Press & Media
The World Took Notice
Vespa World Adventure Rider — Damn, I guess I can't become invisible again.
TV, radio, print and digital — in German, English, Spanish, French, Italian, Korean, Malay, Norwegian and Greek. Since 2014.
50+Print Features
12Countries
ARDNational TV
2014First Coverage
Press enquiries & media kits: markus(at)la-vida-vespa.com
Markus André Mayer has been featured in over 50 print publications across 12 countries, appeared on national prime time television in Germany (ARD) and Spain (Telemadrid), and been interviewed by leading motorcycle media in the USA, UK, Italy, France, Korea, Malaysia, Norway and Greece. Coverage spans four continents and includes Road & Track, Scootering Magazine UK, Motul, ANSA, Bayern 1, Die Welt, Allgäuer Zeitung and Kreisbote — from 2014 to 2026. He holds three unofficial world records, including 1,691 km across 10 countries in 24 hours on a 125cc scooter (2015) and the first solo Vespa circumnavigation in 80 days (2018). His charity rides have raised over €113,000 for children with cancer. A press photo by Karl-Josef Hildenbrand/dpa is available via Getty Images.
Highlight Coverage
🇺🇸2024
Road & Track
"This Man Rode Around the World in 80 Days on a Trio of Motor Scooters"
Full feature by Emmet White — America's iconic motorsport publication.
Read feature
🇩🇪2018
Die Welt
"Allgäuer will in 80 Tagen auf Roller um die Welt"
Nationale Berichterstattung — Deutschlands führende überregionale Zeitung.
Read
🇩🇪2019
Bayern 1 — Blaue Couch
In-depth radio interview with Gabi Fischer
Bavaria's premier public radio on the world circumnavigation.
Listen
🇪🇸2025
Motorpasión Moto
"Dar la vuelta al mundo en Vespa en 80 días"
Spain's leading moto publication — full feature on the world circumnavigation.
Read
🇮🇹2024
ANSA
"Giro del mondo in 80 giorni in sella a 3 cloni della Vespa"
Italy's national wire service — picked up across hundreds of outlets.
Read
🇪🇸2018
Telemadrid
"Da la vuelta al mundo en Vespa en 80 días"
Spanish national television news — Telenoticias prime time.
Watch
🎥 Video Features
📷 disclaimer: If Markus looks slightly broader than expected — it is purely the camera angle. Everyone gains 10 kilos on a Vespa. It is physics. Piaggio confirmed it.
🇩🇪 Deutsch
Savage Scooters • 107K
ICH HABE BLUT GESCHISSEN | Real Talk mit Markus Mayer
🇩🇪 DE
Scooter Center
Auf der Couch beim Scooter Center — Gentleman Giro Tag 42
🇩🇪 DE
Vespagioia / Regio TV
Giro Gentleman mit Markus André Mayer — Regio TV
🇩🇪 DE
Vespen Nest Düren
Vespa Gentleman Giro mit dem Vespen Nest Düren
🇩🇪 DE
Vespa Gentleman Giro
Spenden-Fahrt für krebskranke Kinder
🇩🇪 DE
Alvivo GmbH
80 Tage um die Welt mit seine Vespas
🇩🇪 DE
be-outdoor.de / ISPO 2019
Interview mit Markus Mayer bei Alvivo
🇩🇪 DE
Sag mal ehrlich (Schattenheld)
Episode 6 — 25 Minuten — März 2026
🇩🇪 DE🇬🇧 English
Vespa Motorsport • 149K subscribers
Around the World in 80 Days by Vespa — Equipment Walkthrough
🇬🇧 EN
TST Garage
Live Q&A with La Vida Vespa — Day 68 around the world
🇬🇧 EN🇸🇷 Serbian
Serbian National TV
