By The first and second placed riders from last year’s Junior Manx Grand Prix, Andrea Majola from La Spezia and Maurizio Bottalico from Naples (now he lives in San Marino) plus fastest Italian TT exponent Stefano Bonetti from Castro (in Bergamo) are the ‘three musketeers’ representing the Italian tricolour flag at TT 2025.
Speaking of Bergamo, the city hosted last Sunday in nice sunny weather, the 21st ‘Bergamo Historic Gran Prix’ edition. There was a mix of four and two wheeled yesteryear racing equipment within the demo races for each category.
If we briefly look into the history of this 1.814 miles (2.920 metres) long circuit in the streets of Bergamo around the Venetian walls of the historic city centre, 90 years ago in 1935 the overall winner was the legendary Tazio Nuvolari who described the track as ‘sublime’.
We find in the list of Bergamo motorcycle race winners (active years of these races were 1937, 1939, 1946-1951, 1953) also very famous citizen of Bergamo Carlo Ubbiali, nine times World Champion and five times TT races winner, who died in 2020 at 90 years of age.
Main active stars of this year’s Bergamo Historic GP edition were World Superbike race winner, 2020 World Supersport Champion Andrea Locatelli and 1988 125cc World Championship runner-up Ezio Gianola.
Many beautiful machines appeared on track including Moto Guzzi, Gilera, MV Agusta, Laverda, Ducati, Aermacchi, Benelli Italian exotica. UK racing history was additionally represented via two pristine, original Manx Norton’s (350cc from 1954 and 500cc from 1960) rode in the past by six times World Champion, six times TT winner Geoff Duke and 1965 Junior, Senior Manx Grand Prix winner, Welsh great Malcolm Uphill.
After Sachsenring Classic (took place at the beginning of this month, featured participation of Wiz Norton Racing with DKW and Norton Wankel bikes of Classic TT fame), it was another great event similar in nature to the Festival of Jurby, for viewing racing gems from past years in Europe.
The 2026 Bergamo Historic GP will take place again on the last weekend in May. Thanks to the organisers for bringing racing history to life.
Photo credit: Jan Vavra
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
