Dodging Bullets In Italy

DODGING BULLETS IN ITALY

THERE HAVE BEEN LOTS OF fireworks within the Italian motorcycle industry during the past few months-and a few mortar rounds, too! In recent court actions, both Piaggio and MV Agusta’s Claudio Castiglioni claimed the other party torpedoed the deal in which Piaggio was to take 100 percent control of Cagiva and Husqvarna, with Castiglioni collecting enough money to forge ahead with MV.

Trouble is, Castiglioni was relying on those funds. At the moment, MV is unable to manufacture motorcycles due to its poor credit with suppliers. The biggest casualty is the Brutale, the naked version of the F4 repli-racer. Moreover, the lOOOcc version of the F4’s 750cc inline-Four is said to be ready. With more than 160 horsepower at the crankshaft, it sounds promising, too.

Piaggio, meanwhile, is also said to

be hurting financially. If you believe the rumors, Piaggio needs $100 million to get back on track.

Majority shareholder Morgan Grenfell

isn’t will-

ing to

open its purse, which has put Piaggio under siege from the banks. At the top of the list is Banca Intesa-ironically, the same institution involved in the MV debacle.

Here’s one possible, quarrelending scenario: Piaggio acquires Cagiva, while Ducati (yes, Ducati) gets Husky. Castiglioni keeps MV About Ducati, majority shareholder TPG is allegedly open to offers. Among the names being bandied about in a possible buyout is none other than HarleyDavidson. Sadly, the man said to be spearheading that effort, the former Italian importer of the Milwaukee iron, Carlo Talamo, died in a motorcycle accident this past October.

-Bruno de Prato