#BrianGillen

Drawing off a company’s past success is a popular starting point when it comes to future models, and MV Agusta is drawing off its success 50 years ago to guide a new category of motorcycle it hopes to bring to market in the coming years. What you see here is the 921 S concept.

If you were expecting a warmed-over Brutale 1000 RR for 2020, you expected wrong. If the first Brutale of 1997 was a bit, ahhh, brutal, then you’ll be reassured to learn the latest bike is all about rideability. Confidence-inspiring performance was one of the main priorities. To that end, the new bike embraces all the latest state-of-art electronics (yes, cruise control), which is a good thing since MV says its new hyper-naked is the most powerful of its type in the world: 208 prancing horsepower at 13,450 rpm, and 86.5 foot-pounds torque (116.5 Nm) at 11,000. That’s in a 411-pound package (before you add fluids and 4.23 gallons of high-test).

From across the room, Brian Gillen is just another handsome, well-dressed Italian guy at the typical MV Agusta unveiling in the south of France or along the Cote d’Azur, but when you begin talking to him, something’s missing? Oh, it’s the accent in his English. Even without it, he seems just as conversant in Italian or Espanol (not that I would know) talking with his co-workers and other journalists.