2023-08-19 10:58:37
While two wheels are in the spotlight this weekend with the Austrian MotoGP Grand Prix, the environment is losing one of its big names. Roberto Colaninno, president of the Piaggio group, died on Saturday at the age of 80.
Born in Mantua on August 16, 1943, the entrepreneur took over Piaggio in 2003 through the holding company controlled by his family (IMMSI), which made the Italian group the leading manufacturer of two- and three-wheeled vehicles in Europe. and the fourth in the world, thanks also to the increase in sales in Asia. The Piaggio group’s portfolio includes several brands that have marked the history of motorsports, such as Moto Guzzi, Derbi and, of course, Aprilia, currently involved in MotoGP.
Roberto Colaninno was also Chairman and Managing Director of Aprilia. After being briefly joined by Ivano Beggio as Honorary President, he had assumed both roles in full since 2006 and it was under his leadership that the brand from Noale was able to achieve top performances until reaching the highest level. .
Under his presidency, Aprilia returned to MotoGP in 2015 and managed to return to winning ways last year at the Argentine GP with Aleix Espargaró. This success was repeated two weeks ago at Silverstone, again with the Spanish driver, while his teammate Maverick Vinales shows itself to be closer to concretizing in its turn.
The 2022 season has taken Aprilia to its best overall result in the premier category of motorcycle Grands Prix, with third place in the constructors’ championship and fourth in the riders. The performances of the Espargaró-Viñales duo led to the loss of the concessions which had been granted to the brand for lack of sufficient results until then, and its power was subsequently reinforced by the arrival of a satellite team which doubled its presence. on the grid.
The history of Aprilia Racing with Roberto Colaninno is also, among other things, three drivers’ titles in five years in the WorldSBK championship, with the double of Max Biaggi (2010 and 2012) and the triumph of Sylvain Guintoli in 2014.
An eclectic entrepreneur, Roberto Colaninno will be remembered as the man who knew how to relaunch the Piaggio group, currently at its highest level, and who accompanied Aprilia’s significant progress in competition, the Noale brand now appearing among the protagonists of a MotoGP championship that has seen a shift between Japanese domination and European supremacy.
MotoGP will pay tribute to Roberto Colaninno by observing a minute’s silence before the start of this afternoon’s sprint race.
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