>
>>
>>Date: Wed, 18 May 2005 08:52:46 -0400
>>From: loudeeter@aol.com
>>
>>Subject: [CR]Gianni Motta bikes and Olympics
>>
>>
>>I just received a Gianni Motta with the U.S. red/white/blue flag
>>pattern paint job. The seller told me that it had been owned by an
>>Olympian, who she thought had ridden in the 84 Olympics. At
>>Cirque, Brian Hammill brought four or five Gianni Motta bikes for
>>sale and one was a larger red/white/blue model that one of the
>>listmembers bought. Brian also thought that these bikes with this
>>paint were for the U.S. Olympic team members, but he didn't know
>>whether they were actually ridden in the Olympic road race. I
>>don't recall ever hearing that U.S. team members rode Motta bikes
>>as any type of sponsorship so I'm clueless about this information.
>>Were Motta frames available to the public with this paint? If
>>they were given to U.S. Olympic Team members, was it 1984? I'm
>>also in need of Gianni Motta pantographed seatpost, brakes and
>>shift levers if anyone has them for sale. Lou Deeter, Orlando FL
>>
>
>There were no Gianni Motta's at the start line in LA ridden by US
>riders, I can say that with confidence. Bill Kristofer of CKR in
>Tulsa was the importer of the first Motta's in the US. Motta
>helped get the first US team--Linea MD Italia/Gianni Motta-- in the
>Giro in 1984. There are some great stories about the trials those
>guys went through. I still see one of the team members fairly
>regularly at local races--Michael Carter. Robin Morton directed the
>team and now is part of the organization responsible for the Philly
>races coming in the next couple of weeks.
>
>I cannot recall if Motta-sponsored rider John Eustice rode a Motta
>when he became US Champion and that led to the paint job? Anyone
>remember?
>
>Brook Watts
>Longmont Colo USA
I've been notified by another CR lurker that Anown America was importing Mottas into the US prior to CKR. Anyone have additional info on that connection?
Brook Watts
Longmont Colo USA