Markus André Mayer — La Vida Vespa Interview
🇸🇷 SR🇪🇸 Español
Turismo en Vespa • 6.460 suscriptores
"La vida Vespa" — vuelta al mundo en Vespa — Live Jul 2020
🇪🇸 ES
Turismo en Vespa
Nuevo proyecto — 25.000km y 40 países en Vespa 50cc
🇪🇸 ES
Turismo en Vespa
Carretera a Gijón con Markus Mayer y sus proyectos
🇪🇸 ES
Turismo en Vespa
Última hora — tras su último viaje en Motocarro
🇪🇸 ES
Motorpasión ES — Short
Este alemán ha dado la vuelta al mundo en una Vespa
🇪🇸 ES
Santiago Pardo
MARKUS - La Vida Vespa - The World by Markus Mayer
🇪🇸 ES🎧 Podcast Appearances
Bayern 1 — Blaue Couch 🇩🇪
"Markus Mayer, Abenteurer" — mit Gabi Fischer
Mein Abenteuer — RPR1 🇩🇪
"Markus Mayer: In 80 Tagen um die Welt" — mit Reiner Meutsch
Blechgedanken Ep. 0 🇩🇪
"In 80 Tagen um die Welt" — Preview-Interview
Blechgedanken Ep. 9 🇩🇪
Extremvespatouren — 60-70 Min. Vollinterview
Vespa Motorsport Podcast Ep. 14 🇬🇧
Markus Mayer (La Vida Vespa) — US Coast to Coast Tour
A Scooter Affair Ep. 12 🇬🇧
"Markus Mayer, La Vida Vespa!" — 30 mins
Nomadic Tales 🇮🇳
"Around the World in 80 Days on a Vespa"
- November 2024 — Road & Track — "This Man Rode Around the World in 80 Days on a Trio of Motor Scooters" — full feature by Emmet White
- January 2015 — Scootering Magazine UK — "La Vida Vespa: A Tour of Europe by Scooter" — 8-page full feature
- 2024 — ScooterLab UK — The Penistour Part 3
- 2023 — ScooterLab UK — The Penistour Part 1
- 2023 — ScooterLab UK — The Penistour Part 2
- 2020 — Trift.io — Around the World on a Vespa — in-depth feature
- 2018 — Motul — "A Vespa can do more than you think" — official oil sponsor feature
- 2024 — Medium — "Traveling Around the World in 80 Days on Old Classic Vespa Scooters"
- November 2024 — Sindonews.com — Indonesian national news
- November 2024 — VOI Indonesia — "This German Man Successfully Explore The World With Vespa In 80 Days"
- November 2024 — Medcom.id — Indonesian coverage
- 2015 — Scomadi Thailand — brand history credits Team Mayer world record
- 2015 — Scomadi UK — "The Scomadi Story" — double world record: 1,691 km and 10 countries in 24 hours
- September 2015 — ScooterNova — "One Scomadi, 10 Countries, 24 Hours, 1961 km"
- 2020 — Nomadic Tales Podcast (India) — "Around the World in 80 Days on a Vespa"
- July 2021 — A Scooter Affair Ep. 12 — "Markus Mayer, La Vida Vespa!" — 30 mins, Apple Podcasts
- 2017 — Vespa Motorsport Podcast Ep. 14 — US Coast to Coast tour
- 2014 — Isle of Wight International Scooter Rally — "Meet the Punters" — full interview, 130-day Europe tour, 21 countries
- December 2018 — Going Solo Adventures — Q&A interview with Markus Andre Mayer
- 2018 — ScooterLab UK — Around the World in 80 Days by Vespa
- 2019 — Scott's Podcast (Virginia, USA) — guest interview on world trip backstory
- 2020 — Adventures in a TukTuk — digital show interview
- 2018 — Vespa Extreme — Markus Andre Mayer project profile ahead of world trip
- 29. September 2018 — Süddeutsche Zeitung — "Mit der Vespa um die Welt" — Menschen-Seite, Samstag, Routenkarte
- Januar 2019 — ARD Silvester Show mit Jörg Pilawa — nationales Primetime-TV (Minute 26)
