A mysterious motorcycle could be the key to uncovering who shot dead a mafia figure outside his home in suburban Melbourne.

John Peter Latorre was shot as he walked onto his driveway on Buchanan Place at Greenvale, about 20km north of Melbourne, about 4.30am on March 12.

He was heading to his fruit and vegetable wholesale business at the Melbourne Market.

A family member found him injured but the 64-year-old, who is reported to have links to Melbourne’s Calabrian mafia, died soon after.

More than a week later on Wednesday, Horse racing betting apps Victoria Police were still yet to find the culprits behind the shooting, saying it was unclear how many people were involved.

However, they hoped an unidentified motorcycle would lead them to the killer after the vehicle was spotted near the scene.

Homicide squad detectives appealed for anyone who saw the motorcycle – which they believed was loud and a smaller model – to contact them.

They urged anyone travelling through Greenvale or Gladstone Park, particularly near Mickleham Road, to review their dashcam footage and check for motorcycles.

Officers suspected the shooter was riding the motorcycle, and said they were still investigating whether the targeted attack had links to organised crime.

« We believe that dashcam footage or CCTV of this motorcycle could provide a crucial breakthrough in this investigation, » Detective Acting Inspector Nigel L’Estrange said.

« While we are still working through all the circumstances surrounding the murder, we are particularly keen to identify this motorcycle and it is currently a key avenue of inquiry. »

There was traffic in the area at the time of the shooting despite the time of morning, Det Insp L’Estrange said.

Detectives believed the shooter could have been riding the motorcycle erratically or at speed.

Mr Latorre’s brother Vincent, who visited the scene of the shooting after the incident, is also suspected of being involved in mafia activity after he was jailed for more than a decade in 2009 for blackmailing business rivals.

A 2007 inquest found Vincent Latorre had either killed or aided in the death of 20-year-old Rocco Iaria, whose body was found dumped in an occupied grave.