Fantic Motor

Last updated

Fantic Motor
Founded1968;56 years ago (1968)
FounderMario Agrati
Henry Keppel-Hesselink
Headquarters,
Italy
Products motorcycles
Parent VeNetWork
Subsidiaries Motori Minarelli
Bottecchia
Website http://www.fanticmotor.it/

Fantic Motor is an Italian manufacturer of motorcycles.

Contents

History

Fantic Motor 200 of 1982 Fanticmotor.jpg
Fantic Motor 200 of 1982
Fantic Chopper Moped, 1972 1972 Fantic Chopper Moped.jpg
Fantic Chopper Moped, 1972
Fantic TX 150, 2009 Fantic tz 150 2009.jpg
Fantic TX 150, 2009
Fantic Caballero TZ 300, 2012 Fantic Caballero 300 2012.jpg
Fantic Caballero TZ 300, 2012

Fantic Motor began in 1968 by manufacturing and exporting enduro motorcycles, mini-bikes and go-karts. Today they continue in the same genre, with the descriptions changed to the modern categories of dual-sport and motard. In 2016 they returned to the US market as Fantic USA Inc [usurped] . In 2015 Fantic launched new models of electric bikes, called the Fat Bike. [1] and has now a complete line of eMTB and commuter electric bikes.

Fantic began exporting to the United Kingdom in 1972, as part of a wave of manufacturers who took advantage of "sixteener laws", legislation that forbade sixteen-year-old motorcyclists from riding motorcycles up to 250 cc, as they had been used to. As a result, European and Japanese manufacturers exported their sporty and lightweight below-50cc engines, which had been common in Europe, to England also. Fantic produced a "sensational chopper moped" and a TI ("Tourismo Internazionale)," both of which became very popular quickly, [2] with the reputation of being some of the fastest mopeds on the market, going as fast as 70 mph. [3]

From the 1970s until the early 1980s, Fantic produced a series of 50cc mopeds called Fantic Motor Lei. [4] The Fantic Motor motorcycles were first imported into the U.K. in 1972 by Barron Eurotrade Ltd whose headquarters were based at 51 High Street Hornchurch, Essex. The idea of forming the company and importing the Fantic came about because one of the founders saw the 50cc 'Chopper' model publicised in an American motorcycle magazine that his brother in law sent him from the States. The U.K. market of learner riders had several other makes of what were classed as Mopeds, (Motor and Pedals), but the Fantic T.I. quickly gained popularity with the rapid growth of a dealer network. The six speed gearbox was a strong selling point, and the perky Italian Minarelli 49cc engine proved to be very reliable. Stories of the T.I. model reaching 70 mph were an exaggeration, as only just over 50-55 mph could be achieved, and in the right conditions. The 125cc Chopper model could top 80 mph, as Terence Shea found when the model was first demonstrated to him at the Fantic factory in Barzago, Italy. He test rode the new 125cc chopper model, reaching a top speed 130 km/h (81 mph). The chopper model was the original inspiration which the new U.K. importer saw as very special and distinct for a niche market, and fame grew. Part of the original marketing and advertising included a Fantic 125cc chopper model being given to comedian Dick Emery. There were many photos of Dick Emery with Terry Shea and Frank Harris of the U.K. importer, and one was blown up very large which showed Terence Shea standing next to the 'bike with his hand on the handlebars with Dick Emery sitting on it. Another popular model was the 125cc Caballero was for on/off-road, which was for a different sector of the market. The market for these types of Mopeds only lasted a handful of years. The official U.K. importers glossy studio photograph of the 125cc Chopper model was taken in London, and Terence Shea and Frank Harris of the Barron Eurotrade importer was taken from Hornchurch to London on a trailer towed by car. There was confusion in central London as to which turn to take at one particular junction on the way to the studio, which resulted in the trailer having to be unhooked and physically turned around in the narrow road and extremely busy area for the correct journey to the studio to be continued, much to the amusement of onlookers.

In the 1980s, Fantic enjoyed success in the Observed trials world championships, taking three titles as well as seven wins at the prestigious Scottish Six Days Trial.

