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Reason. Passion.
Lifestyle
AGV is most likely the company that introduced the concept of racing
endorsements into the motorcycle world. Always a pioneer AGV helped create
the first Mobile Clinic. In the Seventies AGV started one of the races that
is a legend to these days: the AGV Cup which was born as a three race
endurance Championship raced in Daytona, Paul Ricard and Misano Adriatico;
the Daytona 200, possibly the single most important race in the world, would
not be raced today if it wasn’t for the far-sightedness of AGV founder Gino
Amisano who, thirty years ago, understood its incredible potential.
Through the years AGV has raced and won with the main motorcycle and auto
racing icons. Giacomo Agostini, Barry Sheene, Kenny Roberts, Johnny Ceccotto,
Angel Nieto, Marco Lucchinelli, Franco Uncini, Fausto Gresini, Nicky Lauda,
Nelson Piquet, Emerson Fittipaldi, Randy Mamola, Luca Cadalora, Troy Corser,
Max Biaggi and Manuel Poggiali. The list is long and impressive.
Valentino Rossi deserves a chapter of his own. In his never ending search
for new challenges and new records to break – which he never fails to do –
there has been one single standard: his AGV helmet. Eight years, four
classes, five bikes, five world titles and 60 GP victories. Only one helmet.
For the future AGV is going to maintain the direction followed so far: keep
working with the number one Valentino Rossi, but with a special eye to the
new pilots generation.
In 2004 AGV supports many different riders in the main classes of motorcycle
racing. In the World Motorcycle Championship, besides Valentino Rossi, AGV
also races in the 250cc class with Lukas Pesek and in the 125cc class with
young guns Mike Di Meglio, Steve Jenkner e Hector Barbera. who, after
finishing third in?the 2003?championship will try to take home the 2004
title. Many young promising riders compete in the national and European
championships, as well as in the World Endurance Championship wearing an AGV
helmet. In off road racing, Mickael Maschio will once again battle for the
World Title of the MX2 World Championships. With him, racing in different
classes, but all wearing an AGV helmet, will be Stephen Sword, Antoine Meo,
Jeff Dement and Kenneth Gundersen.
Legendary Helmets:
TRUE MILESTONES IN THE HISTORY OF MOTORCYCLE HELMETS
1946 - AGV (Amisano Gino) began as a manufacturer of leather seats and
bicycle saddles in Valenza, Italy.
1948 - AGV enters into the world of motorcycle helmets; an important step
which gained, since the beginning, unprecedented commercial success together
with the chance of being part of sport competitions.
1949 - The first open-face helmet with a leather shell was developed and
produced.
1953 - The first fiberglass vulcanized helmets were introduced into the
market.
1954 - AGV produces the first 100% fiberglass open-face helmet. A few years
later, by taking advantage of the experience acquired in creating a special
helmet to run the flying start kilometer on skis, AGV develops the first
fiberglass full-face helmet.
1977 - AGV, which has always been investing to reach the highest safety
standards, decides to commit itself to the “Clinica Mobile” project by
sustaining all costs for the first structure. The "Clinica Mobile" is a
facility that provides emergency care to riders that have suffered injuries
during races. This partnership is still alive today.
1985 - Nelson Piquet takes part in the Formula 1 World Championship wearing
a brand new Kevlar/Dupont fiberglass full-face AGV helmet. Since the
beginning AGV’s history has been directly linked to many of riders who have
made motorcycle history: Giacomo Agostini, Barry Sheene, Kenny Roberts,
Johnny Cecotto, Angel Nieto, Marco Lucchinelli, Franco Uncini, Fausto
Gresini, Niki Lauda, Emerson Fittipaldi, Randy Mamola, and Luca Cadalora.
These co-operations have brought many victories to AGV and over 130 World
Championship Titles, in addition to the definitive establishment of the AGV
brand name on a global scale.
1988 - AGV completes its range of products with the acquisition of MDS, a
brand that in the very short time emerged by virtue of its versatility and
gained important World Titles in off-road championships with talented riders
such as Pekka Vehkonen and Dave Thorpe.
1995 - Valentino Rossi starts his outstanding professional career wearing an
AGV helmet. Together with AGV Valentino began his dominant reign which has
won 7 World Championships Titles.
2002 - AGV becomes part of an important Belgian Multi-national Group which
already owned the LAZER brand. The IMAG Group together with AGV, MDS, and
LAZER is now the 4th worldwide producer within the sport helmets market.
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