BRESCIA, Italy - Denver Chopper's Mondo Porras flew to the Kustom People Show in Brescia, Italy with Jeff Starke of the International Master Bike Builders Association to present a lifetime achievement award to Italian bike builder Fabrizio “Sugar” Favre.

The IMBBA, based in the United States, has been organizing builders worldwide for more than five years, and periodically singles out top master bike builders for world recognition.

This event also formalized the partnership between FIC and IMBBA that was announced at Faaker See, Europe's biggest bike rally. "This agreement will open up international opportunities," said Favre. "We hope to bring other European member nations onboard, and we look forward to competing as a national team in a world competition in 2012 in Canada."

"I am honored to be included in the Hall of Fame, and honored to have met Mondo Porras and Jeff Starke, two great men."

"I would like also to thank the Kustom People Show organizers, who have shown great interest in the development of custom artistry within the industry."

Fabrizio Favre, affectionately known as "Sugar" due to his agreeable nature, was born on July 6, 1958 in Ivrea in north western Italy, where he first became an expert VW car customizer in his father's business. He established his own motorcycle fabrication company, "Tutto Guzzi Favre," which became "Favre Motorcycle" and is now operated by his son as "Favre RMB Custom Surgery."

Fabrizio fell in love with motorcycles as a teenager. His first bike was a 50cc replica Captain America chopper. At age 18, he graduated to a 1200 cc Harley Electra Glide.

Mondo Porras, owner of Denver’s Choppers, started building custom bikes with his partner Denver Mullins in San Bernardino, CA in 1967 and was inducted into the International Master Bike Builder Association's Hall of Fame during the 2010 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.

Denver’s Choppers became famous worldwide in the early 1970’s. They were instrumental in starting the after market industry that is florishing today with custom parts including frames, custom choppers and springer front ends. Denver's Choppers was the first company to manufacture the long down tube stretch frames that are in vogue today.