After almost 15 years of collaboration with Mario Mazzetti, Alfonso Morini set up his own manufacturing business. He opened a small firm in Via Malvasia in Bologna, Italy, and began producing three-wheelers with 350, 500 and 600cc engines. This choice was dictated by the conditions of the period as three-wheel motorcycles enjoy reduced taxation, a driving license was not necessary and they cost a third of small trucks. Affordability, quality, performance and unique style begin to give the new company notoriety across Italy. Technical advancements came from Dante Lambertini, Gino Marchesini and Dolcino Veronesi, who would later become key figures in the post war era when the company began to focus solely on motorcycles.
By 1949, Alfonso’s goal became to win the GP World Championship! Realizing the superiority of the 4-stroke engine, Alfonso Morini gave the green light to a new GP motorcycle with a revolutionary chain-driven 125cc single-shaft engine that produced 16 HP and weighed only 80 kg. On top of winning several National Championships, the new Moto Morini racing machine won the GP at Monza in 1951 with rider Emilio Mendogni, beating fellow Italian brands like MV Agusta and Mondial. Gradual success breeds bigger displacement GP machines, culminating with the works bikes in the 1960s.
Moto Morini team rider Angelo Bergamonti, respected for his test riding, technical knowledge and riding style, debuted in 1964 on a 175cc Settebello. He went on to many race wins including the 1967 Italian Championship. Trusted Moto Morini racer Emilio Mendogni goes on to win the prestigious Shell Cup at Imola on a newly designed 250cc GP bike… and onto the days at AMExpo in 2024!
So Chris, here we are at the Moto Morini booth at AIMExpo. The company has been making history since 1937, but here in the US for the past year and a half, you've made your own bit of history.
Thank you for taking time to come by the Moto Marini booth and you're right, Moto Morini Italia dal 1937. It is one of the few Italian brands of that era that's still around and thriving. And I know this bike caught your eye being an aficionado of fine motorcycles. It is a 1965 factory GP race bike — and still a runner today! This bike was setting the world on fire in the mid-60s as a full factory GP race effort, seeing the stage for legendary Italian champions like Valentini Rossi to this day. Many of the great champions of that era got their start on Moto Morini's small displacement racers — these were some of the fastest bikes in the world at that time.
It may not be GP level but the 750 Corsaro is continuing the sporting heritage…
Corsaro is coming! A brand, a name of great renown from Moto Morini’s history… and it's coming back! See the June issue for details.
