MV Agusta 250 Monocilindrica Bialbero

Last updated
MV Agusta 250 Monocilindrica Bialbero
MV Agusta 250cc No54 noBG.jpg
MV Agusta 250 Monocilindrica Bialbero
Manufacturer MV Agusta
Production1956–1959
Predecessor MV Agusta 220 Bialbero
Successor MV Agusta 250 Bicilindrica
Class Racing motorcycle
Engine 248.2 cc air-cooled, single-cylinder DOHC four-stroke
Bore / stroke 72.6 mm × 60 mm
Compression ratio 10:1
Top speed125 mph (201 km/h)
Power 29 bhp (22 kW) at 9800 rpm
Ignition type coil
Transmission Wet multi-plate clutch, 5 gears, chain drive
Frame type double cradle
Suspension Front: telescopic forks
Rear: swingarm with hydraulic shock absorbers
Brakes Front: 220 mm drum brake
Rear: 180 mm drum brake
Tires Front: 250 x 19
Rear 275 x 19
Wheelbase 1230 mm
Weight96 kg (dry)
Footnotes /references
[1]

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 [2] [3] and 2 manufacturers World Championships [4] were won.

Contents

Evolution

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. [5] MV Agusta also won the constructor's title. [4] In 1956 the machine was finally further developed into a fully-fledged 250cc racer, but that was not possible by further boring of the cylinder, so the stroke was increased from 56 mm to 60 mm. [1]

Technical

The engine was an air-cooled, single-cylinder, four-stroke engine with double overhead camshafts (DOHC). The camshafts were driven by a gear train. The valves were at an angle of 90° to each other and were closed by hairpin valve springs. The bore and stroke were 72.6 mm × 60 mm, giving an engine displacement of 248.2 cc. A Dell'Orto SS 25 A carburetor was used. [1]

A Wet multi-plate was driven by gears from the crankshaft. The machine had five speeds. The rear wheel was driven by a chain. [1]

The MV Agusta had a double cradle frame that was constructed from chrome molybdenum tubes with a diameter of 25 mm × 1.2 mm. The front fork was a telescopic fork, and the rear suspension was swingarm with hydraulic shock absorbers. [1]

Results

The machine was successful that year's championship: Carlo Ubbiali won five of the six GPs (in the Ulster Grand Prix he set the fastest lap but subsequently retired). [6] Ubbiali was world champion and second in the championship was Luigi Taveri also riding an MV Agusta. [2] MV's dominance in the 250cc class was helped by lack of competition from other factories. Moto Guzzi (third with Enrico Lorenzetti) had already stopped developing the 250 Bialbero in 1955, [7] NSU (fifth with Horst Kassner) had withdrawn its factory team at the end of 1955 after the deaths of Rupert Hollaus and Gustav Baumm, [8] and Kassner rode with an NSU Sportmax production racer. ČZ machines were by no means at the level of the Western brands, František Bartoš was only twelfth. [2]

In 1957 the fortunes for MV Agusta changed. First, Mondial appeared with the 250 Bialbero and two top drivers: Cecil Sandford, who was the 1952 125 cc Champion, [9] and brought experience to the team, and Tarquinio Provini, who was only 23 years old but very talented. The season started well for MV Agusta: Carlo Ubbiali won the first Grand Prix at the Hockenheimring and his teammate Roberto Colombo came in second. In the Lightweight TT, Taveri and Colombo came in second and third behind Sandford, while Provini set the fastest lap. Ubbiali and Provini dropped out. [10] In Assen the MVs did not start. Provini won convincingly, ahead of Sandford and Sammy Miller. Remarkably, MV Agusta dropped this race, Colombo was there, but only started in the 125cc class, in which he finished second. Roberto Colombo died following an accident during practice for Spa-Francorchamps when he was using the MV Agusta 350 4C. [11] MV withdrew from the 250 cc class for the rest of the season. However, John Hartle, on an experimental twin-cylinder MV Agusta still raced in Spa and won. [12] Roberto Colombo was posthumously the best 250 cc MV driver that season. He finished fourth in the Championship, Ubbiali came fifth. [13]

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. [14] 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. In 1958, MV Agusta was the only remaining top racing marque competing, so could engage the top drivers of the time: John Surtees and John Hartle in the 350 and 500 cc classes and Tarquinio Provini and Carlo Ubbiali in the 125 cc and 250 cc classes. Provini won four of the six 250 cc races that season and became a world champion by a huge margin, [3] and MV won the Constructors Championship. [4]

The machine was still used in 1959 by privateers, but the factory riders had the new MV Agusta 250 Bicilindrica, on which John Hartle had already won in Belgium in 1957.

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">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">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.

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">Lino Tonti</span> Italian motorcycle designer (1920–2002)

Lino Tonti was an Italian motorcycle engineer known for designing a number of sport and racing motorcycles in the 1950s and 1960s, and for creating his signature 'Tonti frame' for Moto Guzzi's 1971 V7 Sport, setting his stamp on all Moto Guzzis since.

<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 500 Six</span> Italian prototype racing motorcycle

The MV Agusta 500 6 cilindri was a prototype racing motorcycle built by the Varese company MV Agusta in 1957. Only one prototype was made.

<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 Bicilindrica</span> 250 cc factory racer manufactured by the Italian brand MV Agusta

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.

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 175 series</span> Series of Italian motorcycles

The MV Agusta 175 were a series of motorcycles produced by the Italian manufacturer MV Agusta from 1953 to 1960. The series included touring, GT, sports and supersports models. There were also two racing variants. Because of the shape of the petrol tank, the sports and supersport models became known as the Disco Volante. The series was MV's best seller.

<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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MV Agusta 125 Pullman</span> Type of motorcycle

The MV Agusta 125 Pullman was a motorcycle produced by the Italian manufacturer MV Agusta from 1953 to 1956. The model achieved a good sales success, and had the highest production of any machine from MV Agusta. Many brought the bike as the only means of family transport or as a work vehicle. Despite the questionable aesthetics, the Pullman offered a comfortable ride, derived by the driving position, soft suspension and large section tires. This was particularly appreciated by users, so much so that they were imitated by some competitors. 27,000 machines of this model series were produced. The model was also produced under licence in Spain by Avello, where it was marketed as the MV Avello 125 Pullman Turismo.

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 "MV Agusta Corse 203 - 220 - 250 Monocilindrica 1955-1959". www.mv-agusta-club.de (in German). MV Agusta Club Deutschland. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
  2. 1 2 3 "motogp.com · 250cc World Standing 1956". www.motogp.com. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
  3. 1 2 "motogp.com · 250cc World Standing 1958". www.motogp.com. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
  4. 1 2 3 "Overwinningen". www.mvagustaoldtimers.nl (in Dutch). MVagusta-Oldtimers. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
  5. ↑ "motogp.com · 250cc World Standing 1955". www.motogp.com. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
  6. ↑ Cook 1957.
  7. ↑ Cook 1956.
  8. ↑ "Rupert Hollaus". www.motorsportmemorial.org. Motorsport Memorial. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
  9. ↑ "motogp.com · 125cc World Standing 1952". www.motogp.com. Archived from the original on 24 June 2019. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
  10. ↑ The Motor-Cycle dated 13 June 1957.
  11. ↑ "Roberto Colombo". Motorsport Memorial. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
  12. ↑ "John Hartle career statistics". motogp.com. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
  13. ↑ "motogp.com · 250cc World Standing 1957". www.motogp.com. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
  14. ↑ "History of the MotoGP". Devitt Insurance. 2 February 2017. Retrieved 18 June 2019.

Bibliography

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.