Yamaha FZ1 Abarth Assetto Corse

Karl Abarth was born in Viena on the 15th of November 1908 and moved to Italy in 1931 where he became an auto designer and five-time European motorcycling champion.

He also established Abarth & C. in 1949 where he manufactured racing cars and performance exhaust systems, some of them being present on the market to this day, the best way to distinguish an Abarth product being the scorpion logo his birth sign.

Tuning and racing with motorcycles were young Carlos career choices, and in 1930 he made his first motorcycle under aBarth name. An accident during a race in Linz, however, forced him to stop with the solo racing.

Gilera Saturno from1953 with Abarth exhaust

Given the tight connection between Abarth and Fiat, who bought Abarth & C. in 1971, and also the successful collaboration between Fiat and Yamaha, the celebration of 100 years from the birth of the great designer is made through a special edition FZ1 Abarth Assetto Corse.

Yamaha Italy has presented the FZ1 within a special exhibit dedicated to Karl Abarth and the bike stands out due to the Öhlins suspensions package, Marchesini rims and sleek tires, Brembo brakes, Akrapovic titan exhaust system as well as the multitude of Rizoma pieces. Also, the Red and White color scheme and Abarth style graphics enhance the performance look of this naked, leaving us wondering if it is ever going to be produced in a limited edition as the bike in the pictures is only a prototype.