Count Domenico Agusta never released technical data of his machines and personnel, technical staff and riders were forbidden to divulge anything about the machines. Because a number of newer machines were later sold through auctions, data is known about these, but the machines from the early years sometimes remain a mystery. Of the original 350 4C is really only known that it was a reduced version of the MV Agusta 500 4C. Designer Piero Remor initially provided that machine with experimental and often useless technology, but rider Leslie Graham made some improvements. In 1953 that machine had a telescopic forks and a double cradle frame. It had a Four-stroketransversein-line four-cylinder engine with DOHC with two valves per cylinder.
Bill Lomas and Dickie Dale received MV Agustas for the 500 cc Senior TT on the Isle of Man, but also started with the 350 cc version in the Junior TT. It was not a success: Lomas was only 7th and Dale was 25th. For the time being, MV Agusta still had to bow to the AJS 7R and the Norton Manx.[2]
1955
In 1955 the 350 cc MV Agustas did not start in GPs, possibly because they were concentrating on the 250 cc class.
Surtees drove the MV Agusta 350 four-cylinder in almost all the 1957 GPs,[8] but the machine was hopelessly unreliable. He finished fourth in the Junior TT,[9] but dropped out in five other GPs.[8] He finished 10th in the Championship.[10]
1958
At the end of 1957, the Italian brands Gilera, FB Mondial, Moto Guzzi and MV Agusta announced that they would stop road racing. Racing was simply too expensive, especially for the companies that had to live off motorcycle sales.[11] For Count Domenico Agusta however, the situation was different. He earned his money by building helicopters and motorcycles were just a hobby. With the loss of the biggest competitors (the British brands had stopped earlier), the fortunes for MV Agusta turned. The development of new prototypes was stopped, because it was clear that the four-cylinder MV Agusta would now be strong enough for the world title. That turned out to be the case in 1958: the brand won all the world titles in the solo classes, including the manufacturer's titles. Surtees won all six 350 cc races he started in,[8] and won the championship. John Hartle was runner-up in the world championship as MV's second rider.[12]
1959
In 1959 John Surtees won all six of the GPs[8] and the Championship. Again his teammate John Hartle was runner-up in the world championship.[13]
1960
The 1960 season was exciting due to the battle between the two teammates from MV Agusta, John Surtees and Gary Hocking. Both riders finished with 22 points. They both had two wins and one second place. Surtees had also achieved third place,[8] which made Surtees world champion.[14] At the end of the season John Surtees left to pursue a Formula One career.[15]
1961
In 1961, Gary Hocking was the sole rider for MV Agusta in the 350 cc class. He skipped the first race (Germany) but then started collecting points. He was second in the Junior TT,[16] and this was followed by victories in the Netherlands, the GDR, Ulster and Italy. He missed the last Grand Prix in Sweden,[8] as his world title was already won by then.[17]
1962
In 1961 Honda had not competed in the 350 cc class, but for the 1962 season the Honda RC 162 was bored out to 284.5 cc and designated RC 170.[18]Bob McIntyre and Tom Phillis rode the machine in the Junior TT. Phillis crashed during that race and McIntyre retired. Mike Hailwood won the race with the MV Agusta.[19] He was second in the TT of Assen and the Grand Prix of the GDR, but the Hondas won all the races and Jim Redman (Honda) became world champion ahead of Tommy Robb (Honda) and Mike Hailwood (MV Agusta).[20]
1963
Honda took a step back in 1963 and no new models were introduced. After the Ulster GP the mechanics were called back to Japan.[21] Hailwood then won in the GDR and in Finland, but by then the world title was already decided in favour of Jim Redman and Honda.[22]
1964
In 1964, MV Agusta focused primarily on the 500 cc class, where there was still no significant opposition. In the 350 cc class, Hailwood only started in Assen where he finished second.[8]
MV Agusta 350 3C 1965–1973
In 1965 the new three-cylinder MV Agusta appeared. Count Agusta had wanted a 350 cc three-cylinder because he was impressed by the three-cylinder two-stroke DKW RM 350. Arturo Magni and designer Mario Rossi tried to dissuade him, but the count insisted.[23] He even suggested adding an extra cylinder to the MV Agusta 250 Bicilindrica. When the three-cylinder engine seemed ready, Count Agusta was displeased because there were only two valves per cylinder. Within a week the technicians converted the engine to four valves per cylinder and that immediately yielded an extra 6 horsepower. In 1966 a version with the engine enlarged to 420 cc was produced for the 500 cc class.
