LOT 466
c.1953 MV Agusta 123.5cc Bialbero Racing Motorcycle Registration no. not registered Frame no. 130042 Engine no. 0042
Sold for £18,400 inc. premium
Lot 466
c.1953 MV Agusta 123.5cc Bialbero Racing MotorcycleRegistration no. not registered Frame no. 130042 Engine no. 0042
The Autumn Sale - The Classic Motorcycle Mechanics Show, Stafford|9 October 2021, 12:00 BST|Stafford, Staffordshire County Showground
c.1953 MV Agusta 123.5cc Bialbero Racing Motorcycle
Registration no. not registered
Frame no. 130042
Engine no. 0042
Registration no. not registered
Frame no. 130042
Engine no. 0042
First seen in 1948, MV Agusta's racing 125cc two-strokes were very successful but at World Championship level were outclassed by the four-stroke FB Mondial with its twin-overhead-cam engine. Count Agusta's response was to hire Gilera's chief designer, Piero Remor, together with its chief mechanic, Arturo Magni in 1950. However, the new Remor-designed 125cc four-stroke bialbero (twin-cam) was not an immediate success. It was only following Mondial's withdrawal that MV bagged its first 125cc World Championship, Cecil Sandford taking the riders' title in 1952. MV's '125' had been extensively redesigned for '52, gaining telescopic forks, full-width alloy hubs and a sleeker fuel tank, while maximum power increased to 15bhp.
Les Graham's influence saw the '125' equipped with Ernie Earles' leading-link front forks for 1953 and these also found their way onto the 500cc four. Graham won the Isle of Man Ultra-lightweight TT that year, but his tragic death a few days later dealt a severe blow to the team's fortunes. NSU's Werner Haas took the riders' title in the 125cc class but MV did at least have the satisfaction of retaining the manufacturers' crown.
This MV bialbero consists of a frame and engine believed unoriginal to one another. The MV was purchased from a German dealer, who had acquired it in Italy, and was last run in 2018. The machine's mechanical condition is not known and thus it is sold strictly as viewed.
Les Graham's influence saw the '125' equipped with Ernie Earles' leading-link front forks for 1953 and these also found their way onto the 500cc four. Graham won the Isle of Man Ultra-lightweight TT that year, but his tragic death a few days later dealt a severe blow to the team's fortunes. NSU's Werner Haas took the riders' title in the 125cc class but MV did at least have the satisfaction of retaining the manufacturers' crown.
This MV bialbero consists of a frame and engine believed unoriginal to one another. The MV was purchased from a German dealer, who had acquired it in Italy, and was last run in 2018. The machine's mechanical condition is not known and thus it is sold strictly as viewed.
Footnotes
As with all Lots in the Sale, this Lot is sold 'as is/where is' and Bidders must satisfy themselves as to the provenance, condition, age, completeness, and originality prior to bidding.
Additional information
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