"I bought back MV Agusta for 3 euros"

It's very sad to note the death of Claudio Castiglioni early this morning in Varese. 

His recent re-purchase of MV Agusta back from Harley Davidson after just two years for a symbolic 3 euros payment was typical of his business style, nous and capability to be - as they say in Italian, azzeccato - able to make correct judgements.

Like most Italian industrialists, Castiglioni was a larger-than-life character, and though he had his detractors, he was giant in Italian motorcycles. I met him briefly a couple of times and he was kind and patient enough to listen to my London accent-tainted Italian questions full of bad grammar.

Cagiva 500 GP bike, Cagiva Elefant, Cagiva Mito (one of my favourites), Ducati 851, Ducati 916, Ducati Monster, MV Agusta F4, MV Agusta Brutale; just a few of the important motorcycles he was responsible for. Most importantly, he was a grandissimo appassionato with a genuine love for motorcycles. R.I.P.