In 1965 MV Agusta used the new 350 three-cylinder engine, but reliability was a problem. MV had two top drivers: Mike Hailwood and Giacomo Agostini, who took points off each other, while Honda put everything on Jim Redman. In the first 350 cc race of 1965 at the Nürburgring, Agostini won ahead of his teammate Hailwood and Gustav Havel on a Jawa, while Redman (Honda) crashed in the rain and broke his collarbone.[25] During the Junior TT, Redman was out for his third win in a row, but Hailwood led by 20 seconds after the opening round with the new MV three-cylinder. He then made a long pit stop, allowing Redman to take the lead. The MV Agusta of Hailwood stopped at Sarah's Cottage on the fourth lap, giving Redman the win. Phil Read was second with the 250 cc Yamaha and Agostini took third place after Derek Woodman with the MZ had dropped out on the final lap.[26]
In Assen, Redman won again, with Hailwood in second and Agostini in third. In East Germany, both Hailwood and Agostini dropped out. Redman won the race, Woodman (MZ) came in second and Havel came in third (Jawa). In Czechoslovakia, both MV Agustas dropped out again. Redman won again from Woodman. After two races without points, MV Agusta didn't enter the 350 cc race at the Ulster Grand Prix. In retrospect, this turned out to have been a major mistake as Honda did not enter either. MV Agusta didn't intend on travelling to the Finnish Grand Prix, but when Redman broke his collarbone again in Ulster,[25] MV seized the advantage and took part. Agostini won the 350 cc race ahead of Honda's second man Bruce Beale. Honda blundered by letting Redman know that there would be no motorcycles at Monza, so he stayed in his native Rhodesia. In the end it turned out that a 350 cc Honda was ready for Redman in Monza, but it remained on the sidelines.[25] Agostini won the race, which started dry. It rained in the final laps, causing Hailwood to fall. Just like in the 125cc class, two drivers were on 32 points before the start of the 350 cc race in Suzuka: Jim Redman and Giacomo Agostini. An exciting race for the world title was expected, but Agostini's engine started running poorly due to a broken Contact breaker spring.[25] Hailwood took the lead and Redman was content to follow having been stung above his eye by a bee just before the start and his eye was almost closed.[25] Second place was enough for Redman to win the world title.[27]
1966
Mike Hailwood switched to Honda for 1966.[28] At the season open race in the 350 cc class, the German Grand Prix at Hockenheimring, Giacomo Agostini retired and Mike Hailwood won on the Honda RC 173. In France, Hailwood won again, with Agostini 20 seconds behind. At Assen, Hailwood set a new lap record in practice, a full second faster than his own record lap from 1965 that he had set on a 500 cc MV Agusta. In the race, in conditions of rain and wind, Hailwood won with Agostini 45.2 seconds behind. In the GDR, Hailwood was entered in the 250, 350 and 500 cc classes. This would have involved riding more than 500km in one day, which was not allowed. Hailwood had to replace the Jim Redman in the 500 cc class and, because he had won all the previous races in the 350 cc class, he dropped this class. Agostini won the race comfortably without the opposition from Honda.
