Rendering of MV Agusta Moto2 entry.
We aren’t big fans of special edition motorcycles that don’t do a whole lot more than add a new paint job to an existing model and raise the price. This is true whether it is Willy G. waking in the middle of the night with inspiration to add a farkle or two to an existing Harley, along with new paint, or MV Agusta releasing a series of Lewis Hamilton “collaborations“, such as the Dragster 800 RR LH44, F4 LH44 and Brutale 800 RR LH44 … perhaps to be followed by the “Super-Duper Special LH44”. We try not to slavishly post photos and stories about such Harley-Davidsons or MV Agustas (although, to be honest, our record isn’t perfect in this regard).
Now, MV Agusta has announced its “return” to Grand Prix racing next season in the Moto2 category, and our only question is whether MV will have any more input on this racing motorcycle than Paris Hilton did on the 125cc GP bike piloted by Maverick Viñales after gleefully tweeting “I can’t believe I have my own racing team! So cool! :)”. At least, Paris brought assets that clearly inspired the young Viñales, as you can see in the photo posted with this article.
Just like every other Moto2 team, the “MV Agusta” will be powered by a three-cylinder Triumph beginning next year, and even the chassis appears likely to come from an outside source, i.e. Suter. So, the return to GP racing by the legendary marque starts to look like a branding exercise more than anything of substance. Sort of like the slew of LH models.
Is this the right thing to do for a brand that has captured 38 riders’ and 37 manufacturers’ GP titles? You could argue that KTM is doing the same thing, but KTM only jumped into Moto2 after very careful analysis, and determining (1) KTM would develop its own chassis from scratch, and (2) a Moto2 team was the best way to bring riders forward from KTM’s own Moto3 team to its MotoGP team. Of course, MV has no Moto3 or MotoGP team.
This move might be all the more puzzling given the fact that MV Agusta is still capable of producing superb motorcycles, such as the Brutale 800 MD tested at the press launch in Southern Spain back in 2016. Then again, Harley got away with “form over substance” for quite some time.
Rendering of MV Agusta Moto2 entry.
See more of MD’s great photography:
Never thought I’d see an ugly MV Augusta in my life, but the one in this article is the one.
When I’m thinking about MV then they are Giacomo Agostini bikes
MV Agustramp?
I’m looking really hard but I don’t see the camel toe.
https://www.bing.com/images/search?view=detailV2&ccid=yBvLSdrO&id=562000983BD50FE61923CD65C36D9CCD932A9397&thid=OIP.yBvLSdrO2pg63buvfug4BAHaFo&mediaurl=http%3a%2f%2fpictures.topspeed.com%2fIMG%2fcrop%2f200612%2fcamel-leaves-yamaha–1_600x0w.jpg&exph=456&expw=600&q=racebike+with+camel+cigarette+wraps&simid=608046730113384748&selectedIndex=6&ajaxhist=0
Paris Hilton was wearing speed scaters suit
I gotta know why did this bike really reminded the author of Paris Hilton? It’s sexy and mostly useless true enough. Could it be the red paint around the air intake remind him of a gapping wide mouth? And what does he want to do with it? Is there a #me too movement for motorcycles?
Why throw KTM under the bus? They made their own chassis from scratch and they have to use some street bike engine just like the rest of the field. How is any other OEM any different?
Oh! I know! KTM would rather they left the series like it was in the good old days.
Naming this a MV Agusta “return” to GP and having a Triumph engine it’s a joke
Just like every other Moto2 team, next year they will all be running the same engine… What a very NASCAR thing to do. Sure, it evens the playing field, to make racing closer, and “more exciting”, but I agree, what is the point of different manufacturers racing, if they are using all the same equipment?
Always liked MV Agusta, and hopefully the street versions will be more faithful to the brand!
Every moto 2 team will have a Triumph engine, KTM, Honda, everyone.
Dirck I am surprised you did not comment on Forward Racing aka Criminal Reparto Corse.
Difficult for a small manufacturer with a historical racing record as MV to enter Moto 2 let alone MotoGP without destroying that reputation. Maybe a small step in the right direction. Aprillia have shown how hard it is to be competitive in the modern GP environment and Aprillia have had success in 250 GP and SBK. Hopefully they will only enter a competitive bike and build on that.
MV Agusta has always made great looking track/street bikes. This one is no exception.
I didn’t realize Indian Motorcycle was a junior partner in the race game.
Curious three way marriage.
What does MV hope to get outta this venture?
I’d guess some brand exposure doing what MV has always done – racing bikes.
Yeah on further reflection… Well it’s pretty hideous. I sure hope the real thing looks better than this Tron-quality rendering….
People talk about nightmarish service costs and parts availability issues on Ducatis, and they’re a relatively large brand. It makes people assume that MV’s are best for someone who will permanently park the thing in their man-cave and never actually use it. Cool looking bikes, but very few people can afford something like this just to look at.
They’re not selling this one – it’s for racing.
keep it coming Dirck…somewhere some marketing consultant has told MV that its the paint and the plastic that sells motorcycles. I wonder when an OEM will collaborate with someone like Starbucks to brand a model. This will complete the evolution of cafe racer to coffee shop cruiser. I see a suitable looking cross-section of the marketable demographic conferring on their apps and meeting up in front of the store on their corporate logo’d electric bikes with ad patter saying something like, “the ultimate travel mug”….someday poser will be a compliment and faux flannel plaid kevlar will be the jacket of choice…
Why does everything MV builds look as though it fell out of an Atari game? If they’re going to continually ask for big bucks on their bikes then it might be smart to trot out an updated GT 750 or something akin to it. I’ve got the dough but I’m not going to reach for the Celebrex every time I finish riding it.
I’m not quite sure I understand your meaning here – “looks as though it fell out of an Atari game”. I didn’t play Atari, but MV does make some great looking street bikes.
How many of you know that Dirck was a badass surfer. I saw him surf 10 ft Salt Creek before there were houses or a hotel there. Ha he is still pretty badass on a Bike. Keep rocking it, Dirck. Mike, surf bro.
Hey Mike, thanks. I remember that day. Alan was there, as well.
Wow slut shaming Paris Hilton and a dig at the Motor Co in an article in which the only purpose is to ridicule MV for no apparent reason. Gee you’re getting to be a grumpy old man just like your typical reader.
That comment seems less than half-baked.
No, it’s not. It’s completely baked.
PS I didn’t mean that to be anonymous. Or even to really enter the fray, for that matter. I just saw the opportunity for a good Graduate quote….
It was a little raw.
Oh yeah, the tank and fairing are from MV right ? If it’s enough for you …
The designs are from MV.
The line between being an angry young man and a grumpy old fart is usually to be found on the face of the one who feels “insulted”. That would be Mister HalfBaked.
Such as this individual look everywhere to be insulted save for the mirror. Perhaps it’s due to the mirror being their personal Picture of Dorian Gray…
If paint and a foo-foo farkle are all that’s required to make a “special edition” (be it any make/model), then I say such specialties are for the special ed among us. Oooooo… Now some Social Justus Warrior will be curling into a fecal position deep within the bowels of their safe-space.
Buncha betas.
I’m WSHART and I approve this message. 😉
I don’t even understand this rant but you do seem a bit grumpy.