Roberto Marchesini, 1941-2020

The other day I had to write off another friend from the old days, Roberto Marchesini. He was not a racer or a team manager, but in the paddocks of any Grand Prix he was one of the most popular name among racers, technicians, and team managers for the very simple reason that Roberto can be regarded as a pioneer of cast magnesium motorcycle wheels and the immensely dedicated promoter of their constant evolution to ever higher levels of efficiency and safety.

No doubt that Marchesini was very popular with racers and team managers, but his highly focused technical mind did not prevent him from having an extrovert personality and very friendly manners—spiced up by his very positive humor.

He was born in Bologna in 1941 and after he graduated from the technical high school, in 1960 he went to work at the local Campagnolo light metals foundry. Old genius Tullio Campagnolo not only was the first to conceive and realize a multi-speed group and related shifter for bicycles, but he also was a great visionary who immediately perceived the potential of many new technologies. Roberto soon became one of the chief technicians and was placed at the head of the department that would develop the casting technologies needed to manufacture car and motorcycle wheels. And make them the lightest and the strongest possible.

Magnesium motorcycle wheels had already been produced, but were heavier than the characteristics of magnesium would allow, and they also looked clumsy. Roberto learned how to optimize air temperature and humidity in the casting area to prevent all possible flaws in the wheel castings. Campagnolo magnesium motorcycle wheels were a huge success. Roberto soon reached a top position at Campagnolo, but he knew he had to aim higher.

He left and went to Marvic and helped the then-small company to become a major player in high-performance magnesium motorcycle wheels. From there, in 1988, Roberto took over a small light-alloys foundry and started his own firm, Marchesini Wheels. He worked with enormous dedication and creativity, progressively evolving the cast magnesium wheels to a higher stage of technology: forged magnesium wheels, even lighter and stronger.

Being also a practical man, he adapted the technological innovations achieved to create forged aluminum wheels more cheaply and thus reaching a much vaster audience. Around the year 2000, Marchesini Wheels was acquired by the Brembo Group, and this opened new perspectives of technological refinement.

Recently Roberto had moved to Rimini and had started an independent activity totally dedicated to the development of ultra-refined wheels only—for his personal pleasure. His forged magnesium wheels are regarded as the absolute best and can still take a challenge from carbon wheels, being fully homologated for both track and road use.

Roberto was another case of that unique creativity, dedication, and determination that seem to have a solid roots in the region spanning from Modena to Bologna to Rimini. After all that hard work you did all life long, rest in peace Roberto. We are going to miss you.