AGV (helmet manufacturer)

AGV SpA
Subsidiary
Industry Motorcycle helmets
Founded 1946
Founder Gino Amisano
Headquarters Alessandria, Piedmont, Italy
Products AGV
MDS
Parent Dainese
Website Official Website
AGV Airtech
AGV X-Vent R
Valentino Rossi's AGV helmets

AGV SpA. (Amisano Gino Valenza) is an Italian motorcycle helmet firm, founded by Gino Amisano (1920–2009), which started out in 1946 making leather seats and motorcycle saddles. A year later, in 1947, the company started making its first motorcycle helmets.[1] In July 2007, the company was acquired by Dainese.[2]

The brand is most notably associated with motorcycle World Champions Valentino Rossi and Giacomo Agostini, both of whom have used AGV helmets throughout their career. In 2008, Rossi was made an honorary president of the company.[2] The brand can also count past Formula One world champions such as Niki Lauda, Emerson Fittipaldi and Nelson Piquet as wearers.[3]

History

1977

Michael Parrotte opened talks with AGV Helmets in Italy about a plan to launch the brand in the USA.[4]

1978

Parrotte begins to import helmets into the US through his company Intersport

1985

AGV Helmets signed a long term licensing contract with Intersport, Inc. to use the AGV brand on apparel and related products. First product created under the AGVSPORT brand name (the CX-1 glove) was worn by GP racing star Randy Mamola.

1990

AGVSPORT brand name appeared on the products for the first time and replaced the AGV name and tri color logo.

1991

Loris Capirossi won his first GP World Championship wearing AGVSPORT brand leathers and AGV helmets.

1992

AGV Helmets purchases 51% of AGV Sports Group.

1994

AGV Sports Group repurchases it shares from AGV Helmets to regain independence.

1997-1998

AGV Sports Group sponsored riders include Mat Mladin, Ben Bostrom, Eric Bostrom, Miquel DuHamel, Aaron Yates, Thomas Stevens, Pascal Picotte, and Steve Crevier.

1998

New contemporary lettering and logo introduced and appeared on products worldwide until 2010.

1999

AGV Sports Group and AGV USA separated offices and AGV Sports Group became not only legally autonomous but commercially as well.

2001

The licensing program was terminated when AGV Helmets in Italy formally acknowledged that the AGVSPORT brand were a separate and unique brand from the AGV Helmet brand.

2007

Dainese purchases AGV Helmets from the Belgian investment group.

2010

AGV Sports Group began a long term exclusive licensing arrangement for the US market with San Diego-based company Motonation.[5]

Sponsorships[6]

MotoGP

Moto2

Moto3

Super Moto

Isle Of Man TT

MXGP

Enduro

See also

References

  1. ↑ "AGV Helmets History". Retrieved 2015-09-21.
  2. 1 2 "Tavullia's Valentino Rossi Becomes AGV Honorary President". London Bikers. 2 September 2008. Retrieved 24 March 2009.
  3. ↑ "AGV Legendary Helmets".
  4. ↑ http://www.sportrider.com/agv-sport-brief-history
  5. ↑ http://www.sportrider.com/agv-sport-brief-history
  6. ↑ "AGV: full-face, modular and jet helmets since 1947". agv.com. Retrieved 2015-09-21.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to AGV helmets.


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