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MV Agusta 250 Bicilindrica

From Alfawiki
MV Agusta
Company typePrivate
IndustryMotorcycle manufacturing
Founded1945; 81 years ago (1945)
Headquarters
Samarate
,
Italy
ProductsMotorcycles


Template:Infobox motorcycle

The MV Agusta 250 Bicilindrica was a factory-built racing motorcycle with a 250 cc displacement, produced by the Italian manufacturer MV Agusta between 1957 and 1961. This model secured 11 Grand Prix victories along with two rider world championships and two constructors’ world titles.[1]

History

MV Agusta entered the realm of Grand Prix motorcycle racing in the late 1940s, initially focusing on the 125 cc and 500 cc categories. Engineer Piero Remor designed the 125 "Bialbero" ("twin-cam") for the smallest class. This bike was later bored out to 175 cc to compete in a highly popular Italian racing category, where many leading manufacturers developed production racers. Subsequently, the displacement was increased to just over 200 cc, leading to the creation of the MV Agusta 203 Bialbero for the 250 cc class in 1955. Shortly after its debut race, the engine capacity was raised to 220 cc. With this machine, rider Bill Lomas completed the 1955 season, finishing third in the World Championship standings.[2] MV Agusta also claimed the manufacturers’ championship that year.[3]

In 1956, a new single-cylinder engine evolved from the earlier 220 cc design into a full-fledged 250 cc unit, named the MV Agusta 250 Monocilindrica Bialbero. This bike secured the world championship title in the same year. However, during the following season in 1957, MV Agusta was outperformed by FB Mondial. That year, rider Tarquinio Provini clinched the world championship riding Mondial’s 250 Bialbero model.[4]

Development

The 250 Biclindrica, meaning "two-cylinder," was created within the newly established department located in Cascina Costa, a district in southern Samarate, as a response to the prevailing Mondial 250 Bialbero. This marked MV Agusta’s first fully in-house developed racing motorcycle. While the single-cylinder model retained many features reminiscent of the pre-war Benelli 250, and the four-cylinder variants were inspired by the Gilera 500 4C, the twin-cylinder was a fresh design. The bike debuted at the 1957 Belgian Grand Prix held at Spa-Francorchamps, piloted by John Hartle, who secured victory in that race.[5] Following the tragic death of Roberto Colombo during practice sessions at Spa, MV Agusta decided to withdraw from the 250 cc category for the remainder of the season, thus sidelining the machine for the rest of that year.

The autumn of 1957 represented a significant shift in the world road racing championships. Leading Italian manufacturers (Mondial, Moto Guzzi, Gilera, and MV Agusta) collectively chose to exit the World Championships. The escalating expenses associated with racing had become unsustainable relative to sales revenue.[6] This financial strain was particularly acute for Moto Guzzi and Gilera, whose earnings depended exclusively on motorcycle sales. Mondial managed some profitability through transport tricycles, whereas for Agusta, motorcycle manufacturing remained more a pastime than a full-fledged business. However, Count Domenico Agusta reversed his earlier decision and resumed competitive racing efforts. With no factory rivals present in the 1958 season, MV Agusta opted to continue utilizing their reliable single-cylinder model. During that season, Tarquinio Provini dominated by winning four out of six 250 cc events, securing the world championship by a substantial margin,[7] while MV Agusta claimed the Constructors Championship.[3]

During the 1959 season, works riders Carlo Ubbiali and Tarquinio Provini campaigned with the twin-cylinder machine. Meanwhile, some private competitors continued to race on the older single-cylinder version.

Technical data

The engine featured an exceptionally narrow profile. It was an air-cooled, four-stroke, twin-cylinder powerplant equipped with double overhead camshafts (DOHC). The camshafts were driven via a gear train mechanism. The valves measured 34 mm on the intake side and 32 mm on the exhaust side, arranged at a 90° angle relative to each other. The cylinders were inclined forward by 5°. The engine’s bore and stroke dimensions were 53 mm by 56 mm respectively. Output reached 36 bhp at 12,500 rpm, representing a notable increase compared to the single-cylinder’s 29 bhp.[8] This high rotational speed was considered ambitious at the time, with experts questioning engine durability at such rpm levels. Lubrication was managed via a wet sump system, while ignition relied on an ignition coil. Fuel delivery was handled by two Dell'Orto SS 31 A carburetors.[1][9]

Power transmission employed a dry multi-plate clutch actuated by gears from the crankshaft. The gearbox offered either six or seven speeds depending on track requirements and featured a cassette-type design. Final drive utilized chain transmission.[1][9]

The motorcycle’s frame was remarkably slender and is believed to have been designed by Arturo Magni. Constructed from chrome-molybdenum steel tubing with dimensions of 25 mm diameter and 1.2 mm wall thickness, it was a double cradle full duplex frame embodying design elements characteristic of Magni’s later work. Suspension included a telescopic front fork and a rear swingarm equipped with hydraulic shock absorbers. Both front and rear brakes were drum-type with diameters of 210 mm; specifics about the front brake are documented elsewhere.[1][9]

Results

1957

The 250 Bicilindrica competed in just a single event during 1957, the Belgian Grand Prix held at Spa-Francorchamps, where John Hartle secured the win.[5]

1959

At the season opener, the Lightweight TT, Tarquinio Provini claimed victory with Carlo Ubbiali finishing a close second, trailing by less than half a second.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name Ubbiali then triumphed at the Hockenheimring race,[10] followed by Provini's win at the TT Circuit Assen.[11] The final race of the season, the Nations Grand Prix at Monza, was won by Ubbiali.[10] Ultimately, Ubbiali secured the world championship title with Provini as runner-up.[12] MV Agusta also captured the 250 cc Constructors Championship that year.[3]

1960

For the 1960 season, Tarquinio Provini transferred to Moto Morini[11], and Gary Hocking joined MV Agusta as his replacement.[13] Hocking dominated the opening race at the Isle of Man, finishing well ahead of Ubbiali, who placed second over a minute behind.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name At Assen and Spa, Ubbiali reversed the outcome by winning both events,[10][13] while Hocking took victory at the German GP held at the Solituderennen.[10][13] Ubbiali then clinched wins in the final two races at Ulster and Monza,[10] earning him the World Championship title ahead of Hocking.[14] MV Agusta repeated its success by winning the 250 cc Constructors Championship once more.[3]

1961

Following Carlo Ubbiali’s retirement after the 1960 season,[10] Gary Hocking became MV Agusta’s sole rider for the 1961 campaign. Hocking started strong with a win at Spain’s Montjuïc circuit,[13] but he retired from the Lightweight TT.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name The remainder of the season was largely dominated by Mike Hailwood aboard Honda’s 4-cylinder RC162 model.[15] Consequently, MV Agusta exited from competition in the 250 cc category.

1966

In February 1966, Giacomo Agostini achieved victory riding this machine during a non-championship event in Spain.[1]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named MV Agusta Club Deutschland
  2. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  4. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named John Hartle career statistics
  6. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  7. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  8. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named 250 Bialbero Bicilindrico
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Carlo Ubbiali career statistics
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Tarquinio Provini career statistics
  12. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named motogp 1959
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Gary Hocking career statistics at MotoGP.com
  14. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named motogp.com 1960
  15. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Mike Hailwood career statistics at MotoGP.com

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