- 25. Juni 2018 — BILD München — "Dieser Mann fährt mit Roller um die Welt"
- Februar 2019 — Bayern 1 "Blaue Couch" — In-depth Radio Interview mit Gabi Fischer
- August 2024 — Mein Abenteuer (RPR1) — Folge 305 — mit Reiner Meutsch, 30+ Jahre auf Sendung
- November 2022 — Blechgedanken Ep. 9 — Extremvespatouren, 60-70 Min. Vollinterview
- 2018 — Blechgedanken Ep. 0 — Preview-Interview nach NDR Hannover
- Juni 2018 — Die Welt — "Allgäuer will in 80 Tagen auf Roller um die Welt"
- Juni 2018 — Swisscom Blue News (dpa) — Schweizer Nationalberichterstattung
- Oktober 2018 — NDR 1 Radio — Live-Interview "Plattenkiste", Hannover
- Oktober 2018 — Radio 7 Ulm — Live-Interview
- September 2021 — allgäu.tv — Gentleman Giro Abschluss (ab Minute 24)
- Juni 2018 — allgäu.tv — 5-Minuten TV-Bericht
- März 2026 — Podcast "Sag mal ehrlich" Episode 6 — 25 Minuten, Host: Schattenheld
- März 2025 — Donau 3 FM — "In 80 Tagen mit der Vespa um die Welt"
- August 2021 — Luxemburger Wort — Vespa-Club Roude Léiw, Gentleman Giro
- September 2021 — Südwest Presse — Vespafahrer helfen gemeinsam
- April 2021 — Scooter Center — 25.000 € für krebskranke Kinder
- August 2021 — Onetz.de — Vespa-Gentleman macht Halt in Schwarzenbach
- 2021 — shz.de — Bergenhusen: Markus Mayer sammelt Spenden
- 2021 — Krebskranke Kinder Augsburg — Vespa Gentleman Giro 2021 — €88.000 bestätigt
- 2021 — Trendyone.de — Vespa Gentleman Giro 2021
- Juli 2021 — Wochenblatt Singen — Vespa Gentleman Giro
- 2021 — Merkur.de — Die Tour der guten Taten, Landkreis Freising
- 2021 — meinbezirk.at — Vespa-Spendentour für die Krebsforschung (Austria)
- 2017 — meinbezirk.at — Vespa Giro Germanica: Fahren, plaudern, Gutes tun (Austria)
- Juni 2017 — Nordwest-Zeitung — "Mit 125 Kubik durch die Republik"
- 14. Juni 2017 — RP Online (rp-online.de) — "Fahrspaß haben und Gutes tun" — Hückelhoven, NRW
- 2017 — Rollermagazin.at — "Giro Germanica — Vespatour zugunsten der Kinderkrebsstiftung"
- 2024 — Allgäuer Zeitung — "Allgäuer umrundete die Welt auf einer Vespa"
- 2018 — Kreisbote Kempten — herzliche Gastfreundschaft auf der Vespa
- Juni 2018 — All-in.de — "Auf der Vespa in 80 Tagen die Welt umrundet"
- August 2020 — Schwäbische Zeitung — Erwin Hymer Museum Bad Waldsee
- Juni 2018 — Schwäbische Zeitung — "Mit der Vespa um die Welt"
- 2017 — Allgäuer Zeitung — Giro Germanica, 21.000 € für Kinderkrebsstiftung
- Oktober 2014 — Allgäuer Zeitung Oberallgäu — "Auf der Vespa quer durch Europa" — 130 Tage, 30 Länder
- Januar 2015 — Kreisbote Kempten — "Auf Kultfahrzeug durch Europa" — 22.450 km, 130 Tage
- September 2021 — Allgäuer Zeitung — "1000 Euro fürs Waldpiraten-Camp" — 75.000 € bestätigt
- August 2021 — Kreisbote Kempten — "Ein Gentleman, ein Wort" — 6.200 km, 71.000 €
- 2021 — NÖN (Niederösterreichische Nachrichten) — "1.900 Euro für Krebshilfe"
- 2021 — Altlengbach Zeitung (Austria) — "1.900 Euro für einen guten Zweck"
- 2021 — Schwäbische Zeitung Blaubeuren/Ulm — "Hiesige Vespa-Fahrer spenden 2186,55 Euro"
- 2021 — Allgäuer Zeitung Oberallgäu — "Mit Spenden und Vespa wieder zurück" — 50.000 €
