On Tuesday, a very special event saw the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs honour some luminaries from MotoGP and the wider motorcycling community in Italy.
The event, titled “MOTO D’ITALIA – CULTURE BEYOND THE TRACK”, invited many familiar motorcycling faces to the occasion in Rome, from racing legends of the sport to some of our key figures in the world of MotoGP – and named some new “Sport Diplomacy Ambassadors.”
They are seven-time MotoGP World Champion Valentino Rossi; who connected via video link, two-time MotoGP World Champion Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team), multiple MotoGP winner Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing); also via video link as he continues his recovery, MotoGP Hall of Famer Giacomo Agostini and MotoGP Legend Max Biaggi.
Aprilia Racing CEO Massimo Rivola, Ducati CEO Claudio Domenicali, FMI President Giovanni Copioli and MotoGP Group CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta also joined the riders – and newly-named ambassadors – as speakers, with the Italian and wider motorcycling world coming together to celebrate the sport, the industry, and its place in culture.