A close battle between Hailwood and Agostini took place in Czechoslovakia, with Hailwood eventually coming out on top. The 350 cc race in Imatra, Finland, was won by Hailwood, while Agostini dropped out. The 350 cc Ulster Grand Prix started in the rain and Hailwood won comfortably. With this victory, Hailwood had secured his seventh world title.[29] The Hailwood Honda did not go well during the Junior TT. At Ballacraine, 13km into the race, he was overtaken by Agostini who started 20 seconds after him. Agostini won the race.[30] At Monza, Hailwood didn't start and Agostini won his 3rd victory of the season.[3]
1967
Only MV Agusta and Benelli brought full 350 cc machines into the 1967 season. Honda used the RC 174, a 250 cc six-cylinder bored to 297 cc.[31] Hailwood won the German 350 cc Grand Prix with Giacomo Agostini almost a minute behind on his MV Agusta. After the first lap of the Junior TT, Hailwood had 48 seconds over Agostini, and by the end of the race more than three minutes lead.[32] Hailwood won again in Assen, at the Sachsenring and at Brno securing the world title.[33] In Ulster, Hailwood concentrated on the classes in which he was not yet a world champion, the 250 and 500 cc, and Ralph Bryans rode his six-cylinder Honda. Bryans led for five laps, but was passed by Agostini, who quickly established a lead. Now that the title had been decided in favour of Honda, the 350 cc race at Monza was more for the Italian honour for Agostini and Renzo Pasolini (Benelli). They fought a hard fight, but for second place as Ralph Bryans was already way out in front on the Honda. Agostini did not start in Japan.[3]
1968
Honda withdrew from racing after the 1967 season[31] and again, as in 1958, MV Agusta had little opposition in the 1968 season. Honda had paid Hailwood £50,000 not to ride for another team.[28] Renzo Pasolini on the Benelli was the nearest competitor, but Agostini won all seven Grands Prix, sometimes lapping the whole field.[34]
1969
In 1969 Yamaha had its TR 2 ready, but the machine did not pose a threat to Agostini with his MV Agusta. Bill Ivy started the new Jawa 350 cc V4.[35] The Jawa was fast, but less reliable and Ivy crashed and was killed during practice for the DDR.[36] Agostini won the first eight races, but because Count Agusta did not agree with the move of the GP des Nations to Imola, he did not ride there.[8] This allowed Phil Read to win on the Yamaha.[37] In Opatija, Agostini didn't start and Silvio Grassetti won on the Jawa V4.[38]
1970
MV Agusta was dominant in the 1970 season. Agostini won all races in the 350 and 500 cc classes except the last race in Spain.[39] His new teammate Angelo Bergamonti won both classes there.[40]
1971
The 1971 season started sadly for MV Agusta, when Angelo Bergamonti was killed in a crash during the spring race in Riccione.[41] Agostini won in Austria, Germany, the Netherlands, the GDR, Finland and Sweden. His machine suffered breakdowns at the Isle of Man TT, Czechoslovakia and in Italy (where Alberto Pagani rode the machines that had been intended for Angelo Bergamonti).[42] Agostini did not compete at Ulster and Spain, but his six wins gave him the championship.[43] Yamaha were beginning to mount a strong challenge in the form of Jarno Saarinen in the new Yamaha TR3. His first 350 cc Grand Prix was in Czechoslovakia after Agostini's motorcycle had a mechanical failure.[44][45] He then finished second to Agostini in the Finnish Grand Prix before winning the Nations Grand Prix in Italy. Saarinen finished second to Agostini in the 350 cc Championship.[44]
MV Agusta 350 4C 1972–1976
With the two-stroke Yamahas rapidly challenging MV Agusta's dominance, more power was needed from the engine.[8] The three cylinder engine was at the limit of its development, so leading engineer Ruggero Mazza designed an ultra-short-stroke (54 x 38mm) inline-four that safely revved to 16,500 rpm. To offset the weight of the complex engine compared to the simpler Yamaha twins, the cycle parts were made as light as possible. The frame, designed by Arturo Magni was made of titanium. Magnesium forks were sourced from Ceriani and magnesium cast wheels from Morris. Disc brakes were used front and rear.[46]
The 1972 season did not start well for MV Agusta. In the opening race Germany, Agostini was defeated by Saarinen in a direct head-to-head. With his new water-cooled Yamaha YZ 634, Saarinen set a new absolute lap record.[47] In France, the difference in weight between the water-cooled Yamaha YZ 634 (approx. 90 kilos) and the MV Agusta 350 3C (approx. 140 kilos). Saarinen won and Teuvo Länsivuori on an air-cooled Yamaha TR 3 finished second,[48] 1½ minutes behind Saarinen. Renzo Pasolini on the Aermacchi-Harley-Davidson was third[49] and Agostini forth. He took his loss, however, sportingly, but stated that the three-cylinder MV Agusta had become too slow.
