Massimo Tamburini will be retiring from his position of design chief at MV Agusta on December 31st. It will be interesting to see who steps in to fill his shoes.
MV Agusta press release:
VARESE, ITALY, Dec. 3, 2008 – MV Agusta today announced that Design Chief Massimo Tamburini will retire from the company, effective Dec. 31, 2008. Tamburini has been with Cagiva since early 1985 and has headed up MV Agusta’s engineering and design center, Centro Ricerche Cagiva, in San Marino for over 13 years, where he and the staff designed what are widely regarded as world-class, premium, high-performance sport motorcycles, including the legendary F4.
“I have dedicated a significant part of my career in motorcycle design to Cagiva and MV Agusta and am immensely proud of the beautiful and thrilling motorcycles we have created,” said Tamburini. “While my decision to retire was extremely difficult to make, I am confident the highly-talented designers and engineers in San Marino will continue the tradition of excellence that is the hallmark of MV Agusta. I have been privileged to realize so many dreams during my years with Cagiva and MV Agusta and look forward to seeing more great things yet to come from the company,” Tamburini said.
Tamburini plans to pursue design interests outside the motorcycle field and to spend more time on his other outside interests.
“Massimo Tamburini is one of the legends of the motorcycle industry and leaves a great legacy at MV Agusta,” said Claudio Castiglioni, MV Agusta Chairman and Director of Motorcycle Research and Development. “The capabilities he built at MV Agusta’s design center are outstanding and his legacy and vision will now be carried forward by the team he assembled and mentored over many years. While we will miss his presence, we respect his decision to retire and wish him all the best for the future,” Castiglioni said.
MV Agusta is a wholly-owned subsidiary of U.S.-based Harley-Davidson, Inc. (NYSE:HOG). MV Agusta produces premium, high-performance sport motorcycles sold under the MV Agusta® brand and lightweight sport motorcycles sold under the Cagiva® brand.
Tin Man 2 says
I sure hope this is not a sign of things to come with the new owners. It sure looks like what Diamler did to Chrysler in the 80s,Of course Chrysler was making record profits before the takeover and MV was broke before HD.
todd says
Exactly. Does HD have any say over who or how Massimo is replaced? Did he leave because of HD involvement? Massimo Tamburini has been the most influential and important designer in motorcycling since Edward Turner, I can’t imagine what they tried to do to make him stay.
Of course, now he can charge a fortune for consultancy fees…
-todd
tim says
He probably didnt want to have to design the new conchos for the 2010 model Street bones by H-D…..
(I’m taking the mickey OK)
mike says
He was probably forced out. If HD wanted him they would have structured the purchase so he could stay. A “senior advisor” or “design consultant.” Happens all the time in buyouts.
The 916 was a seminal design, but it was almost 20 years ago. He hasn’t done much since. The MV 1000 is just an updated 916. I’m not sure he had much creativity left in him. Time to take his millions, his reputation and retire.
M
Den says
Some of his bike were absolute design classics. I hope that It wasn’t to do with H-D meddling as MVs may start looking really bad. It is interesting though that cagiva got into motorcycle manufacturing after they bought the Aermacchi factory from Harley Davidson.
Mayakovski says
I pity da fool, who has to fill those shoes.