EXHIBIT 99.1

                                  Press Release


                      SALE OF MOTO GUZZI TO APRILIA S.P.A.


         Noale (Venice), 14th April '00 - Today an agreement was signed at Noale
by Messrs Beggio  (President of Aprilia S.p.A) and Bulgari (Board Member of Moto
Guzzi  Corporation)  for the  acquisition by Aprilia S.p.A. of Moto Guzzi S.p.A.
and the three commercial  companies Moto Guzzi France  S.a.r.l.,  MGI Motorcycle
GmbH and Moto  Guzzi  North  America  Inc.  which  are all  owned by Moto  Guzzi
Corporation.


The purchase price including the assumption of debt is equivalent to 132 billion
Lire.  The  agreement  is subject  to the  approval  of Moto  Guzzi  Corporation
shareholders.  The majority  shareholder O.A.M.  S.p.A. (a subsidiary of Trident
Rowan  Group)  has  already  signalled  its  intention  to vote in favour of the
agreement at the shareholders meeting.

In  addition  the  parties  have  agreed  that  Aprilia  will be involved in the
management  of the four  Subsidiaries  as from 1 May 2000.  Gianni  Bulgari will
become for a  transition  period the  President  of Moto  Guzzi  S.p.A.  and his
appointment will take place in the next few days.

" We are  delighted  to see Moto  Guzzi pass into the hands of Aprilia as we are
convinced  that this will ensure a continued  turnaround of the  Company",  said
Mark Hauser Chairman and Chief Executive of Moto Guzzi Corporation.

"We have  recently  brought an  important  new  product - the V11 Sport - to the
market and it is enjoying  considerable  success.  We had, however,  reached the
conclusion that further major  investments are needed and that a company such as
Aprilia was ideally placed to implement such a programme."

"We have worked with  determination"  said Ivano  Beggio,  President  of Aprilia
S.p.A.,  "to  return  into  Italian  hands a brand of great  tradition  that has
contributed to motorcycling history. The agreement that we have reached gives me
particular satisfaction and the objective of realising the full potential of the
"Eagle" brand of Mandello  Lario  represents a new  challenge  that I am looking
forward  to. We want to  construct  a  national  motorcycle  grouping  combining
tradition  and  strong  innovative  capacities  which  will  be  internationally
competitive".

"Moto Guzzi,"  explained  President  Beggio  ,"will  continue to be based at its
historical  site at Mandello and the products will maintain all the sought after
characteristics  that  have  made them  famous,  while at the same  time  taking
advantage of Aprilia's  technological and R&D capabilities.  It is our intention
to commit all of the know-how and financial resources that will be necessary for
the success of this project".

Moto Guzzi was advised by Banca IMI, lead by Dr.  Christopher Wigley and Aprilia
was advised by Caretti & Associati lead by Dr. Francesco Caretti.