c.1979 Minarelli 125cc Grand Prix Racing Motorcycle
Frame no. EVM-125-160-US
At the end of 1981 Garelli strengthened its racing department by recruiting Jan Thiel, a Dutch engineer and two-stroke engine expert, who had already enjoyed Grand Prix success with Jamathi, Bultaco, Piovaticci and Minarelli. At the same time Garelli concluded an agreement with Minarelli for the latter to supply engines for its 125cc road range, and at the same time acquired the assets and staff of Minarelli's racing department, including its star rider, Angel Nieto. Thus, at a stroke, Garelli acquired a competitive machine and rider for the 125cc class, Nieto having won the 125cc World Championship for Minarelli in 1979 and 1981.
The machine offered here represents Minarelli's 125cc twin-cylinder Grand Prix racer as campaigned during 1979 by Angel Nieto and Pier Paolo Bianchi. To say that this was a successful season would be something of an understatement, for Nieto was in dominant form, winning eight races and finishing as World Champion with 120 points, more than double the total of the second-place finisher, MBA's Maurizio Massimiani. Bianchi took one win, finishing 10th in the Championship with 35 points. In this form Minarelli's 125cc racer was offered to customers for 1980, by which time the works bikes had been updated with a twin-disc front brake. Unfortunately, it is not known who rode this actual machine or what results were achieved.
Sold for
17,250
inc. premium
Footnotes
Category:
Motoring
/
Motorcycles
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