MV Agusta Launches Factory Racing Effort

Giovanni Castiglioni promised his late father, Claudio, that MV Agusta would return to world-level racing, and he has kept that pledge. Last year, a pair of F3 675s was entered in World Supersport in the hands of privateers Roberto Rolfo and Christian Iddon. Given the moderate state of tuning and limited financial resources, the duo showed great potential, collecting three third-place finishes—two by Rolfo and one by Iddon—and a sixth place in final points for Rolfo.

This performance spurred Castiglioni to develop a factory Supersport program, stirring a lot of attention from a number of upper-level teams. So, 40 years after the 350cc GP Four left its screaming signature at Mugello in the hands of world champion Giacomo Agostini, MV Agusta has re-opened "Reparto Corse" and developed a race version of the F3 675.

The new machines will be fielded by Russian team Yakhnich Motorsport, which showed great competence securing the 2013 World Supersport team title and assisting Vladimir Leonov to complete a rather positive season. Leonov will share riding privileges with experienced Frenchman Jules Cluzel, who returns to Supersport after a frustrating year on a Suzuki in World Superbike.

In addition, team owner Alexander Yakhnich will enter an F4 RR in SBK to gather valuable data for development of MV Agusta's next-generation Open-class sportbike. Former MotoGP rider Claudio Corti will pilot that motorcycle. The agreement further includes development of racing editions of both the F3 675 and F4 RR, which will be available to private teams.