Vale Claudio Castiglioni

Claudio Castiglioni, the 64-year-old president of MV Agusta Motor S.p.A and a man who helped elevate the Italian motorcycle industry to the heady heights it enjoys today, has passed away in Varese, Italy leaving behind an enormous legacy.

Castiglioni founded the company Cagiva in 1978. But his vision wasn’t over yet, and he also purchased brands like Ducati, Husqvarna and MV Agusta.

Castiglioni has given us some of the most notable motorcycles ever built, including the Ducati 916. One of his final acts was to give the green light to the MV Agusta F3 and Brutale 675.

Racing has always been one of his greatest passions, and his forays into competition have resulted in success at every level of world championship racing. With Cagiva came the titles of world motocross champion as well as the triumphs in the most enduring desert race, the Paris-Dakar. Also with Cagiva were the numerous successes in the 500 GP class.

Ducati, under his guidance, dominated entire seasons of the Superbike World Championship thanks to models such as the 851 and 916.

Finally, Husqvarna acquired a number of world championships in enduro, motocross and supermotard.

At the very centre of his personal and professional history there is MV Agusta, to which Castiglioni dedicated over 15 years.

For the past year, the president has left the guidance of MV Agusta to his son Giovanni.

Giovanni, with the same passion and tenacity as his father, from this day forth will continue to create what Claudio Castiglioni described as “the most beautiful motorcycles in the world”.

Castiglioni’s funeral will take place on Friday, August 19 in Varese.