MV Agusta and Dainese Join Forces to Unveil a Historic Tribute to Racing Immortal Giacomo Agostini—With MotoGP Icon Casey Stoner Offering a Candid, Emotional Review of the Collaboration That Celebrates Safety, Style, and the Unshakable Legacy of the Greatest Champion the Sport Has Ever Known
Introduction: A Collaboration Forged in Legend
In the ever-evolving world of motorcycle racing, there are few names that command universal reverence. Giacomo Agostini is one of them. The 15-time World Champion remains the sport’s most decorated rider, a figure whose achievements continue to tower above even the most dominant modern champions. So when two of Italy’s most iconic motorcycling brands—MV Agusta and Dainese—announce a collaborative tribute in his honor, the world takes notice.
The initiative, titled “Ago: Eternal in Leather and Steel”, is more than a marketing campaign or a product drop. It’s a deeply respectful homage to the man who not only dominated on the track, but also defined an era of courage, elegance, and relentless excellence. With this joint effort, MV Agusta and Dainese aim to capture the dual essence of racing: uncompromising performance and unwavering protection.
But what truly elevated the launch to global attention was the involvement of two-time MotoGP World Champion Casey Stoner, who offered his unfiltered thoughts on the collaboration, lending a voice of modern credibility and emotion to the project.
The Pillars of Italian Motorcycling Heritage
MV Agusta and Dainese are not merely brands—they are institutions. MV Agusta is synonymous with performance, engineering artistry, and racing heritage. With a pedigree rooted in post-war Italy, the manufacturer rose to prominence in the 1950s and ’60s, capturing world titles through technical innovation and the unmatched skill of riders like Agostini.
Dainese, on the other hand, is the benchmark in motorcycle safety gear. Since 1972, the company has redefined rider protection through the introduction of groundbreaking technologies such as back protectors, airbag systems, and the D-Air suit. Dainese apparel has adorned everyone from Rossi to Márquez, and its sleek designs have become the visual language of elite racing.
Together, the two brands represent speed and safety, art and armor. Their tribute to Agostini isn’t just symbolic—it’s personal.
The Tribute: What the Collaboration Entails
At the heart of the collaboration is a limited-edition set that includes:
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A specially designed MV Agusta Superveloce Ago Edition, with a red-and-silver livery inspired by Agostini’s legendary 500cc GP machines, a numbered plaque, and commemorative detailing.
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An exclusive Dainese leather race suit, modeled after the iconic leathers worn by Agostini in the 1960s, but rebuilt using modern D-Air technology for maximum protection.
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A capsule collection of riding gloves, boots, and a casual line of jackets and T-shirts emblazoned with Agostini’s signature, number, and historical racing motifs.
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A coffee-table collector’s book chronicling Agostini’s career, with photographs, race notes, and personal commentary curated with his involvement.
The entire project is limited to just 150 sets globally—a reference to the 15 world championships Agostini earned—and is available only through direct appointment at select MV Agusta showrooms and Dainese flagship stores.
Casey Stoner’s Reaction: A Champion Reflects on a Champion
When Casey Stoner was asked to review the Ago tribute line, many expected a diplomatic endorsement. What they received instead was a heartfelt, articulate, and emotional reflection on legacy, authenticity, and respect.
“I don’t usually get excited about collaborations,” Stoner began, “but this one hit me differently. Giacomo Agostini isn’t just a legend—he’s the foundation of everything we know about racing today. For MV and Dainese to come together and honor him like this, in such a tasteful and technically perfect way, shows the depth of his influence.”
Stoner, never one to pander or flatter unnecessarily, continued:
“The bike is more than a tribute. It’s a time machine with wings. The way it looks, the sound, the details—it carries his DNA. And the Dainese suit is a masterstroke. It brings that classic aesthetic into the modern era without compromising on protection. If Ago were racing today, this is exactly what he’d wear.”
Two Generations, One Spirit
What makes Stoner’s voice in this tribute so powerful is the parallel between the two champions. Though they raced in different eras—Agostini in a world of raw danger and rudimentary machines, Stoner in an era of data analytics and electronics—their ethos is strikingly similar.