After two wins for Yamaha, Agostini came to Austria with the new MV Agusta 350 4C. In the race, the Saarinen's engine lost some power, leaving him in fourth place. Agostini won the race. MV Agusta hired Phil Read to support Agostini in Imola. Agostini won the race, but the star of the race for the Italian home crowd was Renzo Pasolini on the Aermacchi-Harley-Davidson. Pasolini had a bad start and was tenth after the first lap, but fought through the field to finish second. Read finished fourth. In the Junior TT, where Saarinen refused to ride due to the risks, Agostini led from start to finish, while his team-mate Phil Read dropped out on the second lap with shift problems.[50] Both MV drivers rode the three-cylinder machines.
Agostini dropped out in the Yugoslavia GP. Phil Read finished the race, but could not keep up with the Yamaha TR 3 of the HungarianJános Drapál.[51] Read finished third. In Assen, Agostini won after a fight with Drapál, Pasolini and Read. (Agostini was on the four-cylinder, Read on the three-cylinder). Agostini dropped out in the GDR, but Phil Read now also had a four-cylinder MV Agusta at his disposal and won,[37] setting a new lap record. His time was the same as that of Agostini in the 500 cc race.
In Brno, Agostini fell, leaving Read in the lead. Saarinen passed Read to win the race.[44] In Anderstorp, Agostini and Read fought hard in the first laps against Jarno Saarinen. Agostini took the lead and retained it throughout the race. Agostini's sixth win in Finland gave him the 1972 world title, with Saarinen in second place.[52]
1973
For 1973, Phil Read was given contract with MV Agusta, but as No 2 rider to Agostini. Yamaha withdrew from the 350 cc class, concentrating on the 250 and 500 cc classes with Jarno Saarinen and Hideo Kanaya, but when Saarinen died in Monza,[45] the factory team was withdrawn.[53] Some privateers contested the 350 cc class with Yamaha TZ 350s. Due to the poor reliability of the MV Agusta 350 4C, even in 1973, the team sometimes rode the "old" three-cylinder.
Agostini led the opening race in France race from start to finish Phil Read came second. Although it had been sunny in Austria during practice, race day was wet. Phil Read retired because of a problem with his visor.[54] Agostini built up a large lead over János Drapál, but on the penultimate lap the MV Agusta stopped due to water in the ignition, giving the victory to Drapál.[51] In Germany, the Harley-Davidson factory team was missing, working hard on getting water-cooled machines ready. In the practice sessions private driver John Dodds (Yamaha TZ 350) was fastest. In the race Read fell on the fifth lap and on the eleventh lap the same happened to Agostini whilst he was in the lead. Teuvo Länsivuori won the race.[48]
The 350 cc race in Monza was initially quite exciting. The Harley-Davidson team had skipped the German GP to work on the new water-cooled machines and that paid off: Pasolini was less than a second slower than Agostini in practice. The race was initially led by Agostini and Read, but Read went into the pit with a bad running engine and Agostini won. Read, Agostini and Länsivuoridid not race in Yugoslavia,[55] where János Drapál won.[51] The 350 cc race in Assen led to a great fight between Agostini, Read and Länsivuori, until the latter had problems with his gearbox and had to quit. Agostini won with a 0.1 second lead over Read and Länsivuori was still third. Länsivuori won the 350 cc GP of Czechoslovakia with a big lead over Agostini and Read and also in Sweden, Länsivuori won,[48] while Agostini came in second and Phil Read third. In Imatra, Agostini used the four-cylinder again. Teuvo Länsivuori had to win this race to still have a chance of winning the world title, but he was expertly kept in third place by Phil Read, who thus allowed Agostini to stay on top. In the end Länsivuori fell on the 9th lap and so Agostini was able to grab first place and the 350 cc world title.[56]
1974
Giacomo Agostini left for the Yamaha team at the end of 1973 and Phil Read became No 1 at MV Agusta.[8] He was supported by Franco Bonera, but only in the 500 cc class. MV Agusta started the first three races in the 350 cc class, but withdrew from the fourth race, the GP des Nations. The MV Agusta 350 4C was considered uncompetitive and a new machine that was under development was by no means ready. Read did not finish in any race and MV Agusta remained without points in the 350 cc class.[57]
Giacomo Agostini on the 350 cc MV Agusta during practice for the 1976 West German Grand Prix at the Nürburgring.
