Pirelli Moto at Snow Quake

The godfather of European Flat Track, Marco Belli, raced the Deus XJRX Yamaha XJR1300 at Snow Quake. And he flew on it. I got the holeshot in one heat race and he came past me like a 100bhp blizzard making me think, almost simultaneously, 'How is he riding that so quickly?' 'Why aren't I riding this more quickly?' and 'Jesus, those tyres look dangerous. Second place is fine this time.'

The special Pirelli tyres helped. A lot. The clip-ons didn't help. One bit. Marco Belli blew people's minds.

Marco also runs the Di Traverso flat track school in Italy. Fly in, ride the Yamaha SR400s on a beautifully prepared track, hang out at Deus Milan and neighbouring bike shop Officine Mermaid, then fly home. Perfect.

Thanks to Pirelli for helping make Snow Quake happen. A big report on the event is coming up in the next issue, due out in March. G

Di Traverso Party

Marco Belli (above, #6) threw a sliding celebration and Sideburn contributor Peter Guld was invited along...

Unless you're a pensioner, looking for a relaxing weekend, it’s a normally not a good idea to travel to Misano Adriatico, one week before the Misano MotoGP race. This year was an exception. Italian flat track legend, Marco Belli invited me for a party that he organised to say a big thank you, to his partners, who were involved in his Di Traverso Flat Track School.

The list of the partners is impressive, companies like Deus Milano, Riders Magazine, Yamaha Italia, MotoShop Parma, Dainese, Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli... There was no question, if the Italian holds a party, it will be different. Belli invited his long term friend Graziano Rossi, the father of Valentino, and many other Italian and European flat track riders and race car drivers. Later in the afternoon Loris Reggiani, former-GP star, arrived at the event, and didn’t hesitate before jumping in a car. Drivers gave lucky passengers rides around the track in muscle cars. People could put their name down and, of course, the longest list was next to the name Rossi, but Graziano was happy with it, because it meant he could spend time in a car, not in the sun. 

Belli and Signor Rossi planned car vs. bike races, but it was postponed, so the biggest surprise just came when the flat track ace, after few practice laps in a cross-car, showed up in a big BMW and raced against Graziano and his Audi R8. 

The fans shouted like it was the last lap of MotoGP race when these two mad Italians produced the hardest car race of the event. 

It’s cliche, but true: If you are going to an event where a guy whose name is Rossi is involved, it will be something special. After the event, during the night, a blonde lady was driving a go kart, prepared with dirt tyres, pretty fast. She was in shadow, but seems to be like a pro, and she was sliding crossed with full throttle. I realised it was Graziano’s daughter, Clara Rossi (below). 

At the end of the great event no one was in doubt that Marco Belli said thanks to his partners with style.


Words and photos: Peter Guld

Belli in a buggy

Belli, Rossi, Reggiani




 Graziano on his bike...

And in his car.

Motorcycle Limbo at Dirt Quake IV

DTRA rider Alan Birtwistle ruling the Di Traverso School-sponsored Motorcycle Limbo at Dirt Quake IV. This blew my tiny mindholes. G

Paolo tries dirt, becomes (even more) irresistable

Top Italian moto-journalist and dirt riding novice, Paolo Sormani (above in his DMD Rocket helmet) tested out Marco Belli's super new Di Traverso flat track school for Sideburn and it had an instant effect! Read the report in Sideburn 20.

The school has some heavyweight supporters including Yamaha, Deus Ex Machina, Ariete, Dainese... They have dates throughout the year in Italy and Marco speaks perfect English (and pretty good Italian). G

Di Traverso Flat Track School

Former British, Italian and European flat track champion and co-founder of Zaeta, Marco Belli has launched a flat track school in Italy.
Di Traverso has backing from Yamaha, Deus and Dainese among others and dates throughout the year.
The photo below is of our old friend Peter G from Hungary (left) and top Italian journalist Paolo Sormani, who was at the launch reporting for the next issue of Sideburn.

Find out more at Di Traverso Flat Track School.

Marco's English is very good, so if you want to attend but can't understand the Italian website, contact him through his website. G