MV Agusta confirms it will continue making limited-edition variants instead of new models with the announcement that F1 Mercedes-AMG driver Lewis Hamilton will help design another one-off bike.
The company issued a short press release that says the brand ambassador is back after the success of the Dragster RR LH (pictured above).
Only 244 were made and they sold out within hours.
This was in 2015 when Mercedes-AMG owned a quarter share in the company.
MV Agusta president Giovanni Castiglioni last year announced during their financial crisis that he wanted to buy back the AMG share.
Earlier this year he said there would be no new models due to tight finances.
However, the crisis is apparently now resolved with the injection of Russian investment capital and the buyback of the AMG shares.
But there is still no announcement of any new models, just more limited-edition variants, including this one with AMG’s F1 driver.
A short press release from MV Agusta does not stipulate what type of bike the three-time F1 champion will be involved in producing.
Instead, it released short and vague quotes from Giovanni and Lewis.
Giovvani Castiglioni and Lewis Hamilton MV AgustaGiovanni Castiglioni
I met Lewis a few years ago when he called up our Customer Care asking in a very humble way to buy a special bike. After having developed some bikes for Lewis we turned our common passion into a partnership with the creation of the successful Dragster RR LH produced in 244 units. I’m very excited and proud to continue this cooperation that will see new MV Agustas co-designed with Lewis entering the market in the next month.”
Lewis Hamilton
I am very excited to continue my partnership with MV Agusta. I love working with Giovanni and the guys at MV Agusta, their passion for engineering and attention to detail produces quite stunning, original looking bikes. My projects with MV Agusta are a great way to combine my love of riding bikes with my interest in creative design process so I am very much involved with the CRC (Castiglioni Research Department) design team throughout.
You have to wonder how much money MV Agusta is spending on having Lewis involved.
Forbes says the British F1 driver is worth about $A57million and is the 10th highest-paid athlete in the world.
Lewis makes $47m from salary and winnings, and $10m from endorsements and sponsorship deals including MV Agusta.
The Mercedes driver is currently close to winning his fourth F1 title, three points ahead of Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel.