1956/57 Mondial GP 125

Lot details
Registration No: N/A
Frame No: AA402
Engine No: 014/25DAA402
cc: 125
MOT Expiry Date: N/A

Mondial was established by Count Giuseppe Bosselli in Milan who recognised the need for economical transport to assist Italy in recovering from the ravages of the Second World War. In common with Count Domenico Agusta he realised that the best and quickest way of establishing his new enterprise in the minds of potential buyers was through competition, consequently the first machine to appear bearing the soon to be famous FB Mondial tank badge was a twin cam 125cc racing motorcycle. Campaigned during 1948 with considerable success the new machine went on to win the 1949 (Pagani), 1950 (Ruffo) and 1951(Ubbiali) 125cc World Championship.
1952 saw Ubbiali beaten into second place in the world championship by Cecil Sandford on a MV Agusta, despite the Mondial producing a claimed 16bhp at 12,000rpm. Ubbiali quit the Mondial team for the 1953 season, defecting to arch rivals MV Agusta, whilst Morini at home and NSU abroad increased their efforts securing the Italian and World Championships respectively. Although 1953 was not a good year for the works machines, FB Mondial did benefit from their decision to introduce a single over head cam "production" racer for privateer use. Derived from the previous year's works machines in all respects except the cylinder head, it met with considerable success helping to keep the FB Mondial name to the fore. A young rider named Tarquinio Provini used one of the new privateer machines to great effect, winning every race he entered, a performance that would secure him a works ride in 1954. FB Mondial fielded a significantly revised machine for the 1954 season with a new chassis, now equipped with telescopic forks, more power and a five speed gearbox. Although these developments resulted in some good results for the marque at both national, FB Mondial won the 1955 Italian Championship, and international level they were not enough to secure the World Championship in either 1954 or 1955.
A renewed effort was made to develop the 125 into a World Championship winner for the 1957 season. The machine finally lost its outside flywheel and gained two extra gears in the gearbox and the streamlining afforded by the dustbin fairing and full seat unit was refined further.

Ubbiali won the first Grand Prix of the season at Hockenheim for MV Agusta, but Provini then took victories at the TT, the Dutch TT and Spa with Taveri and Ubbiali securing wins in the last two races of the season resulting in Provini securing the Riders Championship and Mondial the Manufacturers Championship. This marked the swansong for the FB Mondial team as, along with Moto Guzzi and Gilera, the team withdrew from racing for economic reasons at the end of the season.

The machine offered dates from 1956-57 and was purchased by the present owner in 1981. Offered in very good original condition, it has benefited from a rebore to 57mm and a new piston whilst in the present ownership, giving a capacity of 143cc. The dustbin fairing and seat unit included with the machine are the original items but have never been fitted to the motorcycle. The front brake is of particular interest, it being a Campagnolo disc unit. FB Mondial was among the first to employ a disc brake in the "classic" period, using it on both the 125's and 250cc machines.