1983 MBA 125cc Racing Motorcycle

• Built and raced for several years by Dave King
• 'Bike of the Meeting' at the CRMC Classic Festival in July 2023
• Useful spares included

MBA (initially Morbidelli Benelli Armi and later Motori Benelli Armi) was founded towards the end of 1975 to manufacture production versions of Morbidelli's successful 125cc and 250cc Grand Prix racers. Morbidelli had been founded in Pesaro, Italy by Giancarlo Morbidelli, whose line of business was manufacturing woodworking machinery, which provided the means to fund his passion for motorcycle racing. In 1974 Jorg Möller, previously with Kreidler, joined the team as chief engineer and rewarded Morbidelli with their first World Championship in '75, Paolo Pileri taking the 125cc title. Pileri was 125cc World Champion again in 1976. The following year would turn out to be Morbidelli's most successful, the Italian manufacturer taking the 125cc and 250cc World Championships with Pier Paolo Bianchi and Mario Lega respectively, while Eugenio Lazzarini added another 125cc title in 1978. By this time Morbidelli's joint venture with Benelli was well under way and more than half the 125cc grid at Grands Prix would be mounted on MBA machinery, a situation that continued well into the 1980s.

This fully functioning MBA 125 has been built over several years by David King, a respected builder of 125cc CRMC championship-winning race bikes. It combines all the important genuine parts in a bike which can be displayed, raced or paraded. David raced it at the CRMC Classic festival at Donington Park in July 2023 and was awarded the 'Bike of the Meeting' trophy. The presentation by Alex George saw Moto2 racer Rory Skinner trying it for size.

A 1983 MBA steel frame and alloy swinging arm house a specialist-built 1985 motor with re-plated 'factory special' seven-port barrels and modern VHM pistons, fed by new 29mm Mikuni carbs. The main bearings were pinned to prevent spinning in the crankcases. A specially commissioned RTD system provides modern CDI ignition. The engine has covered only 120 miles and remains fresh as it left the track in July, when David decided to retire from racing.

The rear Decarbon monoshock has re-engineered damping internals. The Ceriani fully adjustable forks have been fully serviced sitting in period magnesium yokes to support the MBA Marvic three-spoke magnesium wheels. The brakes have modern Brembo master cylinders and the (copy) Brembo calipers have genuine Brembo race pads.

A skilfully built aluminium liner sits inside the original glassfibre tank to avoid fuel issues. The new fairing and seat are wrap-finished in the factory colours of the 1985 P4X shown on the cover of the Paolo Targa definitive book on the history of MBA.

The bike comes complete with useful spares, including two new VHM pistons and rings, gaskets, front and rear alternative sprockets, jetting, and setup and data notes.