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MZ 250 1972

MZs were constantly outraced by both official and private Yamahas in the 250 class and by the excellent Benellis, Yamahas, and MVs in the 350 class. They were also outclassed in the 125. MZ seemed destined to play only a minor role in speed racing.
The old team, captained by the East German Heinz Rosner, was disbanded, and hopes for the 1971 season rested with a new driver, the Italian Silvio Grassetti.
The first world championship race of the season was the tough circuit of the Austrian Grand Prix. In the 250 class, Grassetti was anything but a favorite. Nevertheless he outdistanced several Yamahas and came in first. Grassetti did not ride ip the West German, British, or Dutch Grand Prix, but he was back at Francorchamps for the Belgian Grand Prix. The MZ's 60-h.p. engine was exploited to the full, enabling Grassetti to win another first place in the Belgian race.
With the victory at Francorchamps MZ had its old name back, but the company was not ready for a full commitment to world championship racing. Grassetti rode the MZ again in 1972, but by this time the Japanese manufacturers and Harley-Davidson in the United States were so far ahead technically that the East German company's motorcycles had little chance in competition against them.

Motorcycle: MZ 250
Manufacturer: Motorraderwerke Zschopau, Zschopau Type: Racing Year: 1972
Engine: MZ two-cylinder, two-stroke, with rotating-disk distribution. Displacement 247.3 cc. (54 mm. x 54 mm.)
Cooling: Water
Transmission: Six-speed block
Power: Over 60 h.p. at 11,500 r.p.m.
Maximum speed: Over 150 m.p.h.
Chassis: Continuous tubular double cradle. Front and rear, telescopic suspension
Brakes: Front wheel, central drum, two-cam with four shoes; rear wheel, two-cam central drum