There are two Austrians, two Americans, and twenty-two Italians in Sardinia, and no, this isn’t the setup for a silly joke.
The second edition of the Malossi Moped Rally, organised by Henry Favre, has wrapped up, and couldn’t be happier with how it went: we managed to break a frame, but thankfully, zero bones (get in!). A whole frame, yes – belonging to a lad from Brescia who went out in the middle of the night to buy a new one, stripped his moped down to nothing, rebuilt the whole lot, and was back racing with the rest of them the next day, fresh as a daisy. Call it madness, call it passion, call it whatever you like: to us, that is the true Malosser spirit.
From 29th April to 4th May 2026, 26 people, not all of them Italian, not all of them spring chickens, and not a single one of them ordinary, explored Sardinia on mopeds that were never meant for off-roading, but somehow became off-roaders anyway. Over those few days, they tackled 3 stages, slept at the Arborea base camp, and visited spots like Piscinas, abandoned mines, the outskirts of Oristano, and Torre dei Corsari.
The group you least expecti
4 Austrians with their Puch mopeds, 2 Americans, mates of Henry’s who had crossed the Atlantic, veterans of the first edition who came back with a friend just to put themselves to the test all over again.
Among them was the effortlessly stylish Jean-Pierre, sporting a white beard and a 1961 moped, who slept less than anyone else just to soak up the company well into the night. Then there was Pony, who earned his nickname thanks to his Gilera Eco. With its 12-inch wheels, it was technically the worst possible choice for off-roading, looking for all the world like a little pony straight off a fairground carousel. Yet, there it was, right in the thick of it with the rest of them.
Then there was the youngest of the lot, Samuel, who had the stroke of genius to set off on day one without filling his tank, managing a grand total of six kilometres before predictably breaking down. When Henry told him, “You’re safe, you’re fine, I’ll come grab you as soon as I can. In the meantime, I don’t know, try and sort yourself out, ask for someone to give you a hand,” Samuel triggered a chain of events he’ll never forget.
He asked for help from the fishermen in a nearby village, who sorted him out with some fuel mix and got him back on the road – though not for long. You see, Samuel’s phone died, meaning our hero could no longer access the Rally map.Yet, he didn’t let that get him down. He asked a local guy if he could charge his phone at his house. The reply? “Yeah sure, but in exchange, you’ve got to help me move the tractors.” A quick stint behind the steering wheel, and he had his map back. Samuel caught up with the others along the route, so absolutely buzzing that he made the rest of us happy just looking at him.
Not that the other participants had any less of an adventure, but we’re keeping their secrets safe: what happens at the Malossi Moped Rally stays at the Malossi Moped Rally. We’ll just forever remember what they got up to during the day, and under the gazebos at night.
Notes for the next edition
The Malossi Moped Rally isn’t a race, and it’s definitely not a “comfortable experience”. It’s for flexible folk who can adapt to anything and just want to have a laugh – even if that means spending hours figuring out how to get their Ciao running again using nothing but sheer wit and Italian creativity. At the Malossi Moped Rally, people help each other out, they improvise, and they never lose hope – not even when a frame snaps clean in two. It’s the kind of place where a snow-white beard riding a 1961 Yamaha Chappy proves he’s got more energy than the twenty-somethings.
Henry, completely hoarse, brought everyone back home with all of their teeth intact, 26 new mates, and a checklist of lessons learnt for the next edition:
- You can never have too many spark plugs
- Better pack a spare frame next time
- Never underestimate the power that an adventure can have on people, no matter their age
The next Malossi Moped Rally takes place in May 2027: sign up for our newsletter and follow us on social media to be among the first to register.
