racingbikes. Debuting in1954. the 175 CSS-nicknamed the"Flying Saucer" because ofthe disk-likeshape of its fuel tank---enabled MV's drivers to win in the sport classes. Foreseeinga decline inthe market, MVAgusta purchased Bell helicopter manufac- turinglicenses. thereby acquiring new technologies forapplication to . Among the manyinnovations ofthis period were the construction ofa numberof prototypesofprogressive hydraulicgears, 2T fuel injection engines, and research bikes such as the six-cylinder 500 4T.

' ;i ..,-j.,,rf MV Agustaincreasingly distinguished itself fromother manufacturers through its pioneer- ingresearch and design, the results of which wereapplied even t0 rtseconomy models. ln '1956, it introducedthe "83," capable of carry- ingtwo people in perfectcomfort at sufficient speedwith limited fuel consumption. In1959, it industrializedproduction ofa newlubricati0n systemthat permitted its enginesto achieve hithertounknown standards of reliabilitv. and l:::::::::::::the warranty on MV engines was extended t0 * 100,000Km. The generation of bikes built with this new engine were in factdubbed the Ri ''Hundred '1t Thousand." l La ThegroMh of theautomotive industry in the1960s, and the consequent shift in consumer \ spending,challenged MV to developeven more innovative models-most notably the 600,the first maxi motorbike on themarket with a four-cylinderengtne. The engine, derived fromMike Hailwood's 500 GB gradually developed into the high performance 750 S America capableofsoeeds of 220 Knh. Shortlythereafter, MV Agusta introduced the 1 25 Disco,named for the rotating disk distribution ofits 2T engine. The late I 960smarked the start 0f the Agostni era, with the three- and four- cylnder 350 and 500 models remaining popular from 1 967 to 1973. The two models were pro- ducedfirst with three-cylinder engines and then with four-cylinder engines to combatthe adventof the Japanese twO-str0ke engines. AfterCount Domenico's death in the early 1970s, the company scaled back its racing projecrs, andonly 2 modelswere offered: the 350 and the 750. The former was offered inthree set-ups: ''Scrambler".GTEL" and "SEL", while the 750 was available inSport and Gran Turismo versions. Inc0rnpetition. MVAgusta managed yet again t0 thwart the Japanese invasion ofthe yamana two-strokesand the of Saarinenand -thanks to , with two winsin the I 975season, and of course Giacomo Agostini. Agostini returned from a tenurewith Yamahatoride Cascina Costa machines and win the last MVAgusta victory on the Nurburgring trackon August 29.1976. Financialchallenges required MV Agusta t0 partnerwith public financing giant EFIM (Ente Partecipazionie Finanziamento Industria Manifatturiera) andt0 suspend its mot0rcycle produc- tion.In July 1 986, several leading journalists demanded that the ltalian government intervene t0protect the MV Agusta legacy as a vitalpart of the nation's cultural heritage. However, before e5