RIP Massimo Tamburini 1943–2014

Massimo Tamburini, the renowned motorcycle designer, has died at the age of 70. He passed away on Saturday in his native San Marino from lung cancer.

Tamburini's body of work stretches back to 1971 and includes designs for Cagiva, Ducati, MV Agusta and Bimota, which he founded alongside Valerio Bianchi and Giuseppe Morri.

However he will be best remembered for the 1994 Ducati 916 and 1998 MV Agusta F4, both of which featured in The Art of the Motorcylce exhibition at the Guggenheim Museum in 1998. The Ducati in particular is widely regarded as a landmark in the development of the modern superbike. His last design was the MV Agusta F3 675.

His contribution to the evolution of motorcylce design is unparalleled.

By Owen Ready