Fasciani Flat Tracker

I found some photos on my hard drive, but I can't remember who took them, where or when. Perhaps Alberto Narduzzi. I think that's FIM World Champion Vesprini on board, but I can't be sure. Useless, I know. Nice shot though. G

Spillo

The very wonderful Riders magazine from Italy are coming to race their concept bike Spillo, at Dirt Quake. The fella in this film - who seems to be happier pushing it than riding the bike - isn't racing it, but the editor Roberto Ungaro is, and he's a dirt demon.
Spillo means pin. A spillo heel on a shoe is what the English call a stiletto.
Officine Mermaid build this bike out of an old Honda single and our old mate Alberto Narduzzi made the film. G

New Italian Speedway Track

From Alberto Narduzzi

An opening is always a good time, but an inauguration of a speedway track is also an unusual event, and Saturday, June 11 Merlara can not miss. Massimo Zambon, champion of the motocross before and the speedway now, driver and eclectic soul inspiring movement that refers to Chimax Team, will open the second Saturday in June, the track motor speedway built in the motoring complex multi-functional Merlara, between the provinces of Padua, Verona and Vicenza. At 16:00 together with the ribbon-cutting ritual, there will be a spectacular launch of the paratroopers, display of speedway, live music and buffet dedicated to all those taking part. For information Massimo +39 347 1708720

Terenzano Next Sunday

Dirt track in Italy. From our friend Alberto Narduzzi. G

Fine Art Dirt Collection Video

Really nice film made by our friend Alberto Narduzzi. It's worth watching even if you don't understand Italian. Dirt as art. Lovely job. GI

Fine Art Tracker finished

When I saw photos of Alberto Narduzzi's Fine Art tracker I thought 'There's a hell of a lot of air between the top of that TM and the bottom of the tank.' When the photos came through it made sense (from a design point of view, not sure about how it will handle). The shock arrangement looks interesting too.

This is set up day at the Pitti Uomo fashion show thing Alberto is showing bikes and photography at. It looks smart. Alberto's GM speedway bike is below. G

More Fine Art Collection

More info on the Fine Art Collection at Pitti Uomo, that our friend Alberto Narduzzi is organising. It's going to be at Motor Expo Verona too, I think. Above is artwork of the stand and some of Alberto's photos that will be on display. Below is a TM-powered framer the shoe company Alberto Fasciani is having built for the display. This follows the Chanel cafe racer. What next Jimmy Choo WR45 racer? G

Fine Art Dirt Collection

Our friend Alberto Narduzzi sent us this invite, but we can't make it. Pitti Uomo is, I think, a huge fashion show in Italy that has exhibitors showing their ranges (inc streetwear) to buyers. Alberto, Mr Martini and Roberto Totti (along with great Italian bike mag Riders) has some sort of bike and photo exhibition there with Italian shoemaker Alberto Fasciani.

'So?' you're thinking. Well, if you're in the business of promoting race series', getting bikes into the consciousness of people with marketing budgets has got to be a good thing. The Mefo guys had Dickies as a sponsor and the ORS got Red Bull on board. All of European flat track is run by enthusiasts, no one makes a bean, so if things like this gives the race and event organisers an 'in' then it's got to be good.

So, if you're interested in going email the contacts on the invite. G

Ride the Marco Belli way

Marco Belli is doing everything he can to promote flat track in Italy. He is organising a race series, innovative events, developing the Zaeta with Paolo and Graziano Rossi and now it looks like he is also teaching flat track in Northern Italy too. Viva Marco - Euro Campione.

Read more about the first school at Alberto Narduzzi's blog or at Marco Belli's website. GI

Fantic Stroker

We mentioned the new Fantic Two-stroke a while ago. Alberto Narduzzi sent this shot of it through. We're not really into modern MX bikes, but that expansion chamber is something else and Fantic are good guys.. Thanks Alberto. G

A big weekend

Lots going on this weekend. Paolo and his Zaeta are at the block party the excellent Officine Mermaid are holding in Milan.
Then there's the Lowbrow Holeshot in Ohio.
Alberto Narduzzi and Roberto Totti are at this show in Bologna, Italy.
While the UK short trackers are at Rye House, near Hoddesdon on Sunday. Rye House Directions. This is the closest we race to London.
Of course, you could just stay at home. GI

Nuovi Modelli 2T

We love Fantic. We love two-strokes. Fantic are making a new 250 two-stroke. We're happy.
I think our amici Alberto Narduzzi made this teaser video. GI

Zaeta. Horse. Power

Marco Belli and Armando Castagna get an outing at the Treviso horsetrack on a pair of Zaetas. They're chased down by Graziano Rossi in a Porsche. Filmed by Alberto Narduzzi. GI

Alberto's Framer

Can't get enough of this Italian-built bike. And now Italian dirt track is back Alberto can race it.