1975
In 1975 the MV Agusta 350 cc racers were not entered.
1976
For the 1976 opening race in France, Agostini had a 350 cc Yamaha hastily brought from Amsterdam. The MV had failed the new noise limit of dB(A) (the MV was measured at 132dB(A)). The FIM admitted, however, that this new rule had been announced too late, giving the MV Agusta a little respite. The machine almost never reached the finish. In France a stone hit the distributor cap, in Austria the clutch slipped, in Italy, Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia and Germany, Ago stopped for unknown reasons and in Finland the ignition broke down. The organisation had even done everything there to get the MV Agusta through the noise inspection. A false statement of the team's bore / stroke ratio was then accepted, while it was still fairly well-known: 54 x 38mm. As a result, the measurement was carried out at a specific corrected piston speed at 7,000 rpm, while that should have been 10,000 rpm. The measurement was 113dB(A) and MV Agusta claimed a power loss of 3hp. The only time the MV scored points that season was Agostini's win in Assen.[39] At the end of the season, MV Agusta announced it would stop road racing.[58]
Prototypes
MV Agusta 350 6C GP, 1969
In 1957, MV Agusta developed two prototypes for the 350 cc class, a six-cylinder and a two-cylinder. Nello Pagani rode the six-cylinder unsuccessfully in the last race of 1957, the GP des Nations at Monza. The two-cylinder was never raced.
The six-cylinder in- line engine was a logical development because MV Agusta built a 500 cc version in response to the Moto Guzzi Otto Cilindri. The machine provided enough power, but this did not outweigh the extra weight. The machine had a six-cylinder in-line engine with only two valves per cylinder. The air-cooled six-cylinder engine still had double overhead camshafts and a double cradle frame, the lower tubes of which could be detached for easy removal of the engine block.
MV Agusta 350 2C 1957
A completely different techniques were used with the 350 cc two-cylinder, especially with regard to the frame. This machine had a trellis frame that consisted of triangular constructions of thin tubes, and where the engine was a structural part. The cylinders leaned sharply forward and the machine used the old-fashioned Earles front fork again, probably because using the same thin tubes it was lighter than a telescopic fork. By applying two external flywheels, the engine block could be made compact and strong. The engine also had a dry-sump system and delivered around 47hp at 12,000 rpm.
In 1968 they wanted to continue developing the six-cylinder engine, but the FIM ruled that from now on the 350 and 500 cc racers should not have more than four cylinders. A prototype was built, this time with four valves per cylinder, but that could not be used in the world championship. Sometimes the drivers did practice on it: in 1971 both Giacomo Agostini and Angelo Bergamonti did that in the spring race in Modena.
Grand Prix motorcycle racing is the highest class of motorcycle road racing events held on road circuits sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM). Independent motorcycle racing events have been held since the start of the twentieth century and large national events were often given the title Grand Prix. The foundation of the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme as the international governing body for motorcycle sport in 1949 provided the opportunity to coordinate rules and regulations in order that selected events could count towards official World Championships. It is the oldest established motorsport world championship.