In October 2020, Fantic bought Minarelli from Yamaha. [5]

Racing

Fantic Racing
2025 nameFantic Racing
BaseItaly
PrincipalStefano Bedon
Rider(s)Moto2:
7. Barry Baltus
44. Arón Canet
Motorcycle Kalex Moto2
Tyres Pirelli
Riders' Championships

Grand Prix motorcycle

In the 2005 season, Fantic competed in the 250cc championship with a team called Scuderia Fantic Motor GP.

Moto2 sponsorship

In the 2023 season, Fantic Motor competes in the Moto2 world championship but is the main sponsor of the VR46 Racing Team with its two riders, Celestino Vietti and Borja Gómez. [6]

Race results

YearClassTeam nameMotorcycleNo.RidersRacesWinsPodiums Poles F. laps PointsPos.
2023 Moto2Fantic Racing Kalex Moto2 13 Flag of Italy.svg Celestino Vietti 17122111610th
72 Flag of Spain.svg Borja Gómez 130000030th
9 Flag of Italy.svg Mattia Casadei 70000040th
43 Flag of Italy.svg Lorenzo Baldassarri 10000045th
2024 Moto2Fantic Racing Kalex Moto2 20 Flag of Andorra.svg Xavi Cardelús 180000031st
44 Flag of Spain.svg Arón Canet 1948662342nd
31 Flag of Spain.svg Roberto García 100000NC
100000NC
2025 Moto2Fantic Racing Kalex Moto2 7 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Barry Baltus
44 Flag of Spain.svg Arón Canet
Key
Regular rider
Replacement rider
Wildcard rider
Replacement/wildcard rider

By season

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

YearMotorcycleTyresRiders12345678910111213141516171819202122PointsRCPointsTCPointsMC
2023 Kalex Moto2 D POR ARG AME SPA FRA ITA GER NED GBR AUT CAT RSM IND JPN INA AUS THA MAL QAT VAL
Flag of Italy.svg Celestino Vietti 11139Ret451010121102DNSRetRetRet6Ret11610th11610th462.51st
Flag of Spain.svg Borja Gómez 172120192317DNSRetRet1620181624027th
Flag of Italy.svg Mattia Casadei 2624Ret21212625040th
Flag of Italy.svg Lorenzo Baldassarri 23042nd
2024 Kalex Moto2 P QAT POR AME SPA FRA CAT ITA NED GER GBR AUT ARA RSM EMI INA JPN AUS THA MAL SLD
Flag of Andorra.svg Xavi Cardelús 23Ret2617211623DNSRet26222723Ret2520202123031st2347th4371st
Flag of Spain.svg Arón Canet 1019DNS6Ret6RetRet24Ret2211621812342nd
Flag of Spain.svg Roberto García RetRet0NC
2025 Kalex Moto2 P THA ARG AME QAT SPA FRA GBR ARA ITA NED GER CZE AUT HUN CAT RSM JPN INA AUS MAL POR VAL
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Barry Baltus
Flag of Spain.svg Arón Canet

* Season still in progress.

See also

Notes

  1. "Fantic Fat Bike 2015 - Official Video Preview". mxlynx.blogspot.com. Archived from the original on 17 July 2023. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
  2. Skelton, Richard (2007). Funky Mopeds!: The 1970s Sports Moped Phenomenon. MBI Publishing. ISBN   978-1-84584-078-5.[ permanent dead link ] pp. 5–10.
  3. De Burton, Simon (25 January 2002). "Twist 'n' go; Power wasn't their best feature but sports mopeds had Seventies style in abundance". The Evening Standard. Archived from the original on 17 July 2023. Retrieved 5 January 2019.
  4. "MOPED OF THE DAY | FANTIC MOTOR LEI". Houston Mopeds & Custom Builds | Moped Rich. 13 August 2019. Archived from the original on 31 March 2023. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
  5. "Yamaha and Fantic Expand Strategic Partnership: Fantic To Buy Minarelli". 13 October 2020. Archived from the original on 31 March 2023. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
  6. "Berapa Milyar Duit Yang Dikucurkan Fantic Motor Sebagai Sponsor Tim Moto2 VR46 Tahun Depan ?". Archived from the original on 15 March 2023. Retrieved 15 March 2023.

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