- 2021 — Süd-Anzeiger/WAZ Essen — "Etwas Wahnsinn fährt mit" — Zeche Zollverein
- 2021 — Moers Zeitung (Funke Mediengruppe) — "Mit drei PS durchs ganze Land"
- 2021 — Stadtspiegel Kettwig/Werden — "Zwischenstopp" — Titelseite, Essen
- 2021 — Lorenznerbote (Südtirol) — "Vespaclubs Montal Benefizaktion"
- 2021 — Bergenhusen Gemeindeblatt — "Gentleman Giro 2021" — Schleswig-Holstein
- 14. September 2015 — Kreisbote Kempten — "Blechrollerbande saust dröhnend durchs Allgäu" — 100 Teilnehmer
- Mai 2016 — Kreisbote Kempten — "Blechroller starten in den Frühling" — Blechrollerbande-Gründer
- 2015 — Allgäuer Zeitung — "Biene und Wespe – einfach eine Leidenschaft" — Blechrollerbande Portrait
- 2015 — Allgäuer Zeitung — "Rollervirus bei Markus und Markus" — Blechrollerbande, gelbe Piaggio Ape
- 2015 — Allgäuer Zeitung — "Zehn Länder, 1691 Kilometer, 24 Stunden" — Scomadi Doppelweltrekord
- 2015 — Allgäuer Zeitung/Kreisbote — "Der Rollerkönig war unterwegs" — Scomadi Weltrekord
- 2018 — 2018 — Hannoversche Presse / Vespa Club Hannover — "In 80 Tagen um die Welt" — Jan Sedelies
- Issue 4/2018 — Die Wespe — "Danke, Markus!" — Vespa Club Hannover, mehrseitig
- Mai 2017 — Die Wespe — Giro Germanica Launch
- Februar 2015 — Die Wespe — Feature
- 2018 — Roller & Reise (Motoretta Sonderheft) — "In 80 Tagen um die Welt"
- 2019 — Polo Motorrad Magazin — Weltreise als Inspiration für Leserwettbewerb
- 2015 — Motoblog.it — 1.691 chilometri su uno scooter 125cc in 10 nazioni
- 18 Septiembre 2018 — Telemadrid Telenoticias — "Da la vuelta al mundo en Vespa en 80 días" — TV nacional
- 2025 — Motorpasión Moto — "Dar la vuelta al mundo en Vespa en 80 días"
- 2025 — 20 Minutos — Espectacular vuelta al mundo en 80 días en Vespa
- Septiembre 2020 — La Voz de Galicia — "El lento regreso a casa de Markus en un viejo motocarro"
- Febrero 2025 — La Voz de Galicia — Vespaseo Ibérico
- Septiembre 2024 — Ajuntament de Figueres — "escuterista il·lustre" (Catalàn)
- 2018 — Diario Ronda — primer circumnavegador en Vespa en 80 días
- Junio 2015 — Lanza — "Vespas y Lambrettas galopan en Tomelloso" — portada Diario de La Mancha
- Junio 2015 — Lanza Digital — "Más de 200 participantes en el I Encuentro de Vespas y Lambrettas de Tomelloso"
- Junio 2015 — Lanza Digital — "Markus Mayer: La Vespa es una pasión" — 31 países / 22.500 km
- 2015 — Canarias en Moto — Scomadi bate dos récords
- 2015 — Mototaller.info — Scomadi 1.691 kilómetros en 24 horas
- 2015 — Motociclismo.es — Récord: 1.691 km en 24 horas con una Scomadi
- 2015 — Motofichas.com — Una Scomadi TL125 bate 2 records mundiales
- 2015 — Motorbike Magazine ES — El Scomadi TL125 logra dos records mundiales
- 2016 — Lexham Insurance UK — "Scomadi World Record" — cobertura industria de seguros UK
- 2016 — Scomadi Motos España — "Doble Record del Mundo para una Scomadi TL125"
- 2016 — Fórmulamoto.es — "Scomadi: 10 países europeos y 1.691 kilómetros en 24 horas"
- Octubre 2018 — Sargantanas Ibiza — rueda de prensa y entrevista de radio
