Although best known for their four-cylinder four-strokes, MV Agusta built lightweights throughout its manufacturing career and in early days listed small two-strokes and even a scooter. Indeed, one of the marque's earliest Grand Prix results - 5th place in the Dutch 125 round in 1950 - was achieved by a two-stroke. The 125 MV stroker was powered by a neat unitary construction single-cylinder engine featuring detachable transfer ports, while the cycle parts comprised a duplex swinging-arm frame and blade-type girder forks. As soon as the 125cc roadster appeared, the factory began developing a racing version. Its shortcomings soon became apparent, leading to a hasty redesign, the most obvious evidence of which was a new cylinder head with greatly enlarged finning. In this form the MV 125 racer achieved its first major success, winning at the Grand Prix des Nations at Faenza in 1948. For 1949 there was an entirely new version, featuring a more streamlined engine, a four-speed gearbox (replacing the earlier three-speed) and a new frame with swinging-arm rear suspension. An ideal machine for privateers, the racing 125cc two-strokes were a major success, winning the arduous Milan-Taranto road race in 1950, '51 and '52. A four-speed model, this beautiful little MV racer was restored in the Morbidelli Museum's workshop. There are no documents with this Lot.