MV Agusta celebrates its 80th anniversary, a notable milestone that tells a unique story of innovation, passion and success in the world of motorcycling. Since 1945, MV Agusta has been synonymous with excellence in motorcycle design, engineering and racing.
For eight decades, the Varese-based brand has set new standards for quality and performance, both on the race track, with its unrivaled record of 75 world titles (38 drivers and 37 manufacturers), and on the road, becoming a icon of Italian style and craftsmanship.
Since its inception, MV Agusta has embodied the values of innovation, precision and dedication, creating models where performance, technical perfection and aesthetic exploration have become the fundamental principles of its life philosophy.
80 years of MV Agusta in the world of two wheels
The Agusta family, key players in the aeronautical industry, unable to manufacture airplanes immediately after World War II, decided to channel their passion for speed and technology into the manufacture of motorcycles. On January 19, 1945, the Società Anonima Meccanica Verghera was officially founded in Cascina Costa di Samarate, near the current Malpensa International Airport, in northern Italy.
The first motorcycle of the MV Agusta brand was officially launched in the autumn of 1945 and went down in history as the MV 98. With it, a series of victories and successes began, dominating race tracks around the world for decades. The legacy of aviation is evident in the 80-year history of MV Agusta.
A prime example is the iconic red and silver livery: while the red symbolizes Italy’s motorsport heritage, the silver pays homage to aviation, where warplanes often came out with their aluminum fuselages unpainted to save weight.
The mass production of automobiles in the 1950s and 1960s caused a significant drop in demand for motorcycles as a simple means of transportation. MV Agusta’s response was to develop increasingly innovative and high-performance models that were distinguished by constant aesthetic research. These motorcycles sparked a desire to become aspirational objects, overcoming the diminishing need for two-wheeled transportation. This strategy was successful, in part thanks to the brand’s continued sporting triumphs.
Count Domenico Agusta had a special gift for selecting the best riders, many of whom became motorcycling legends: Franco Bertoni, the first MV Agusta rider, followed by Arcisio Artesiani, Carlo Ubbiali, Leslie Graham, Cecil Sandford, Fortunato Libanori, John Surtees, Mike Hailwood, Gianfranco Bonera, Giacomo Agostini and Phil Read. During the 30-year Agusta era, its victories were intertwined with the legacy of MV Agusta’s legendary production models.
The partnership between MV Agusta and Giacomo Agostini remains the most famous in the history of motorcycling: during his career on the Cascina Costa motorcycles, “Ago” won 13 world titles, 18 Italian championships and 10 Tourist Trophies, becoming the most successful in the history of motorcycling.
The 80 years of MV Agusta They are not only marked by countless sporting successes, but also by the creation of authentic collector’s items, highly sought after by fans around the world. Examples of this are the 175 CSS of 1954, nicknamed “Disco Volante”, the 750 S “America” of 1973, the legendary F4 launched in 1997, whose variants have captivated generations of motorcyclists, and the iconic Brutale, still considered the epitome of naked motorcycles.
In 2010, with the F3, the world’s first motorcycle with a counter-rotating crankshaft, MV Agusta adopted a technical solution that revolutionized handling and stability in mid-size sports bikes. Recent history has been marked by models such as Rush, Dragster, Turismo Veloce and Superveloce, each of them embodying the brand’s DNA: innovation, performance and beauty. In 2024, MV Agusta took another step forward with the Enduro Veloce, which combines performance, advanced technology and sophisticated design.
MV Agusta creations are not only milestones in motorcycling, but are also recognized as true works of art. Some of them are exhibited in the most prestigious design and art museums in the world. The Superveloce, presented in 2018 and with its neo-retro aesthetic, was chosen by American artist Daniel Arsham to create six of his “modern relics.”
The artist selects icons from contemporary pop culture and reworks them using his erosion technique, transforming them into objects that fuse classic aesthetics with a future perspective. In 2024, the Arsham Superveloce will be exhibited in the Arsham 3024 exhibition during the Venice Biennale. The Superveloce name evolved further in 2024 with the final version of the Superveloce 1000 Serie Oro.
Produced in just 500 units, this motorcycle was instantly hailed as “the most beautiful motorcycle in the world.” Her beauty inspired Hollywood director Nicholas Winding Refn, who created a short film titled “Beauty Is Not A Sin,” selected for the official programming of the Venice Film Festival, the first commercial project to achieve this honor.
“Motorcycle Art”, the slogan that accompanies MV Agusta, embodies the artistic and artisanal dimension of the brand, elevating it beyond the mere manufacture of Made in Italy motorcycles as a fundamental value. Today, MV Agusta looks to the future with a focus on technological innovation, connectivity and strengthening relationships with distributors and customers, perfectly combining tradition and modernity.
As a tribute to this glorious history, MV Agusta has created the Collezione Ottantesimo 2025, presented last November at the EICMA. The MV Agusta Stile Center redesigned the historic logo for this occasion, replacing the traditional emblem on all motorcycles in the collection.
The six commemorative models (3-cylinder Series 800 range: Brutale RR Ottantesimo, Dragster RR Ottantesimo, F3 RR Ottantesimo and Superveloce S Ottantesimo – 4-cylinder Series 1000 range: Brutale 1000 Ottantesimo and Brutale 1000 RR Ottantesimo), all They are produced in a limited series of only 500 units, They can be identified by a laser engraving, “1 of 500”, located on the address plate or the tank protection plate, depending on the model. Each motorcycle dedicated to the 80th Anniversary is delivered with its respective certificate of authenticity.
Lucas MartinCEO of MV Agusta Motor SpA, stated: «Being part of MV Agusta during such a significant year in its history is a unique emotion and a great responsibility. “This milestone is not only a tribute to our legacy, but also a commitment to the future: to continue innovating while maintaining the values that have made MV Agusta a global icon.”
Concludes: «We are proud to represent Italian excellence, recognized last December in Montecitorio with the ‘100 Italian Excellences’ award, a testament to our craftsmanship, exclusivity and passion. Every MV Agusta motorcycle in the world comes entirely and solely from our beautiful factory on the shores of Lake Varese. “The knowledge of working in the only place where these dreams take shape is a source of immense pride for all of us.”