Both were reluctant stars, men who spoke softly and rode with unshakable precision. Both walked away from the sport on their own terms—Agostini in 1977, and Stoner in 2012. And both have, over time, grown more appreciated not for their charisma, but for their clarity, their honesty, and the purity of their craft.
Stoner’s commentary on the collaboration thus becomes more than just a review. It’s a passing of the torch—or more accurately, a reaffirmation that the flame is still alive.
Safety Meets Soul: Dainese’s Vision
Dainese CEO Cristiano Silei spoke at the launch about what this collaboration meant to the company.
“When we think of Giacomo Agostini, we think of courage—not just the courage to race, but the courage to demand more from the sport,” he said. “Agostini was one of the first to speak out against unsafe tracks. He refused to race the Isle of Man TT after 1972. He wasn’t just a champion; he was a pioneer in safety, and that aligns perfectly with our DNA at Dainese.”
The limited-edition race suit retains the visual cues of the past: the deep red color, the minimalist branding, the short collar. But hidden beneath the leather is a D-Air system capable of inflating in milliseconds during a crash, protecting the rider’s torso, collarbones, and shoulders. It’s a seamless blend of past and future—an aesthetic that honors history while prioritizing survival.
MV Agusta’s Homage: A Machine Worthy of a Legend
For MV Agusta, the collaboration was an opportunity to do what it does best: build a machine that captures the soul of racing.
Based on the already stunning Superveloce platform, the Ago Edition introduces subtle but significant changes. The fairings are hand-painted in the original racing colors Agostini wore in the 1960s. The engine covers are engraved with the number of each set. The exhaust system is tuned for a raw, vintage-inspired bark. Even the seat has been crafted from Alcantara and finished with silver stitching that spells out “Campione del Mondo.”
“It’s not just about horsepower or lean angles,” said MV Agusta’s design chief Adrian Morton. “It’s about reverence. Every line of this bike curves in homage to Agostini’s legacy.”
A Global Wave of Emotion
The tribute has struck a nerve with fans across the world. From Bologna to Bangkok, riders and collectors have expressed overwhelming admiration for the initiative. Social media has exploded with the hashtag #AgoForever, as fans post tributes, share photos of their own Agostini memorabilia, and recount memories of watching him race—either in person or through vintage footage.
MotoGP stars like Jorge Lorenzo, Fabio Quartararo, and even Marc Márquez posted messages of support, echoing Stoner’s sentiments and thanking MV Agusta and Dainese for reminding the world of the man who started it all.
Agostini Responds: Emotion and Gratitude
In a quiet, moving speech at the official unveiling in Milan, Giacomo Agostini stood before a crowd of fellow champions, engineers, journalists, and fans and simply said:
“I never raced for fame. I raced for the feeling—the freedom, the danger, the wind. To be honored in this way, by two companies I’ve respected all my life, is overwhelming. And to hear words like those from Casey… it means more than any trophy.”
His voice broke slightly as he added:
“If I could go back and do it all again, I would. And if I did, I’d ride this machine, in this suit, with all my heart.”
Legacy That Lives On
This collaboration is more than a product—it’s a cultural moment. In an age of digital distractions and disposable hype, MV Agusta and Dainese have reminded the world what motorsport truly stands for: courage, precision, style, and legacy.
Casey Stoner’s involvement lends it modern gravity. His words resonate not just because he’s a champion, but because he understands what so few do: the solitude of victory, the cost of greatness, the soul of racing.
Conclusion: When Giants Salute Giants
In paying tribute to Giacomo Agostini, MV Agusta and Dainese have done more than honor a man—they’ve honored the spirit of motorcycling itself. With the blessing of a modern great like Casey Stoner, the project transcends generations, uniting the past and the present in one roaring, red-liveried statement of intent.
Agostini may have ridden into the sunset decades ago, but thanks to this breathtaking collaboration, the legend is not only alive—it’s riding again.