Stanley Michael Bailey Hailwood was a British racing driver and motorcycle road racer, who competed in Grand Prix motorcycle racing from 1958 to 1967, and Formula One between 1963 and 1974. Nicknamed "The Bike", Hailwood was a nine-time Grand Prix motorcycle World Champion, with four titles in the premier 500cc class with MV Agusta, and won 76 motorcycle Grands Prix across 10 seasons.
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.
Jarno Karl Keimo Saarinen was a Finnish professional Motorcycle racer. He competed in the FIM Grand Prix motorcycle racing world championships from 1968 to 1971 as Yamaha privateer, before receiving the Yamaha factory's full support in 1972 and 1973. In the early 1970s, he was considered one of the most promising and talented motorcycle road racers of his era until he was killed during the 1973 Nations Grand Prix in Italy. Saarinen's death led to increased demands for better safety conditions for motorcycle racers competing in the world championships. He remains the only Finn to have won a solo motorcycle road racing world championship. Saarinen was inducted into the F.I.M. MotoGP Hall of Fame in 2009.
The 1967 Isle of Man Tourist Trophy was a motorcycle road racing event held on the 37-mile Snaefell Mountain course on the Isle of Man. Five races, in different engine capacity classes of 50, 125, 250, 350 and the 500 cc Senior TT, made up the second round of the FIM World Grand Prix motorcycling championship season. Mike Hailwood, on the four-cylinder Honda RC181, duelled with Giacomo Agostini's MV Agusta 500 Three.
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.
The 1964 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 16th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix season. The season consisted of twelve Grand Prix races in six classes: 500cc, 350cc, 250cc, 125cc, 50cc and Sidecars 500cc. It began on 2 February, with United States Grand Prix and ended with Japanese Grand Prix on 1 November.
The 1965 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 17th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix season. The season consisted of thirteen Grand Prix races in six classes: 500cc, 350cc, 250cc, 125cc, 50cc and Sidecars 500cc. It began on 21 March, with United States Grand Prix and ended with Japanese Grand Prix on October, 24.
The 1966 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 18th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix season. The season consisted of twelve Grand Prix races in six classes: 500cc, 350cc, 250cc, 125cc, 50cc and Sidecars 500cc. It began on 8 May, with Spanish Grand Prix and ended with Japanese Grand Prix on 17 October.
Robert MacGregor McIntyre was a Scottish motorcycle racer. The first rider to achieve an average speed of 100 mph (160 km/h) for one lap of the Snaefell Mountain Course in 1957, McIntyre is also remembered for his five motorcycle Grand Prix wins which included three wins at the Isle of Man TT races, and four victories in the North West 200. He died nine days after injuries sustained racing at Oulton Park, Cheshire, England in August 1962.
John Cooper is an English former professional motorcycle racer and garage proprietor. He participated in British short-circuit motorcycle road racing during the 1960s and early 1970s. He also entered selected world championship Grands Prix motorcycle races. Cooper's motorcycle racing career extended over almost 20 years, mostly as a privateer rider, before experiencing his greatest achievements during the final three years of his career, most prominently at the 1971 Mallory Park Race of the Year, when he defeated the reigning 500cc world champion, Giacomo Agostini for a surprising upset victory.
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.
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.
The MV Agusta 500 four-cylinder (1973–1976) was a racing motorcycle manufactured by the Italian company MV Agusta, for competing in the 500 cc series, the premier class of the FIM World Motorcycle Championship. With this motorcycle MV Agusta won the 1973 constructor's world champion and Phil Read won the 1973 and 1974 500 cc riders world championships.
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.
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.
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 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 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.
↑ The problems with Read's vision have been questioned.
↑ A controversial decision by MV team principal Magni. He was not convinced of the safety of the track, although it had been approved by a delegation of four drivers, including Agostini.
Burgers, Jan; Burgers, Hetty; Weeink, Frank (2002). Continental circus: the races and the places, the people and the faces: pictures and stories from the early seventies (2nded.). Mastix Press. ISBN978-90-818639-5-7.
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