’t be any losers if this isn’t even a race.

Pit stops are down to you

When you get into the serious world of racing, pit stops are all about teams who run out to your bike and fix things up for you. But, no such services await at the Motogorio, and many people see that as a good thing. The altogether more laid back attitude of this event means that riders fix up their bikes along the way. And, if you’re a motorbike lover, that’s sure to be right up your street. What could be better than sitting on the side of an Italian road with a load of like-minded individuals, all while repairing your bike engine? Admittedly, you might want to do a little research into the repairs you’ll need before you head off. It would be a bit embarrassing if you were unable to continue, after all. And, with some of these locations being quite remote, there’s no guarantee you can hit up YouTube for help along the way. But, if you know a thing or two about bike engines, this could be the best part of the whole event for you. You can bet there will probably be a fair few refreshments on hand at each pit stop to make it all more bearable, too.

It’s in Italy

Let’s not beat around the bush; Motogorio also has Italy going for it. When you consider that other races like these are in locations like the Isle of Man, that can seem like a no-brainer. Nothing against the Isle of Man, of course, but it’s no Sicily, is it? You can bet that signing yourself up for this event will see you driving through some of Italy's best scenery. These are roads you just aren’t going to find anywhere else. You’ll be able to feel the wind in your hair and get to the real heart behind this passionate place. While the locations on offer vary, this year is sure to be spectacular. For proof, consider only the end-point of Rome. If you’re worried about heat, you needn’t be. The time of year is carefully selected to ensure good weather which isn’t unbearably hot for drivers and observers alike. What more could any motorbike rider ever ask for?

A final word

Whether you’ve heard of it or not, Motogorio is crying out for bike lovers like you. Riders travel from across the world for this event alone. And, attending for one year could see you doing the same for every event hereafter. It really does have that much to offer.