MV Agusta 250 Bicilindrica

Last updated
MV Agusta 250 Bicilindrica
Curioseum Motorcycle MV Agusta.jpg
Manufacturer MV Agusta
Production1957–1961
Predecessor MV Agusta 250 Monocilindrica Bialbero
SuccessorNone
Class Racing motorcycle
Engine 247 cc (15 cu in) air-cooled, twin-cylinder DOHC four-stroke
Bore / stroke 53 mm × 56 mm (2.1 in × 2.2 in)
Compression ratio 10.8:1
Top speed135 mph (217 km/h)
Power 36 bhp (27 kW) at 12,000 rpm
Ignition type coil
Transmission Dry multi-plate clutch, 6 or 7 gears, chain drive
Frame type double cradle
Suspension Front: telescopic forks
Rear: swingarm with hydraulic shock absorbers
Brakes Front: 210 mm drum brake
Rear: 210 mm drum brake
Tires Front: 275 x 18
Rear 275 x 18
Wheelbase 1310 mm
Weight109 kg (dry)
Footnotes /references
[1] [2]

The MV Agusta 250 Bicilindrica was a 250 cc factory racing motorcycle manufactured by the Italian brand MV Agusta from 1957 to 1961. With this machine 11 GPs, 2 Driver Championships and 2 manufacturers World Championships were won. [1]

Contents

History

MV Agusta had started participating in road racing with motorcycles in the late 1940s and initially concentrated on the 125 and 500 cc classes. Piero Remor built the 125 "Bialbero" ("twin-cam") for the 125 cc class. The machine was subsequently bored to 175 cc because that class was still very popular in Italy and almost all major brands built production racers for it. The 175 cc machine was further bored to slightly above 200cc, so that in 1955 it was possible to compete in the 250cc class with the MV Agusta 203 Bialbero. After one race the capacity was further increased to 220cc. With that machine, Bill Lomas completed the 1955 season, finishing in third place in the World Championship. [3] MV Agusta also won the constructor's title. [4] In 1956, a new single-cylinder was developed from the 220 with a fully-fledged 250 cc engine: the MV Agusta 250 Monocilindrica Bialbero. This machine was good for the world title of 1956, but in 1957 they had to bow their heads to FB Mondial. Tarquinio Provini became world champion on the Mondial 250 Bialbero. [5]

Development

The 250 Biclindrica ("two-cylinder") was developed in the new department in Cascina Costa, a neighbourhood in the south of Samarate in response to the dominance of the Mondial 250 Bialbero. This was the first racer that MV Agusta had developed entirely by itself. The single-cylinder still had all the characteristics of the pre-war Benelli 250 and the four-cylinder models were based on the Gilera 500 4C. The machine was first used at the 1957 Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps by John Hartle, who won the race. [6] After Roberto Colombo died during practice at Spa, MV Agusta withdrew from the 250 cc class for the rest of the season, so the machine was not used again that year.

The fall of 1957 proved be a turning point for world road racing championships. All major Italian brands (Mondial, Moto Guzzi, Gilera and MV Agusta) decided to withdraw en bloc from the World Championships. The costs of racing were huge and disproportionate to the sales. [7] For Moto Guzzi and Gilera this was especially so, because their income was solely from motorcycle sales. Mondial was able to make some money with transport tricycles and for Agusta, motorcycle production was still more a hobby than a profession. Count Domenico Agusta reversed his decision and continued the racing activities. Without other factory competition for the 1958 season, MV Agusta elected to use the tried and tested single-cylinder. Tarquinio Provini won four of the six 250 cc races that season and became a world champion by a huge margin, [8] and MV won the Constructors Championship. [4]

The twin-cylinder machine was used by the works riders of Carlo Ubbiali and Tarquinio Provini for the 1959 season. Some privateers competed on the older single-cylinder machine.

