The phone of the historic Moto Europa dealer in S. Agata sul Santerno rings silent, a few kilometers from the Imola circuit, fresh from the cancellation of the Formula 1 GP. It is the first call I make after the Santerno broke its banks, the river to which that small town, by a cruel irony of fate, owes its name. I reach the owner Romolo Balbi after recovering his mobile number. He tells me in a voice broken by emotion that his company has been pardoned but that around him he sees the apocalypse. He has made the experience of a lifetime available to the community, relentlessly recovering motion.
In Lugo, Solarolo, Faenza, Ravenna. Some have been trapped for days in underground garages, immersed in water. Others dragged for kilometers by the fury of the mud and reduced to iron and plastic carcasses. Unfortunately, his workshop invaded by mud cannot accommodate more than twenty at the same time. The latest to find space is a Vespa 125 with water inside the dashboard, the needles motionless as in an aquarium. He is confident of restoring her. Unlike the Guzzi recovered the previous day with earth and water in the suction box: when the mud has dried, it will be as hard as concrete and impossible to detach. A brand new Scrambler, 23 km round round, has much better chances of survival. It makes creepy noises from the pulley but the bearings no longer squeak. Its owner has found a smile again, although it is difficult to smile today.
Romolo’s story is his story, but who knows how similar it is to that of many small and large workshops in 42 other flooded municipalities. Among these is Forlì, where the Galliano Park is located, the kart track that has bred the greatest drivers in the world. Once Rossi and Dovizioso, today Bagnaia, Bezzecchi, Marini and others. The track managed by the Fantini family was completely devastated by the flooding of the Ronco river. Once again, these small pearls of the Motor Vally, often family-run, pay the highest price.
Among the large industries of the area known throughout the world, no damage has been reported. The news is wonderful news which, however, makes the situation of those who are small and must face devastation even more bitter. Among the big names, only Benelli is the exception, forced to close for two days due to flooding. Even an important supplier such as Mollificio Padano, the excellence of small metal parts from Faenza, suffered damages which caused several days of delay in deliveries. Ditto for the nearby Officine Perini, specialized in precision “mechatronics”.
The beauty of this ugly story is that the greats have not watched this catastrophe from afar, on the contrary expressing a solidarity that only the Italy of engines could give to its chosen territory. Maserati, Ferrari, Lamborghini and Stellantis, owner of an engine factory in Cento, in the Ferrara area, each donated one million euros to the Civil Protection of the Region. The Piaggio Group has launched #RideForEmilia, returning 200,000 euros to the Civil Protection during a beautiful ride of solidarity at the Aprilia All Stars in Misano Adriatico. Ducati was no different, donating the same amount and recognizing the hours of absence as paid hours for all employees who had problems with the flood.
Now it’s our turn too. Specifically, sure. But besides donations it would be great to meet again on 11th June at Mugello, on the occasion of the Italian GP. The population of the paddock, which is not only made up of millionaire riders, lives largely in the flooded areas, and being there as many as possible on the Mugello hills would be a bit like squeezing around her in a hug.
