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Moto Morini 125 1952
In 1948, two years after the first Moto Morini was built, the
Italian speed championship for light two-wheelers was inaugurated. A two-stroke
Morini 125 won the title, coming in first in four out of five races.
The world championship was to begin in 1949. Alfonso Morini designed and built a
new 125-cc. engine for the purpose, with a four-stroke cycle and an overhead
chain-operated camshaft. The motorcycle was very light and powerful (12 h.p.).
It won the Italian championship again that year.
But in the 1949 and 1950 world championships, it was the
Mondial motorcycle that led the field. The official Morini racers, Masetti and
Magi, never managed to beat the Mondial. But the Morini was in no way inferior
to its rival. Indeed, taking into consideration that the Mondial had full
fairing and the Morini had none, the Morini was probably the more powerful of
the two vehicles.
Motorcycle: Moto Morini 125 Single-shaft
The 1951 Morini team, consisting of Zinzani, Zanzi, and
Mendogni, was outstanding in world championship racing. Luigi Zinzani came in
second at Assen and third at Monza. But not until 1952, when its engine power
was increased to 16 h.p., did the Moto Morini 125 prove its worth. It won two
world championship races and lost a third one by a nose. Despite this impressive
record, Emilio Mendogni failed to win the title.
Manufacturer: Moto Morini, Bologna Type: Racing Year: 1952
Engine: Morini single-cylinder, four-stroke, with chain-driven single-shaft
overhead distribution. Displacement 123.1 cc. (52 mm. x 58 mm.)
Cooling: Air
Transmission: Four-speed block Power: 16 h.p. at 9,500 r.p.m. Maximum speed: 100
m.p.h. Chassis: Tubular, open, single cradle.
Front, parallelogram suspension; rear,
elastic
Brakes: Front and rear, side drum
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