Ben Walker
Department Director
c.1979 Minarelli 125cc Grand Prix Racing Motorcycle Frame no. EVM-125-160-US
Sold for €17,250 inc. premium
Lot 469
c.1979 Minarelli 125cc Grand Prix Racing Motorcycle
Frame no. EVM-125-160-US
c.1979 Minarelli 125cc Grand Prix Racing Motorcycle
Frame no. EVM-125-160-US
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.
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.
Footnotes
Minarelli 125 cm3 Grand Prix Moto Course c.1979
Cadre n° EVM-125-160-US
À la fin de 1981, Garelli renforça son service courses en recrutant Jan Thiel, ingénieur hollandais spécialiste des moteurs deux temps, qui avait déjà remporté des victoires en Grands Prix avec Jamathi, Bultaco, Piovaticci et Minarelli. Au même moment, Garelli conclut un accord avec Minarelli concernant la fourniture de moteurs pour sa gamme 125 routière et, parallèlement reprit les actifs et le personnel du département compétition de Minarelli dont son pilote vedette, Angel Nieto . Ainsi, d'un seul coup, Garelli acquit une machine et un pilote compétitifs en catégorie 125, Nieto ayant remporté le Championnat du Monde 125 pour Minarelli en 1979 et 1981.
La moto proposée ici représente la 125 GP bicylindre de Minarelli telle qu'elle fut pilotée lors de la saison 1979 par Angel Nieto et Pier Paolo Bianchi. Parler de saison réussie serait une litote car Nieto afficha une domination insolent en remportant huit courses pour finir Champion du Monde avec 120 points, soit plus du double de son suivant immédiat, Maurizio Massimiani de MBA. Bianchi gagna une fois et termina 10e du championnat avec 35 points. Sous cette forme, la 125 GP de Minarelli fut proposée aux clients pour 1980, année où la machine officielle recevait un frein avant à double disque. Malheureusement, on ignore qui a piloté effectivement cette machine et ses résultats en course.
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