c.1975 F.Ringhini 50cc Grand Prix Racing Motorcycle

• Built by Franco Ringhini
• One of a limited series
• Requires recommissioning

Franco Ringhini started his career at the Guazzoni factory, where he designed engines. Like many other small Italian concerns, Guazzoni concentrated its efforts on the ultra-lightweight market, and throughout the 1960s and into the 1970s produced a succession of stylish sports roadsters such as the Cadetti and Matta. Many of them used Ringhini-designed rotary-valve two-stroke engines with reversed cylinders (exhaust at the rear), a feature that became something of a company hallmark.

Around 1968, Ringhini left Guazzoni to join Giancarlo Morbidelli's fledgling racing team. There he designed a succession of fast disc-valve two-strokes, which initially were raced at World Championship level by both their designer and Eugenio Lazzarini. Morbidelli's Ringhini-designed 50cc racer was the factory's first successful Grand Prix project, although the team collected points at only a handful of rounds in 1969. Lazzarini finished the season 21st in the World Championship with six points, while Ringhini finished 26th with five. Ringhini also designed Morbidelli's first 125cc racer, which Gilberto Parlotti rode to good effect in 1970, its debut year, winning that year's Czechoslovakian Grand Prix.

At the end of the 1973 season, Ringhini was replaced as chief designer by Jorg Möller and left Morbidelli to set up his own team in Pesaro. Now independent, Ringhini created a limited series of 50cc racers such as the exquisite example offered here, and also supplied engines to other manufacturers such as Bimota. By this time, the FIM's rules for the 50cc category stipulated a single cylinder and a maximum of six speeds in the gearbox; Ringhini's design had bore/stroke dimensions of 40x39.6mm for a capacity of 49.7cc, and developed its maximum power output of 14bhp at 14,500rpm. Its cylinder inclined forwards, the engine was housed in a tubular steel frame with telescopic front fork and swinging-arm rear suspension, equipped initially with a 180mm double-sided front drum brake, 130mm single-sided rear brake, and 18" wheels. The complete machine weighed a mere 60kg (132lb).

Unfortunately, nothing is known of this example's past history or condition. Purchased recently by the vendor, the machine has not been started and will require recommissioning before further use (the engine turns over). There are no documents with this Lot, which is sold strictly as viewed.
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