The 66th edition of the Milan International Bicycle and Motorbike Exhibition kicked off in style on Tuesday with the first new product presentations on the major stands in the halls. Gruppo Piaggio was one of the first, attracting a huge crowd of trade and media visitors as they unveiled the latest models from their brands Piaggio, Vespa, Scarabeo, Moto Guzzi, Aprilia, Gilera and Derbi.

Commercial Manager Stefano Sterpone and Paolo Gagliardo, responsible for the Italian market, reminded everyone of the four world titles the group has won in four different categories with motorbikes from Piaggio, Gilera, Aprilia and Derbi race, and promised to showed the same fighting spirit for Piaggio clients in 2009, with products that offer function, quality, performance and ecology.

Piaggio showed the new 250cc and 400cc versions of the MP3 three-wheel scooter and promised a hybrid version next spring. Piaggio also showed the new Carnaby Cruiser 300 i.e that combines performance with reduced size. Vespa showed off three new models, combining tradition with technology with the 150cc Vespa S and the GTS 125.

There was also a prototype Vespa side car. Scarabeo stands on its own two feet as a separate brand in Milan for the first time, while Moto Guzzi showed the new Stelvio TT version, the Griso 8V SE, the Nevada 750 and the V7 Sport. Aprilia and Gilera showed off their world championship success with new models. Aprilia has the Sportcity One 50, the SMV1200 Dorsoduro, the SL 1200 Shiver, and of course, the RSV4 that will take on Ducati and the Japanese in Superbike races in 2009.

Gilera celebrated its centenary and world title in the 250cc class with the presence of 125cc world champion Mike Di Meglio, runner up Simone Corsi, and 250cc world champion Marco Simoncelli, who entertained the crowd with tails of how he won his first world title for Gilera.