Originally Posted by
robertorolfo
It was a good way to denote a higher level/standard of equipment, using a term that is fairly universal (or global). They, I would say correctly, probably figured it was easier for foreign markets to understand than the usual suffixes like -issimo/issima, even if those have more cache these days (a specialissma sounds, well, special!)
Nah. As someone said, the "pro" part is the level, and the "strada/pista" is the application. Pro is sometimes used in modern Italian to say "in favor of," just as it is used in English, but that's about it, other than professional(e).
And translated into English in the context, it would be "for the street" and "for the track". Not "in favor of the street" and "in favor of the track". Neither is it "professional street", "professional track".
If you talk about "level" and differentiate that from the usage to denote "professional", please do tell what other thing than "professional" "pro" can stand for? What are the other "levels" that is in no way related to "professional"?
Edit: Pro or con: For or against.