It was raining in Milan the day before the opening of the 66th edition of the EICMA Bicycle and Motorbike Exhibition but that did not dampen the enthusiasm for this year’s show which is expected to attract hundreds of thousands of visitors to the new Milan-Rho exhibition centre between Tuesday November 4 and Sunday November 9. The huge size of the show (280,000sq metres, 1000 exhibitors from 33 countries and 80,000 sq metres of external space for events and shows), and the number of new products being presented means the show is already a success.
Undoubtedly motorbikes dominate the show but most major Italian and international bike companies are also present. The Italian two-wheel Industrialist Association ANCMA has invested in the 6Giorni di Milano, the Six-Day track event that will be held in the exhibition centre during the show, reviving the tradition Milan Six-Day event under the expert guidance of Silvio Martinello.
Despite the problems of track racing in Italy, the 6Giorni di Milano will be a huge draw for both the cycling fans and the general public who visit the show. Former Olympic and world champion Paolo Bettini is the star of the Six-Day that starts at 11:00am tomorrow. The Governor of the Lombardy region Roberto Formigoni will be the official starter of the racing with Luigi Roth, the president of the Fondazione Fiera Milano, cycling legend Mario Cipollini and the stunning Elisa Isoardi.
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi will be at the official opening ceremony at 11:30 on Wednesday, with the Mayor of Milan Letizia Moratti, Formigoni and the President of Confindustria ANCMA Guidalberto Guidi. Other collateral events are already underway with a special focus group meeting on the development of world markets and the presentation of new Ducati models held today.
The first crowds of the show are expected on Tuesday when the show opens to trade and media visitors. There will also be several TV link ups, including one with new 250cc world champion Marco Simoncelli.