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Type | Subsidiary |
---|---|
Industry | Motorcycle |
Founded | 1947 |
Founder | Gino Amisano |
Headquarters | , |
Products | Motorcycle helmets |
Owner |
|
Parent | Dainese |
Website | agv.com |
AGV (initials for "Amisano Gino Valenza") is an Italian motorcycle helmet manufacturer active in motorcycle sport. Founded in 1947 by Gino Amisano, since 2007 the company is a subsidiary of Dainese, [1] which was taken over by Investcorp in 2019. [2] The AGV brand is well known in motorcycle sport.
AGV makes a range of motorcycle helmets, including full-face racing, sport, touring and off-road models to modular helmets, urban jet helmets and open-face cruiser designs, using various materials including carbon fiber, aramid, fiberglass, and thermoplastics. [3]
Current AGV helmets are developed with an integrated technical development and construction approach the company calls the AGV Extreme Safety protocol, which AGV says has measurable benefits. [4] [5]
AGV was founded in 1947 by Amisano Gino (1920–2009). The company name is the initials for Amisano Gino Valenza, Amisano's name and Valenza, the place the company was based. [6] The AGV logo is the initials in a helmet shape, in the colors of the Italian flag. [7]
AGV initially made leather seats and motorcycle saddles, adding leather motorcycle helmets a year later. Helmet production came to the fore for AGV when they started making fiberglass helmets in 1954. This was when AGV began making sponsorship deals with motorcycle racers including Kenny Roberts, Barry Sheene, Johnny Cecotto, Steve Baker, Angel Nieto, Giacomo Agostini, and Valentino Rossi. [8] [9]
In 1958 AGV began hanging advertising banners around the most-photographed track bends. [9] An early example of product placement in movies was 1968's A Place for Lovers by De Sica. [10]
AGV began sponsoring Formula One drivers such as Niki Lauda, Emerson Fittipaldi, Keke Rosberg, and Nelson Piquet in the early seventies. [9] Valentino Rossi was made an honorary president of the company in 2008. [11]
AGV Helmets was purchased by Italian sportswear and equipment company Dainese in July 2007. [12] Dainese was acquired by Investcorp of Bahrain for €130 million in 2014 [2] and by The Carlyle Group in 2022. In 2017, AGV began selling its first full-carbon modular helmet. [13] [14]
During the 1976 Formula 1 Nürburgring race, the car of Niki Lauda (1949–2019) suddenly made a right turn and crashed into rocks. Lauda lost his AGV helmet and was belted in the car while the car and gasoline on the ground caught fire. The head mask was thinner in the areas usually covered by the helmet. Lauda was severely burnt especially on one side of his head. He survived the burns, with hurt lungs and broken bones.
In 2006 Lauda explained in an interview, that previously he always wore a helmet from Bell, but for the 1976 season AGV had developed a new more lightweight and comfortable helmet and Lauda tested it. The AGV helmet fitted too loosely. He believes that the Bell helmet would not have flown away. [15]
Lauda was awarded a high compensation payment from AGV. [16]
AGV sponsors the following: [17]
Andreas Nikolaus "Niki" Lauda was an Austrian Formula One driver and aviation entrepreneur. He was a three-time Formula One World Drivers' Champion, winning in 1975, 1977 and 1984, and is the only driver in Formula One history to have been champion for both Ferrari and McLaren, two of the sport's most successful constructors.
Grand Prix motorcycle racing is the premier class of motorcycle road racing events held on road circuits sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM). Independent motorcycle racing events have been held since the start of the twentieth century and large national events were often given the title Grand Prix. The foundation of the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme as the international governing body for motorcycle sport in 1949 provided the opportunity to coordinate rules and regulations in order that selected events could count towards official World Championships. It is the oldest established motorsport world championship.
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Ángel Nieto Roldán was a Spanish professional Grand Prix motorcycle racer. He was one of the most accomplished motorcycle racers in the history of the sport, winning 13 World Championships and 90 Grand Prix victories in a racing career that spanned twenty-three years from 1964 to 1986, mainly engaged in 50cc, 80cc and 125cc respectively. His total of 90 Grand Prix victories ranks him third only to the 122 by Giacomo Agostini, and the 115 for Valentino Rossi. In 2011, Nieto was named an FIM Legend for his motorcycling achievements.
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