UPDATE: More photos - all taken by Raffaele at StreetTracker. Grazie!

Alberto's Bikes

This Rotax framer and GM speedway bike belong to, and were photographed by, Alberto Narduzzi in Italy. That's him, with his other-half Elena, on a recent visit to Alan Bellham's Speedway Service in Terrington St Clement, Norfolk, England. Alberto couldn't believe the place. You can see it too, in issue 5 of Sideburn. Out soon.
Click the Alberto Narduzzi label below to se what a cool cat he is. GI

Euro Flat Track remix

Flat track isn't in the normal European's blood, so to get interest we need to mix things up sometimes. Here's former UK and European champ Marco Belli on the Ouroboros Zaeta. He's in the display area at the recent Verona Show. Graziano Rossi is in the Mustang.
Eagle-eyes will spot Marco's got one of those Ruby Honet lids I like so much, too. And he's shown with Ouroboros main man, Paolo Chiaia. GI

Marco says 'what a day we had, so much interest, so many people asking info, tips, bike's features, etc...
We are going to have an official dirt track activity this year, and will be: track days, practice and races, maybe just 3, but enough to start :)
I wait for you all guys
ciao
have a nice day
Marco
Photos: Alberto Narduzzi

Ouroboros Zaeta feature in SB#5

Alberto's race bike - finito

Cut off the the sport's mother country European flat trackers have to mutate to survive. It's hard to get hold of used race bikes, so they make their own.
Alberto Narduzzi built a framer from scratch to compete in Europe. We showed the work in progress earlier this month. These photos, again by Raf of Street Tracker blogspot, were taken at the recent Verona Show. Alberto sold a couple of bikes off the back of it. That's his black speedway bike in the background too. Not bad for a professional photographer, eh?
Pay special attention to the big headstock tube (for adjustability?) and the clear side numbers boards. Bravo, Alberto.
Surely there's going to be some short track back in Italy. GI

Alberto's Framer

Another Euro made framer on the go. This time from our amico Alberto Narduzzi. It, along with the Ouroboros Zaeta, Marco Belli and others will be at the Verona show this weekend. Looks like Luca Talamona's helping out there too.

I think some sites are saying we're going. We're not. GI

This, from Alberto, for our Italian friends. I can't read a word of it...

'Non ci sarà nulla che vi farà impazzire perchè assomiglia a qualcosa che avete già vissuto e già perduto, ma qualche cosa di nuovo per gli appassionati ci sarà!
Moto bellissime, piloti carismatici e veri, costruttori di special mitici e le mie prime due motorette!!. Un pò timide e un pò cafone...
Venerdì prossimo ci possiamo incontrare al Padiglione 6 Stand 13 AB al Motor Expo Bike di Verona assieme a Graziano Rossi, Paolo Chiaia, Marco Belli, Roberto Totti, Luca Talamona, Federico Sartor per vivere da vicino l'amore per il traverso nel nostro piccolo ma intenso stand!'

Narduzzi and Indian Girl

This is my new, but very good friend Alberto Narduzzi. He's building his own Rotax framer, over in Italy, and a GM speedway bike. Dirt track seems to be getting a foothold in Italy again. For his dirt track debut Alberto wore his Indian Girl hooded sweat. We have a small number of these hooded sweats and long-sleeve T-shirts left. Once they're gone, they're gone. He is on Marco Belli's Kawasaki 450 DTX bike. Looking good first time out, with the steel shoe he bought at Alan Bellham's when he visited me a few months ago. I hope Marco and his mates can get enough interest to have a few rounds over there. GI

Photo: RP at Streetracker Blogspot

Fantic Motors

I knew next to nothing about Fantic before I went on the Ouroboros trip the other week. My new best amici, Alberto Narduzzi took me to Fantic's HQ. The current owner of Fantic, Federico Fregnan (the cool dude who look like Hunter S T in the montage) took me on a tour of the factory and his amazing collection of two-stroke trail and enduro bikes. Then I met Riccardo Chiosi, Fantic's designer (below with surfboard). On his office shelves were the first three copies of Sideburn. He had the Complete Book of Flat Track next to the computer he was designing Fantic's future bikes on.
I came away loving everything to do with Fantic. Sideburn might be even doing a special project with them. GI