People MotoGP: Valentino Rossi, Francesco Bagnaia and Luigi Dall'Igna received by the President of the Italian Republic, Sergio Mattarella

Even if Italy lives to the rhythm of mechanical competitions, this Wednesday, December 8, 2021 will go down in the history of Italian motorcycling. Yesterday in Rome, at the Quirinal Palace, the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, received the delegation of the Italian Motorcycling Federation. The president of the Italian Motorcycling Federation, Mr. Copioli, said: “ An extraordinary meeting during which President Mattarella recognized the sporting and social value of Italian motorcycling.

Present were the President of the IMF, Giovanni Copioli, the President of the CONI, Giovanni Malagò, the Vice-Presidents of the IMF, Giuseppe Bartolucci (Vicar) and Rocco Lopardo, the Secretary General of the IMF, Alberto Rinaldelli. Alongside Antonio Cairoli and Valentino Rossi, Luigi Dall'Igna (general manager of Ducati Corse) and the pilot Francis Bagnaia, protagonists of the manufacturers' title won by Ducati in MotoGP in 2020 and 2021, the 2021 world champions winners of the Six Days (Matteo Cavallo, Davide Guarneri, Thomas Oldrati, Andrea Verona), the Six Days Junior (Manolo Morettini, Lorenzo Macoritto, Matteo Pavoni), Motocross des Nations (Mattia Guadagnini and Alessandro Lupino in addition to Antonio Cairoli) and Motocross World Junior (Mattia Barbieri, Valerio Lata and Andrea Uccellini).

After the arrival of the pilots at the IMF headquarters and the transfer to the Quirinal, the ceremony took place in the afternoon, from 17:30 p.m., in the Sala del Brustolon. After the introduction of President Malagò and the speech of President Copioli, President Mattarella addressed those present expressing his great gratitude for the prestigious results obtained.

During the meeting, the Head of State highlighted the meritorious work carried out by the FMI, whose echoes are constantly very positive both in the sporting field and in the promotion of motorcycling culture, and celebrated the careers of both young retirees Antonio Cairolli and Valentino Rossi, emphasizing how their exploits have given great visibility in the world to the whole of Italian sport. He also sent his warmest congratulations to those present for the world titles won in 2021. President Mattarella showed passion and interest, recalling that motorcycling is a sport with a rich past, an exciting present and a future which promises great satisfaction thanks to young pilots.

John Copioli, President of the IMF: “ I thank the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, for the extraordinary opportunity he has reserved for the IMF. The ceremony also took place in the presence of Antonio Cairoli and Valentino Rossi, two great champions who gave prestige to Italian motorcycling. Their victories, their history, their charisma represent a heritage that the FMI wants to transmit to current and future generations, well represented on this occasion by riders who, I hope, will give us, in the future, other victories and satisfaction ».

Valentino Rossi : " It was a very emotional meeting in a particularly evocative place like the Quirinal. President Mattarella's words were truly meaningful and I am very happy to have participated in this event ".