Harley-Davidson, Inc. is an American motorcycle manufacturer headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1903, it is one of two major American motorcycle manufacturers to survive the Great Depression along with its historical rival, Indian Motorcycles. The company has survived numerous ownership arrangements, subsidiary arrangements, periods of poor economic health and product quality, and intense global competition to become one of the world's largest motorcycle manufacturers and an iconic brand widely known for its loyal following. There are owner clubs and events worldwide, as well as a company-sponsored, brand-focused museum.
Aermacchi was an Italian aircraft manufacturer. Formerly known as Aeronautica Macchi, the company was founded in 1912 by Giulio Macchi at Varese in north-western Lombardy as Nieuport-Macchi, to build Nieuport monoplanes under licence for the Italian military. With a factory located on the shores of Lake Varese, the firm originally manufactured a series of Nieuport designs, as well as seaplanes.
MV Agusta is a motorcycle manufacturer founded by Count Domenico Agusta on 19 January 1945 as one of the branches of the Agusta aircraft company near Milan in Cascina Costa, Italy. The abbreviation MV stands for Meccanica (mechanics) Verghera, the hamlet where the first MVs were made. The modern headquarters and main production facilities are located in Varese, Italy on the shore of Lake Varese.
Kenneth Leroy Roberts is an American former professional motorcycle racer and racing team owner. In 1978, he became the first American to win a Grand Prix motorcycle racing world championship. He was also a two-time winner of the A.M.A. Grand National Championship. Roberts is one of only four riders in American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) racing history to win the AMA Grand Slam, representing Grand National wins at a mile, half-mile, short-track, TT Steeplechase and road race events.
Cagiva is an Italian motorcycle manufacturer. It was founded in 1950 by Giovanni Castiglioni in Varese, originally producing small metal components. Giovanni's sons, Claudio and Gianfranco Castiglioni, went into the motorcycle industry in 1978. The name is a portmanteau derived from the founder's name 'Giovanni Castiglioni' and the founding location, i.e. CAstiglioni GIovanni VArese.
The term Classic Racing in the United Kingdom is generally accepted as motorcycle racing as defined under the rules and or auspices of the Classic Racing Motorcycle Club (CRMC). This was established in 1981 and mostly caters for solos and sidecars manufactured in the period 1945–1972.
Franco Uncini is an Italian former professional Grand Prix motorcycle road racing. He was 1982 FIM Road Racing World Champion with Suzuki. He was inducted into the F.I.M. MotoGP Hall of Fame in 2016.
The 1975 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 27th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.
Renzo Pasolini, nicknamed "Paso", was an Italian professional motorcycle road racer. He competed in the FIM Grand Prix motorcycle racing world championships from 1964 to 1972.
The 1976 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 28th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.
The 1974 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 26th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.
Walter Villa was an Italian four-time Grand Prix motorcycle road racing world champion. He was known for his quiet, unassuming nature off the bike who became a ruthless competitor once the races began.
Kelvin Carruthers is an Australian former world champion Grand Prix motorcycle road racer and racing team manager. After his motorcycle riding career, he became race team manager for world championship winning riders Kenny Roberts and Eddie Lawson.
Gianfranco Bonera is an Italian former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. His best year was in 1974 when he won the Nations Grand Prix and finished second to his MV Agusta teammate, Phil Read, in the 500cc world championship. He switched to the 250cc class in 1976, racing for the Harley-Davidson factory racing team on Aermacchi machines rebadged after being purchased by the American firm. He won the 250cc Spanish Grand Prix and finished the season in third place behind his Harley-Davidson teammate, Walter Villa and Yamaha's Takazumi Katayama.
Gilberto Milani was an Italian Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. His best year was in 1969 when he finished ninth in the 500cc world championship. After his riding career had ended, Milani took on the role of racing team manager for the Aermacchi factory, which was then bought by Harley Davidson. Milani played a role in managing Walter Villa to three consecutive 250cc road racing world championships.
The 1977 Yugoslavian motorcycle Grand Prix was the seventh round of the FIM 1977 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season. It took place on 19 June 1977 at the Opatija Circuit. The event was marred by two fatalities, and this turned out to be the last Yugoslavian motorcycle Grand Prix at Opatija. The event moved to the further inland Rijeka Circuit.
Bill Swallow is a classic motorcycle rider from Yorkshire.
Lino Tonti was an Italian motorcycle engineer known for designing a number of sport and racing motorcycles in the 1950s and 1960s, and for creating his signature 'Tonti frame' for Moto Guzzi's 1971 V7 Sport, setting his stamp on all Moto Guzzis since.
The Harley-Davidson RR250, also known as the Harley-Davidson 250RR, was a racing motorcycle, designed, developed and built by Harley-Davidson, conforming to the 250cc class regulations of the Grand Prix motorcycle racing world championship, between 1972 and 1977.
