S-22720-0-1

377 Nc.1957 F.B. Mondial 175ccBialbero Racing MotorcycleEngine no. 206Few marques have achieved so fine a competition record in soshort a time as Mondial. Founded in Bologna in 1929 by theBoselli brothers (F.B. = Fratelli Boselli), Mondial concentrated onthe manufacture of commercial vehicles at first, only turning tomotorcycle making in 1948. Flying in the face of accepted wisdom,engineer Alfonso Drusiani believed that it was possible for a fourstroketo compete against the two-strokes - fielded by MV Agustaand Morini - then dominating the ultra-lightweight class. After asuccessful debut season in 1948 which saw works rider Nello Paganiwin the Italian Grand Prix, the little Mondial was further improved for1949 and Pagani duly brought Mondial its first World Championship.Mondial’s dominance of the 125 class remained just as overwhelmingfor the next two years, Bruno Ruffo taking the title in 1950 and CarloUbbiali in 1951, before Cecil Sandford struck back for MV Agusta in1952.The 175cc class was an important one in continental Europe and the125 was duly bored-out from 53mm to 66mm to achieve the requiredextra capacity. Revving to 9,000rpm, it produced 20bhp-plus.Riding one of the new 175cc Mondial singles in 1954, rising starTarquinio Provini won the arduous eight-day 1,989-mile Giro d’Italiato start his debut season as a works rider in fine style. But evenProvini’s prodigious talent could not make up for a lack of machinedevelopment, and the mid-1950s would prove to be relatively leanyears for Mondial.Then, in 1957, Drusiani drew up an entirely new 246cc bialbero(twin-cam) single and revamped the existing 125. The result wasa magnificent return to former glory, Provini ending the season as125cc World Champion while newly recruited Cecil Sandford tookthe 250 crown. Sadly, what should have been the dawning of a newgolden age for the Bologna marque was not to be: Mondial, alongwith Moto Guzzi and Gilera, withdrew from Grand Prix racing at theseason’s end, and although the firm built a number of - mainly twostroke- racers in the 1960s, it never achieved the same heights.This 175cc Mondial was purchased from George Beale by thecurrent vendor, a prominent German private collector, around 15years ago having been restored a few years previously. Presented ingenerally excellent condition, it has been ridden on several occasionsby the vendor, the last time being at Dieburg two years ago.£35,000 - 45,000€49,000 - 63,000136 | the spring stafford saleBidders must satisfy themselves as to the description and condition of each lotprior to bidding. All lots are sold “as is/where is” with all defects and faults.