- Octubre 2020 — Malportados Vespa Gang — live stream interview, México
- Octubre 2020 — La Voz de Ferrol — Slow Way Home mention, Ferrol Galicia
- Radio América Honduras — "Vuelta al mundo en Vespa" — cobertura centroamericana
- Julio 2020 — Turismo en Vespa — "La vida Vespa" Live
- 2021 — Turismo en Vespa — "Nuevo proyecto — 25.000km y 40 países en Vespa 50cc" Live
- 2021 — Turismo en Vespa — "Carretera a Gijón" Live
- 2020 — Turismo en Vespa — "Última hora — Motocarro" Live
- 2018 — Santiago Pardo — "MARKUS - La Vida Vespa - The World by Markus Mayer"
- 2025 — Motorpasión ES Short — "Este alemán ha dado la vuelta al mundo en una Vespa" — 1982 likes
- Septembre 2015 — La Vie de la Moto — "Invasion de guêpes en Croatie!" — Issue 850, citation: "31 pays et 22.450 km parcourus"
- Juin 2018 — L'Alsace — "Allgäuer will in 80 Tagen auf Roller um die Welt" — presse régionale française (dpa)
- Dicembre 2024 — ANSA — "Giro del mondo in 80 giorni in sella a 3 cloni della Vespa" — agenzia nazionale
- Luglio 2018 — The Monkeys Parma — "Markus Mayer a Parma coi Monkeys"
- 2015 — Motoblog.it — 1.691 chilometri su uno scooter 125cc in 10 nazioni
- November 2024 — Mekanika.com.my — "Mengelilingi Dunia dalam 80 Hari dengan Vespa" — Malaysian moto media
- December 2024 — TheDrive Korea — Naver Blog
- December 2024 — TheDrive Korea — Korean automotive media covers the world circumnavigation
- August 2023 — TOSK — Trondheim og Omegn Scooter Klubb — "Markus Mayer — Vespa adventurer" — Penistour visit
Key Print Coverage
- 29. September 2018 — Süddeutsche Zeitung — "Mit der Vespa um die Welt" — Menschen-Seite, Samstag
- Januar 2019 — ARD Silvester Show mit Jörg Pilawa — nationales Primetime-TV (Minute 26)
- 25. Juni 2018 — BILD München — "Dieser Mann fährt mit Roller um die Welt"
- Juni 2018 — Die Welt — "Allgäuer will in 80 Tagen auf Roller um die Welt"
- Februar 2019 — Bayern 1 "Blaue Couch" — In-depth Radio Interview mit Gabi Fischer
- November 2024 — Road & Track — "This Man Rode Around the World in 80 Days on a Trio of Motor Scooters" — full feature by Emmet White
- January 2015 — Scootering Magazine UK — "La Vida Vespa: A Tour of Europe by Scooter" — 8-page full feature
Own Media
- Podcast: "La Vida Vespa — the World in 80 Days on a Scooter" — audio diary from the road
- Medium: @markusandremayer
- Instagram: @world_in_80_days_on_vespa
- Facebook: La Vida Vespa — 58,000+ followers
Key Facts at a Glance
| Fact | Figure |
|---|---|
| Countries visited (total) | 60 |
| Countries on Vespa | 45 |
| Total tour kilometres | > 150,000 km |
| Largest single tour | 27,113 km (World trip 2018) |
| World circumnavigation | 80 days (77 riding days) |
| Daily average (world trip) | 399 km |
| Longest single day | 690 km (Durrës to Athens) |
| Charity raised | > €113,000 (Giro Germanica: €25,000 + Gentleman Giro: €88,000) |
| Technical incidents (world trip) | 57 |
| Highest point | 3,685 m (Rocky Mountains) |
| Lowest point | −130 m |
| Temperature range | −15°C to +42°C |
Press Biographies
Copy-paste ready — available in 50, 100 and 200 words.