Technical data

The engine was very slim. It was an air-cooled, twin-cylinder, four-stroke engine with double overhead camshafts (DOHC). The camshafts were driven by a gear train. The valves had diameters of 34 mm (inlet) and 32 mm (outlet) and had an angle of 90 ° between them. The cylinders were tilted 5 ° forward. The engine had a bore and stroke of 53 mm × 56 mm. Engine power was 36 bhp at 12,500 rpm, an improvement over the 250 single's 29 bhp. [9] That was a very high end speed for that time and many experts thought that the engine would not be reliable using so many revs. A wet sump lubrication system was used and the ignition system was by ignition coil. Two Dell'Orto SS 31 A carburetors were used. [1] [2]

A dry multi-plate was driven by gears from the crankshaft. The gearbox had six or seven gears, dependent on circuit, and was of the cassette type. Final drive was by chain. [1] [2]

The machine was extremely slim, and probably developed by Arturo Magni. The frame, a chrome molybdenum double cradle, exhibited all the characteristics of Magni's later frames. The tube diameter was 25 mm × 1.2 mm. The front fork was a telescopic fork, and the rear suspension was swingarm with hydraulic shock absorbers. 210 mm drum brakes were used front and rear, the front being [1] [2]

Results

1957

The machine was only entered in one race in 1957, the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps, which John Hartle won on the 250 Bicilindrica. [6]

1959

In the opening race of the season, the Lightweight TT, Tarquinio Provini won with Carlo Ubbiali second, less than 1/2 second behind. [10] Ubbiali won the next race at Hockenheimring, [11] followed by Provini winning at the TT Circuit Assen. [12] Ubbiali also won the final race, the Nations Grand Prix at Monza. [11] Ubbiali became world champion and Provini runner up. [13] MV Agusta won the 250 cc Constructors Championship. [4]

1960

For the 1960 season, Provini left to ride for Moto Morini [12] and was replaced by Gary Hocking. [14] Hocking convincingly won the first race of the season at the Isle of Man, Ubbiali, in second place, was over a minute behind. [15] The 1 - 2 was reversed at Assen and Spa with Ubbiali winning both. [11] [14] The situation reversed again the German GP at the Solituderennen where Hocking came out on top. [11] [14] Ubbiali won the final two rounds (Ulster and Monza) [11] and became World Champion, with Hocking runner-up. [16] MV Agusta again won the 250 cc Constructors Championship. [4]

1961

Carlo Ubbiali retired at the end of the 1960 season, [11] leaving Hocking as the sole MV Agusta rider in the 1961 season. Hocking won the first race at the Montjuïc circuit in Spain, [14] and retired in the Lightweight TT. [17] The rest of the season was dominated by Mike Hailwood on the 4-cylinder Honda RC162. [18] MV Agusta withdrew from the 250 cc class.

1966

In February 1966, Giacomo Agostini rode the machine to victory in a non-championship race in Spain. [1]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MV Agusta</span> Italian motorcycle manufacturer and racing team

MV Agusta is a high end motorcycle manufacturer founded by Count Domenico Agusta on 19 January 1945 as one of the branches of the Agusta aircraft company near Milan in Cascina Costa, Italy. The abbreviation MV stands for Meccanica (mechanics) Verghera, the hamlet where the first MVs were made. The modern headquarters and main production facilities are located in Varese, Italy on the shore of Lake Varese.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Giacomo Agostini</span> Italian motorcycle racer (born 1942)

Giacomo Agostini is an Italian former professional motorcycle road racer and racing team manager. He competed in the FIM Grand Prix motorcycle racing world championships from 1963 to 1977, most prominently as a member of the MV Agusta factory racing team. Nicknamed Ago, he amassed 122 Grand Prix wins and 15 World Championship titles. Of these, 68 wins and 8 titles came in the 500 cc class, the rest in the 350 cc class. For these achievements obtained over the course of a career spanning 17 years, the AMA described him as "...perhaps the greatest Grand Prix rider of all time". In 2000, Agostini was inducted into the MotoGP Hall of Fame as a MotoGP Legend, while in 2010, he was named an FIM Legend for his motorcycling achievements.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mondial (motorcycle manufacturer)</span>

