Iconic MV Agusta name to make Isle of Man TT return in 2012
Wednesday 30 November 2011
TT
The legendary MV Agusta name will return to the Isle of Man TT in 2012, campaigned by the World Performance Racing team.
Family-run business WPR, based in Chesterfield, will be taking the new MV Agusta F3 and F4 machines to the TT, in association with Chorley-based Moto GB.
The iconic Italian make won 34 TT races and took 61 podiums between 1952 and 1972. The first race win came in the 1952 Ultra-Lightweight race, with Cecil Sandford riding, while the last was the 1972 Senior, won by Giacomo Agostini.
Ago is the most successful MV Agusta rider at the TT, with 10 wins, but some of the greatest names in the event’s history have also raced on MVs, including John Surtees (6 wins), Carlo Ubbiali (5 wins), Mike Hailwood (4 wins) and Tarquinio Provini (3 wins).
Gary Hocking took two wins, while John Hartle, Bill Lomas, Les Graham and, of course, Sandford also stood on the top step.
The late Martin Finnegan was the last high profile rider to campaign an MV Agusta at the TT, finishing 4th in the 2007 Superstock TT race, lapping at 125.685mph.
World Performance Racing Team Boss Neil Haslam said:
“World Performance Racing represents a passion for motorcycle racing and the desire to bring MV Agusta, the iconic motorcycle brand with a unique heritage, to the celebrated Isle of Man TT races in 2012.”
“We aim to restore MV Agusta back to winning ways and ensure that the 2012 TT will be another chapter in this great Italian’s brand’s history.”
TT and Motorsport Development Manager Paul Phillips added:
“MV Agusta is one of the truly iconic names in the TT’s history and I’m sure many fans will be eager to see the much anticipated return of a factory supported outfit.”
“I’m really pleased that we will see yet another factory backed outfit at next year’s TT and it is further confirmation of the event’s growing strength and appeal.”