Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Former Superbike World Champion Doug Polen, former AMA Pro Thunder Champion Tom Montano and former 500cc Grand Prix rider Matt Wait tested a production version of the Moto Guzzi MGS01 at Willow Springs International Raceway yesterday, December 7th.

According to Moto Guzzi North America General Manager Bill Martin, the bike tested by the trio was “essentially” a customer-spec MGS01, fitted with 17-inch Pirelli slicks, running on pump gas.

The test was a shakedown to see if the MGS01 would be a capable platform for use in an AMA Formula Xtreme effort. “We (Moto Guzzi executives) are going to meet…to see if we are going to proceed with a race program some time this week,” said Martin.

In a phone interview with Roadracingworld.com Monday, December 8th, Polen said, “It was OK, but there is a lot of room for improvement. I did a 1:24.8. When you look at the (bike) it has a lot of heavy parts that were on this bike because, more or less, it was production. I guess back in Italy they have an understanding that they can drop the weight 20 kilos from what we rode.

“I would say right now that it’s too much different from what it needs to be to make it a good opinion as to whether it could be competitive,” continued Polen. “But, I think, based just off numbers…with some time that they will surprise some people.”