FB Mondial is a motorcycle manufacturer, founded in 1929, in Milan, Italy. They are best known for their domination of Motorcycle World Championships between 1949 and 1957. The firm produced some of the most advanced and successful Grand Prix road racers of the time, winning five rider and five manufacturer World Championships in that short period.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gary Hocking</span> Welsh-born Rhodesian motorcycle racer and racing driver (1937–1962)

Gary Stuart Hocking MBE was a Rhodesian former professional motorcycle road and car racer. He competed in the FIM Grand Prix motorcycle racing world championships from 1958 to 1962, most prominently as a member of the MV Agusta factory racing team where he won the 1961 250cc and 350cc world championships.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phil Read</span> English motorcycle racer (1939–2022)

Phillip William Read, was an English professional motorcycle racer. He competed in Grand Prix motorcycle racing from 1961 to 1976. Read is notable for being the first competitor to win world championships in the 125 cc, 250 cc and 500 cc classes. Although he was often overshadowed by his contemporary, Mike Hailwood, he won seven FIM Grand Prix road racing world championships.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carlo Ubbiali</span> Italian motorcycle racer (1929–2020)

Carlo Ubbiali was an Italian nine-time World Champion motorcycle road racer. In the 1950s, he was a dominant force in the smaller classes of Grand Prix motorcycle racing, winning six 125cc and three 250cc world titles. In 2001, the F.I.M. inducted Ubbiali into the MotoGP Hall of Fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1958 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season</span> Sports season

The 1958 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the tenth F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix season. The season consisted of seven Grand Prix races in five classes: 500cc, 350cc, 250cc, 125cc and Sidecars 500cc. It began on 6 June, with Isle of Man TT and ended with Nations Grand Prix in Italy on 14 September.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leslie Graham</span> British motorcycle racer

Robert Leslie Graham was a British motorcycle road racer who competed in the 1930s and 1940s. He won the inaugural Grand Prix motorcycle racing 500 cc World Championship in 1949.

The 1957 Isle of Man Tourist Trophy was the Golden Jubilee event and the second race in the 1957 Motorcycle World Championships.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tarquinio Provini</span> Italian motorcycle racer (1933–2005)

Tarquinio Provini was an Italian professional Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. He was a two-time world champion in road racing. Provini was also a four-time Isle of Man TT winner and won 13 Italian national championships.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cecil Sandford</span> British motorcycle racer (1928–2023)

Cecil Charles Sandford was a British professional Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. He competed in the FIM motorcycle Grand Prix world championships from 1950 to 1957. Sandford was a two-time FIM road racing world champion and a two-time winner at the Isle of Man TT.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MV Agusta 500 Three</span> Type of motorcycle

The MV Agusta 500cc Three (1965–1973) or MV Agusta Tre was a road racing motorcycle produced by the Italian manufacturer MV Agusta to compete in the 500 cc Grand Prix motorcycle racing World Championship. The motorcycle was introduced in 1966 to compete against the ever competitive Honda racing machines and was a bored out version of MV Agusta's highly successful 350 cc three cylinder. Giacomo Agostini won consecutive world championships in the 500 cc class with this motorbike from 1966 to 1972. In addition, MV Agusta won the Constructors' World Championships from 1967 to 1972. The MV Agusta Tre is considered the most successful racing motorcycle in history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MV Agusta 500 racers</span> Motorcycles used to compete in 500cc Grand Prix motorcycle racing series

The MV Agusta 500cc road racers were motorcycles that the manufacturer MV Agusta built and which were used to compete in 500cc Grand Prix motorcycle racing series between 1950 and 1976. 18 500cc world championship titles were achieved with these machines ridden by John Surtees, Gary Hocking, Mike Hailwood, Giacomo Agostini and Phil Read between 1958 and 1974.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MV Agusta 350 racers</span> Type of motorcycle

