PRESS RELEASE

HAT LEGEND 2026

THE SECOND EDITION OF THE HAT LEGEND PICKED UP WHERE THE FIRST ONE ENDED:  

THE PASSION FOR DUAL SPORTS IN THE 80'S

STILL AT THE CENTER OF EVERYTHING, MOTORCYCLES, PUT TO THE TEST THIS TIME ON THE FUN DIRT ROADS OF THE TREBBIA VALLEY

DAKARIANS BEPPE GUALINI, ALDO WINKLER AND BRUNO BIRBES HAVE COMPLETELY
IMMERSED IN THE SPIRIT OF THE EVENT BY SHARING MARATHON, CONTESTS AND CONVIVIAL MOMENTS

Bobbio, July 13, 2026

Braving Dakar temperatures, around a hundred enthusiasts, collectors, restorers and legends of the golden age of rallying found themselves at Bobbio, a destination dear to off-road enthusiastsroadThey were waiting for them two circular stages, respectively 135 and 115 km, with climbs and descents scattered throughout the various valleys: Threshing, Purely, LurettaRural landscapes, dominated by the singular presence of the Plot stone.  

On the route, motorcycles chased each other with displacements from 125 to 1000 cc, each with its own story and no obsession with performance. This is precisely the spirit of the HAT Legend makes the difference: when someone is left stranded by a fall or a breakdown, there's always someone ready to lend a hand, with a push, a tool, or a makeshift repair.

Among the characters who have taken turns on the stage of theHAT Village, the presence of was surprising Lin Jarvis, historic manager of Yamaha, under whose leadership the company won 8 world championships between Valentino Rossi, Jorge Lorenzo, and Fabio Quartararo. Lin has now retired from active professional work, lives in Monferrato, and enjoys off-road riding, which is why he was here riding a Yamaha Ténéré 600.  

Beppe Gualini, the King of the private racers at the Dakar in the 80s, was here both to promoteoverand his beautiful book “Off the trail”, both to expose the Cagiva Elefant, Hubert Auriol's mule of 1985, with which he competed in the 1986 Dakar. This bike won the title of “The most beautiful” according to the public present.

Aldo Winkler was exhibiting the Honda XL650L he raced in 1988 and 1989, a very close relative of the one Edi Orioli rode to second place in 1987. It's the bike he got lost on in 1989, wandering in the desert for three days before being found. This is also why the jury, composed of Corrado Capra, Lin Jarvis, and Mario Ciaccia, elected it "The Legend" of the 2026 edition.

Aldo faced the marathon riding the XT500 by Davide Perrella, former president of the MC which gathers the fans of the legendary scrambler, who in Bobbio have earned the title of “Largest group” of HAT Legend

The title of best "custom-built ," meaning a motorcycle practically made entirely from scratch, went to the BMW R 60 enduro built by Roberto Multone, organizer of the "Leventino." Another BMW, a replica of the 1000 used by Gaston Rahier at the 1986 Baja 1000, won the title of "Most Beautiful According to the Jury ." It was built by Vaccari's Evum based on instructions from its owner, Donato Benetti , president of another historic club, the Leonessa d'Italia.

His close friend, Dakar rider Bruno Birbes , was also present in Bobbio, at the start with the BMW that his father-in-law Silvio Fatichi prepared in 1986, anticipating some solutions that later appeared on Gaston Rahier's BMWs.

The “best transformation” turned out to be an old Honda Transalp 600 , ridden by Lorenzo Lodi. Finally, “best restoration,” the Yamaha WR360 that Cyril Neveu used in the 1988 Incas Rally, rewards the efforts of Dune , the heroic museum that Angelo Caprotti and Filippo Colombo run, with their own money, by saving the Yamahas that used to race in rallies.

Of note was the tribute stop along the route to the friends of Enduro Republic at their charming headquarters in Grazzano Visconti. A refreshment spot that many were unfamiliar with, it provided a splendid backdrop to the finale of the two-day "Legend."

The organization thanks the Municipality and the Pro Loco of Bobbio, where in the local Piazza XXV Aprile, now a fixed place branded HAT, was hosted theHAT Village, a venue for meetings, departures, and arrivals. Also in Bobbio, a memorable dinner on Saturday evening at the colonnade of the Abbey of San Colombano, a truly legendary location with its foundation way back in the distant year 614.   

Thanks also to the Partners HAT SERIES Yamaha, Shad, Dunlop, Enduristan, Klim, MBE, Mytech, QD Exhaust and Kappa for active participation and collaboration.

The next and last date of the HAT MARATHON of the circuit HAT SERIES 2026 will be at – HAT SANREMO SESTRIERE 3-6 September

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For more information, please contact Nicola Poggio | +39 335.7417980 | info@hatventure.it