It’s a competition that has defined and changed a territory, that has united fathers and sons by the same passion. The “Valli Bergamasche” is the symbol of Enduro in Italy. It begins after the Second World War, when the global conflict is still fresh in people’s memory and clearly visible on the houses’ facades. On 4 July 1948, the first edition starts at the Caffè Savoia, the seat of the Moto Club Bergamo. The first participants, essentially pioneers, ride along trails and roads covered in gravel and dirt through the Taleggio Valley and along the Vivione Pass. Over time, the race’s success even contributes to the improvement of the mountains’ practicability.
In 1950, the race leaves from Bergamo and enters the Province of Brescia for the first time. Four years later, the competition is divided into four stages, including a nocturnal one from Nembro to Selvino illuminated by torches. The edition of 1955 has its finish line in Selvino after eight stages and an even longer and more difficult route. Bergamo becomes the Italian capital of regularity motorcycling and, from 1959, the “Valli” also welcomes European drivers. On that occasion, a series of special tests are tried out: acceleration, acceleration and braking, and an uphill climb on an rough surface.
The Moto Club starts collaborating with Gilera, Guzzi, and other great motorbike manufactures of the period. In 1963, the riders ascend Mount Poieto and then face a tremendous descent along a piste well-knowns to skiers.
The discipline’s evolution leads to a fundamental turning point in 1969 when the “Valli” becomes part of the Regularity European Championship. The ranking is organised by motorbike classes and the trophy is dedicated to Levo and Duccio Reggiani. Spectators and participants increase consistently: hundreds are present at the 1976 edition.
Three years later, in 1979, the saddest chapter in the race’s history occurs when the Swedish rider Lennard Andersson dies in an accident. The “Valli” isn’t an annual event anymore, but takes place every other year now. The thirty-fifth edition in 1988 is very significant, also because it’s the last one as part of the European Championship: the Italians manage to put an end to Swedish hegemony and win in five of six classes.
The thirty-sixth edition only happens as late as 1994 and is now part of the World Championship’s calendar. The weather conditions during this event are so bad that the cross test from Donico to Castione, close to the Presolana Pass climb, has to be cancelled. However, the long wait only increases the fans’ enthusiasm who line the route in great numbers. The Italians Sala, Grasso, and Rinaldi, as well as the Czech Katrinak, are victorious: the hosts are the event’s protagonists once again.
Katrinak dominates the 500 4T class during the 1999 World Championship when the “Valli” is on the agenda again. This particularly successful edition takes place in Rovetta and includes twelve special tests in only five kilometres. Sala and Rinaldi excel in the 400 class: they shine in a very difficult race along a route of eighty kilometres that is repeated three times on Saturday and twice on Sunday. The event very much highlights the authentic values of the World Championship.
As many as 250 participants are present at the start line of the very special competition in 2002. This thirty-eighth edition of the “Valli”, the queen of all Italian Enduro events, is marked by Italian victories: Alessandro Belometti with Ktm and Simone Albergoni with Honda in the E1 class, Stefan Merriman with Yamaha on Saturday and Samuli Aro with Ktm on Sunday in the E2 class, David Knight in the E3 class.
New generations with the same old spirit and aims race the “Valli” in 2005, 2006, and 2010. The 2015 “Valli” lures over 25.000 fans to the Presolana plateau. The Australian Matthew Phillips’ double win for the KTM Factory team in the E3 class is spectacular. Yamaha’s Swedish rider Mikael Persson dominates the Youth Cup for under-21-year-olds. In the E1 class, the Spaniard Lorenzo Santolino with Sherco succeeds, while KTM’s Frenchman Antoine Meo claims absolute victory, repeating his “Valli” exploits, in E2.
The last edition, in 2019, remains one of the best in the history of an iconic race. Over two hundred riders participate, the crowds’ cheers are enthusiastic and passionate along the entire route. Italy’s Alex Salvini with Honda-Red Moto suffers on Saturday, but excels on a hot and humid Sunday, beating his French competitor Loïc Larrieu in the E2 class. In E1, Thomas Oldrati is victorious again for the first time in quite a few years. Finally, the twenty-year-old Andrea Verona triumphs in Rovetta to become world champion in the Junior category. He confirms the values of the “Valli”, a race which has conveyed passion for over half a century.
