c.1953 MV Agusta 123.5cc Monoalbero Racing Motorcycle

• Iconic MV 125-class racer
• Formerly owned and raced by Jim Dakin
• Owned by Robert White from 1996 until 2016

Although best known for their four-cylinder four-strokes, multiple World Championship-winning MV-Agusta built lightweights throughout its manufacturing career, and in its early days listed small two-strokes and even a scooter. The racing 125cc two-strokes were a major success, winning the arduous Milan-Taranto road race in 1950, '51 and '52, but at World Championship level the MVs 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. However, the new Remor-designed 125cc four-stroke was not an immediate success, and it was only following Mondial's withdrawal from racing that MV bagged its first 125cc World Championship, Cecil Sandford taking the riders' title in 1952.

The following year MV offered an over-the-counter racer for privateers, which was developed directly from the works bikes. Italian regulations for the domestic 'Formula Sport' stipulated that machines should have only a single camshaft and four gears, and so the monoalbero (single-camshaft) 125 racer was born. Like its bialbero (twin-cam) progenitor, the SOHC 125 employed a train of gears to drive its upstairs cam. Bore and stroke were 53x56mm and the motor breathed via a 27mm Dell'Orto racing carburettor, eventually producing a maximum of 16bhp at 10,300rpm. The cycle parts were virtually an exact copy of the '52 works bikes', featuring a tubular duplex loop frame, telescopic front fork with central hydraulic damper, and swinging-arm rear suspension. Brakes were full-width aluminium-alloy: 7" diameter at the front, 6" at the rear. Dry weight was 165lbs and the top speed over 90mph. Because Italy's long-distance road races, such as the Moto Giro d'Italia and Milan-Taranto required that machines be street legal and possess lights, a flywheel generator formed part of the specification. The MV Agusta monoalbero 125 racer proved an enormous success, remaining in production until 1956 and continuing to offer privateers a competitive ride in the 125cc class for many years thereafter.

This monoalbero was purchased by Robert White in December 1996 from Golden Era Motorcycles in Kent (receipt on file). The MV formerly belonged to Jim Dakin, who had bought the machine in Wetzlar, Germany in 1957 and raced it extensively in period, finishing 3rd in the ACU Championship in 1958 behind Dan Shorey and Mike Hailwood. In 1959 Jim Dakin sold the little MV to someone in Streatham, who was a member of the Westminster Racing Club. The machine and associated parts were put in a skip by the next owner's landlord when the owner absconded, but fortunately it was retrieved and saved.

The monoalbero subsequently passed via J Gilham's Golden Era Motorcycles to Robert White, who believed that it had in-period race history in Austria. Its engine has been rebuilt and it should be noted that the magnesium crankcases are the early factory twin-cam type but with the DOHC drain holes left un-machined as the single-cam head is fitted. We are advised that the cylinder head is fitted with big valves, while other noteworthy features include a modified fuel tank and an Assen TT transfer to the front mudguard.

This machine was purchased from Bonhams Robert White Sale in 2016. Ridden by Robert on a few occasions, including at an MV rally in Italy and the Jurby Festival in 2009, the machine is presented today in 'oily rag' condition and has been dry stored on display at the current vendors father-in-law's front porch since purchase in 2016. The intention was to show it at various bike shows but work commitments and covid prevented this from happening. Accompanying documentation consists of an MV Agusta OC of GB letter, copy instruction manuals, and the aforementioned purchase receipt.