Markus Mayer, the “Vespa Nomad”, circumnavigated the globe solo in 80 days in 2018 on classic 10-inch scooters. A scooterist since 1992, he has covered over 150,000 km on Vespa across 45 countries on four continents. Author of “10 Inch Tales” and “Out of Office”, he has raised over €113,000 for children with cancer.
Markus Mayer from Kempten in the Allgäu lives by the motto “The Rider, not the Ride”. For over 30 years he has been devoted to scooters and has made a name for himself worldwide as an extreme traveller. His greatest achievement is the fastest solo circumnavigation on a Vespa in 80 days across 45 countries on four continents and over 150,000 km. Mayer is no theorist but a practitioner: he finances his dreams through hard work and sacrifice. Beyond his adventures he founded the “Vespa Gentleman Giro” charity ride for children with cancer and has raised over €113,000.
Markus Andre Mayer, born in Kempten, is the only Vespisti in the German-speaking world to have circumnavigated the planet solo in 80 days. What began in 1992 with a Lambretta J50 developed into a lifelong odyssey on two wheels. After a career as a paratrooper sergeant and a degree in international business, he chose freedom over the corporate treadmill.
Across more than 150,000 documented kilometres on Vespa in 45 countries on four continents, he has proven that true adventure requires no €30,000 motorcycle. His journeys are defined by minimal budget and maximum resilience: surviving typhoons in Siberia and heatwaves in Kazakhstan, often armed with nothing but the essential tools for roadside repairs.
Yet Mayer does not ride only for himself. Through projects such as “Giro Germanica” and “Gentleman Giro” he mobilised the international Vespa community and raised over €113,000 for children’s cancer charities. Today he lives in Barcelona, writes books including “Out of Office”, and shares his stories in visually powerful talks worldwide. His story is a plea for courage, respect and the realisation of extraordinary dreams.
Press Contact
Email: markus(at)la-vida-vespa.com
Want to read more?
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About Markus André Mayer
Media & Press — Personal Thanks
Behind every article, every interview and every broadcast there was a person who made the call, asked the question or shared the story. These are the journalists, editors, hosts and fixers who helped tell it.
Emanuel von Oy — Die Wespe Magazine
Extensive coverage across multiple tours including a seven-page feature on the Giro Germanica. A loyal voice for the project from the beginning.
Jean-Charles Caradonna — La Vie de la Moto
Published a feature article about Madalina in the French classic motorcycle press.
Gregg — Scootering Magazine UK
Featured La Vida Vespa in one of the world's leading scooter publications.
Iggy Grainger — ScooterLab UK
Shoutout and tour coverage that directly led to reader donations for the charity rides.
Peppe Pettersson — Scooteristen Mag, Norway/Sweden
Published a feature on the Oslo meet & greet during the Penistour 2023. Also repaired my broken kickstarter in the rain.
Gabi Fischer — Bayern 1 Blaue Couch
Interviewed me about the 80-day world trip on one of Germany's most listened-to radio programmes.
Richie — Radio Allgäuhit
Friend and consistent press coordinator who joined me for a live broadcast on Allgäuhit.
NDR1 Plattenkiste & RSA Radio
Radio interviews during the 80-day world tour and Gentleman Giro.
Radio Schwaben
Interview during preparations for the Gentleman Giro.
Allgäu.TV
20-minute regional TV feature on the adventures and world records.
Rafael Culjak — Croatian National News
Provided hospitality and coordinated my appearance on Croatian national television.
Mala Sombra Pro — Madrid
Produced a professional video of the 80-day world tour start at Km 0, Plaza del Sol.
Thomas Gantzel & Meinhardt Hilgendorf
Organized press appointments and a half-day NDR filming session in Northern Germany.
Scott — Virginia (Podcast)
Invited me to share my stories on his travel podcast during the USA coast-to-coast.
Savage Scooters
Uncut "Real Talk" interview about the long-distance rides — raw, honest, no filter.
Daniel Drescher
Significant support with official press work and media coordination across multiple tours.