Turin, Corso Casale 144, the motorcycle track. Cycling here, between the Giri d’Italia and Milan-Turin. Football here, between Italy and (Grande) Turin. Here gymnastics and rugby, badminton and triathlon, but also rock concerts and opera events.
The motorcycle track is in Turin like the Vigorelli is in Milan. Even earlier: from 1920, 15 years earlier. Liberty style. Same dimensions: a track, but in concrete, with parabolic curves and a length of just under 400 metres, currently unsuitable for hosting international events.
Resist temptations, but why. Passing through Turin, a stop at the motorcycle track. Outside, the monument to Fausto Coppi, commissioned by Nino Defilippis. Next to it, the plaque for Serse Coppi, who fell here, hit his head, first reached the finish line, then a hotel, led by a boy (him, the Cit, Defilippis) and accompanied, among others, by his friend and colleague Renzo Zanazzi. Just like this: Fausto and Serse, together, how well they were.
Inside, however, the motorcycle track has a different atmosphere. The grandiose entrance door, restored. Entering, the Velò bar-restaurant, Belicabarbis, sporty cuisine at all hours from breakfast to after dinner. Historical photos on the walls, including that of the water bottle, Coppi and Bartali, Bartali and Coppi, two fathers of the country, and not just of the two-wheeled world. An underpass leads to the track and field. The track, with that dizzying curve. And the field, occupied by three balls for eight padel courts and four beach volleyball courts, and a 25-meter swimming pool with three lanes. Instead, upon entering, on the left, a shop, Sports Garage, specialized in cycling, complete with a cycle workshop, and more. It will be, the motovelodromo, the starting point of the Vento cycle routea great name, the one that will unite Turin with Venice, and Venice with Turin.
The Turin motorcycle track it smacks of history and geography, it also smacks of sweat and effort, of black and white even on days full of colour. Sport has the gift of marrying memory to the agenda. In the balls, young students compete with exclamations and rackets. In the stands, old journalists taking out pen and paper.
