The Motogiro, a timed race for classic production motorcycles, has opened up registration for this year’s event, which will be the 30th anniversary of the ride as it was when it was reinstated as a timed event instead of a race. The roots of the Motogiro can be traced back to 1914, right around the time of the first production motorcycles, but didn’t really catch on until about 1953, when postwar motorcycle production in Italy was positively booming. 

Ducati’s100cc Gran Sport Marianna was the 1954 winner and helped solidify Ducati’s long and storied racing heritage. The Motogiro was banned, however, along with all motorized road races throughout Italy in 1957.  An accident during the Moto Migila that year, a car road race, killed multiple spectators and Italians lost their taste for road races.