The MV Agusta 350 cc racers were motorcycles produced by MV Agusta between 1954 and 1976 and raced in the 350 cc motorcycle GP championships. 10 world titles were achieved by riders John Surtees, Gary Hocking and Giacomo Agostini on these machines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MV Agusta 350 Six</span> Type of motorcycle

The MV Agusta 350 6 cilindri was a prototype racing motorcycle built by the Varese company MV Agusta in 1957, for the 350 cc class of the FIM Motorcycle World Championship. The project was resurrected in 1968. Neither version was ever used in a race. The only surviving model is now in the MV Agusta factory museum.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MV Agusta 250 Monocilindrica Bialbero</span> Type of motorcycle

The MV Agusta 250 Monocilindrica Bialbero was a 250 cc factory racer manufactured by the Italian brand MV Agusta from 1956 to 1959. With this machine 15 GPs, 2 Driver Championships and 2 manufacturers World Championships were won.

The MV Agusta 203 Bialbero and MV Agusta 220 Bialbero were Italian factory racing motorcycles made by MV Agusta to compete in the 1955 250 cc World Motorcycle Racing Championship. The machine won three GPs and with it MV Agusta won that year's 250 cc Constructors Championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MV Agusta 125 Bialbero</span> Italian motorcycle

The MV Agusta 125 Bialbero was a 125 cc factory racer from the Italian brand MV Agusta, which was used between 1950 and 1960. The machine won 34 GPs, 6 rider's championships and one manufacturer's championship. The machine also won 4 Italian Championships and 10 National Championships in other countries.

Arturo Magni was an Italian engineer racing team manager and entrepreneur.

Piero Remor was an Italian engineer and motorcycle constructor, best known for his work for the Gilera and MV Agusta brands.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "MV Agusta Corse 250 Bicilindrica". www.mv-agusta-club.de (in German). MV Agusta Club Deutschland. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "250 Bialbero Bicilindrico". www.mvagustaoldtimers.nl. MVagusta-Oldtimers. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  3. ↑ "motogp.com · 250cc World Standing 1955". www.motogp.com. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Overwinningen". www.mvagustaoldtimers.nl (in Dutch). MVagusta-Oldtimers. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
  5. ↑ "motogp.com · 250cc World Standing 1957". www.motogp.com. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  6. 1 2 "John Hartle career statistics". motogp.com. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
  7. ↑ "History of the MotoGP". Devitt Insurance. 2 February 2017. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
  8. ↑ "motogp.com · 250cc World Standing 1958". www.motogp.com. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
  9. ↑ "MV Agusta Corse 203 - 220 - 250 Monocilindrica 1955-1959". www.mv-agusta-club.de (in German). MV Agusta Club Deutschland. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
  10. ↑ "Race Results - 1959 Lightweight TT". www.iomtt.com. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Carlo Ubbiali career statistics". motogp.com. Archived from the original on 1 October 2017. Retrieved 28 December 2010.
  12. 1 2 "Tarquinio Provini career statistics at MotoGP.com". Archived from the original on 2021-02-14. Retrieved 2019-06-19.
  13. ↑ "motogp.com · 250cc World Standing 1959". www.motogp.com. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  14. 1 2 3 4 "Gary Hocking career statistics at MotoGP.com". Archived from the original on 2020-05-05. Retrieved 2019-06-19.
  15. ↑ "Race Results - iomtt.com: The World's #1 TT Website". www.iomtt.com. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  16. ↑ "motogp.com · 250cc World Standing 1960". www.motogp.com. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  17. ↑ "Race Results - 1961 Lightweight TT". www.iomtt.com. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  18. ↑ "Mike Hailwood career statistics at MotoGP.com". Archived from the original on 2020-05-17. Retrieved 2019-06-19.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.