ASI MotoShow: numerous historic two-wheeled examples and several champions at the 20th edition

ASI MotoShow, organized by the Automotoclub Storico Italiano, is an international event dedicated to the history of motorcycling. There 20 edition atVarano de' Melegari racetrack it is scheduled between days 12 e 14 May 2023 and 500 enthusiasts are expected on the occasion, who will bring over 700 historic motorbikes to the track representing every historical period and type, ranging from compact "fifties" to the sports cars of the MotoGP. The protagonists at the opening are the historic police motorbikes.

The kermesse

In this context, past and present intersect, observing in particular the motorcycling champions from various eras who are present to celebrate the new edition of the event, in view of the Grand Parade on Sunday 14 May. Among the well-known faces involved on the track, we note several world champions such as Pierpaolo Bianchi, Carlos Lavado, Eugenio Lazzarini, Marco Melandri and Franco Uncini, but also world vice-champions such as Jean Francois Balde, Rolf Blatter and Gianfranco Bonera. Large attendance on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the first motorcycle competition hosted by the facility in 1983.

As mentioned, the motor festival that animates the Varano de' Melegari track for three days takes shape with the presence of various historic and modern motorbikes arriving from the territorial vehicle centers of the Traffic Police and Police Headquarters. We expect several presences from Italy and abroad and interesting events regarding: the exhibitions and parades of Ducati to remember recent sporting triumphs; 100 years of motorcycle production BMW; the iconic ones Moto Guzzi from grand prix, from the twin-cylinder models of the 30s to the 8-cylinder; the “Girls of the Rising Sun” with over 100 examples of Japanese brands on the track; the sparkling 125s of the 80s and 90s and the unforgettable "cinquantini".
The oldest example expected on this occasion is the Chizzolini from 1897, created in Brescia 126 years ago by the brothers Carlo, Emilio and Vittorio Chizzolini. It is a vehicle halfway between a motorbike and a car, given that it is technically a "quadricycle", considering a handlebar, two tandem seats, four motorcycle-derived wheels and a compact De Dion-Bouton engine of only 211 cc.

Meetings are also scheduled in the ASI space in the center of the paddock, for example the various conferences “Gilera versus Guzzi: was it a real rivalry?” and “The mysteries of Marama-Toyo” on Saturday 13 May, but also the one on Sunday 14 May which concerns the “Yamaha TZ, the democratic racing bike”. Also highlighted is the photographic exhibition curated by the Aermacchi Historical Registry which recalls the tragedy that involved the pilots Renzo Pasoli and Jarno Saarinen 50 years ago during the GP of Nations in Monza in 1973. Furthermore, from Benelli Museum from Pesaro arrive one of the first "175" of 1928, the post-war Leoncino, the powerful six-cylinder "750" of the 70s, some racing MotoBis and small-wheel mopeds from which a new sector in vogue in the 60s was born XNUMX, while the Gilera Historical Register allows you to observe the rare 350 Gran Sport from 1930 and 500 VTEGS “8 bolts” from 1939.

Other rare specimens from abroad such as the Opel Motoclub from 1928 (Petja Grom Museum) from Slovenia; there Munch Mammoth 1200 from 1968 admired in the film of the same name with Gérard Depardieux from France and the Arter Matchless G50 “Wagonwheels” from 1971 (Robert Iannucci Collection-Team Obsolete) from the United States.