In 1966, Valerio Bianchi, Giuseppe Morri and Massimo Tamburini created a company specializing in heating and air conditioning in Rimini on the shores of the Adriatic, not far from the circuit that is now called "Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli". Bimota produced its first motorcycle in 1973, the HB1 (for “Honda–Bimota 1”) designed by the very talented Massimo Tamburini.
Bimota in competition:
Bimota enjoyed its first Grand Prix success in 1980 when Jon Ekerold won the 350cc World Championship on a Yamaha-powered Bimota, while on the same bike Johnny Cecotto finished fourth and Frenchman Éric Saul sixth.
In four strokes, Virginio Ferrari won the Formula TT title in 1987 aboard a YB4. Then Bimota also enjoyed success in the first years of the Superbike World Championship with Davide Tardozzi (title photo). Tardozzi took five victories in the inaugural World Superbike Championship in 1988, more than any other competitor, but inconsistent results relegated him to third in the final standings.
After many years without success, Australian Anthony Gobert caused a major shock in 2000 by winning a WSBK wet race at Philip Island on a Bimota SB8R entered by Virginio Ferrari. The Alstare team subsequently entered two Bimotas in World Superbike in 2014 for Ayrton Badovini and Christian Iddon, but the bike did not have enough units in production to pass the championship's homologation rules. She was allowed to race unclassified and at the end of the year the team finished unclassified.
In terms of road motorcycles, there has been a succession of takeovers, bankruptcies, manipulations and successive bankruptcies on which it is not very interesting to dwell.
According to Yesterbike.it, Kawasaki Heavy Industries purchased the historic Rimini factory from Swiss entrepreneurs Marco Chiancianesi and Daniele Longoni. This acquisition will be made official in the coming days during a press conference.
Some historical suppliers of Bimota have already been contacted informally by the management of the new owner in anticipation of the upcoming resumption of commercial collaboration.
Joseph Morris, the founder of Bimota with the late Massimo Tamburini, commented to Yesterbike: “If the Kawasaki acquisition were to become a reality and this news was substantiated, I would be happy and proud, because it would mean that the brand has been stronger than those who have seriously damaged it over the last 20 years. »
“Do I want to go back?” Absolutely not. I am 78 years old and my adventure with Bimota ended in 1993. Bimota is one of my creatures, so I hope it is revived as it deserves. It would be a great joy for me. My heart has always been and always will be with this brand. »
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Photos © Fastbikesmag.com and Jano2016
Source: Yesterbike.it
