Dear friends Laverdisti,
it couldn't be better than this! This is what many people said after the fantastic meeting of Spa-Francorchamps.
During the wonderful event "The Biker's Classics" held on 30 June / 1-2 July, the hearts of the "Laverdisti" reached very high revs when they gathered at Francorchamps in memory of Massimo Laverda.
Already from Thursday the paddock started to turn orange, creating a unique atmosphere. Many European Laverda Clubs replied to the call of our Team, showing that passion for Laverda is still very much alive. Many bikes were on display, both static and running. There where very original 750cc and 1000cc models but there were very specials too that were not so original but very interesting too, racing bikes and even a Laverda 4X4 brought to Spa from the Orange Cycle Team.
Our "expedition" from Italy started Thursday morning very early and ended Monday night very late: so a very long and tiring week-end, but believe me it was really worth it!
Our pit-box, in the F1 area, was a sort of "running museum" of about 20 racing bikes, including several 750 SFCs, 1000 racing triples and obviously the 1000 V6. The attendance of public has been high thru all the week-end and it has been a pleasure to meet new and old friends, shake hands and have a little talk with many enthusiasts.
What surprised me was to see how big the passion for Moto Laverda still is: if stimulated in the right way the "Laverda Community" will show up in a big way!
So the atmosphere has been fantastic, as it is the track: a legendary one for every motorcycle sports enthusiast. The event allowed to ride a lot (3 sessions per day) and the good weather made the rest. I had the chance to ride in the champions parade with the V6. To me, not being a racing rider, having the opportunity to ride together with such famous rider of the past has been an honour but also a pleasure: taking the legendary "Eau Rouge - Raidillon" combination at high speed is an unforgettable experience!
Other very emotional moments have been the two Parades on track in memory of my uncle Massimo, joined by at least 200 bikes. I'm sure that all the people at Spa enjoyed the view and also Massimo sitted on a little cloud up there appreciated the roaring of his loved bikes.
Finally, many thanks to all the people who allowed all this to happen:
thanks to Bruno Chevolet for taking care of all the "organization machine", thanks to the riders Augusto Brettoni and Roberto Gallina for giving again the same emotions of the '70s races riding the same bikes of the time, thanks to all the people who displayed their bikes in the "running museum", thanks to my father for carrying on all this still with such a passion, thanks to Fernando for setting up our bikes in a perfect way, thanks to all the Clubs who joined the event and thanks to all the enthusiast that still deeply believe in this Name, that probably is something more than a simple trade mark.
See you next year!

Giovanni Laverda

Thanks for the pictures to:
Massimo Bernasconi, Marc & Danielle Gardin, Christian Houpline, Pierre Martin, Nicolas Maufrais, Luc Meersmans, Douglas Roach, Marnix van der Schalk, Jörg Strehler, Bikersclassics.com