c.1957 F.B. Mondial 175cc Bialbero Racing Motorcycle
Engine no. *206*
•Rare Italian twin-cam racing motorcycle
•An older restoration
•Previous private ownership for 15 years
•Present ownership since 2015

Few marques have achieved so fine a competition record in so short a time as Mondial. Founded in Bologna in 1929 by the Boselli brothers (F.B. = Fratelli Boselli), Mondial concentrated on the manufacture of commercial vehicles at first, only turning to motorcycle making in 1948. Flying in the face of accepted wisdom, engineer Alfonso Drusiani believed that it was possible for a four-stroke to compete against the two-strokes - fielded by MV Agusta and Morini - then dominating the ultra-lightweight class. After a successful debut season in 1948 which saw works rider Nello Pagani win the Italian Grand Prix, the little Mondial was further improved for 1949 and Pagani duly brought Mondial its first World Championship. Mondial's dominance of the 125 class remained just as overwhelming for the next two years, Bruno Ruffo taking the title in 1950 and Carlo Ubbiali in 1951, before Cecil Sandford struck back for MV Agusta in 1952.

The 175cc class was an important one in continental Europe and the 125 was duly bored-out from 53mm to 66mm to achieve the required extra capacity. Revving to 9,000rpm, it produced 20bhp-plus. Riding one of the new 175cc Mondial singles in 1954, rising star Tarquinio Provini won the arduous eight-day 1,989-mile Giro d'Italia to start his debut season as a works rider in fine style. But even Provini's prodigious talent could not make up for a lack of machine development, and the mid-1950s would prove to be relatively lean years for Mondial.

Then, in 1957, Drusiani drew up an entirely new 246cc bialbero (twin-cam) single and revamped the existing 125. The result was a magnificent return to former glory, Provini ending the season as 125cc World Champion while newly recruited Cecil Sandford took the 250 crown. Sadly, what should have been the dawning of a new golden age for the Bologna marque was not to be: Mondial, along with Moto Guzzi and Gilera, withdrew from Grand Prix racing at the season's end, and although the firm built a number of - mainly two-stroke - racers in the 1960s, it never achieved the same heights.

The immediately preceding owner, a prominent German private collector, purchased this 175cc Mondial from an established racing motorcycle specialist around 2000, the machine having been restored a few years previously. It was ridden on several occasions by the German former owner, on the last occasion at Dieburg in 2013.

The current vendor purchased the Mondial at Bonhams' Stafford Sale in April 2015 (Lot 377), since when it has formed part of his extensive private collection. Having been stored in controlled conditions and unused since purchase the machine will require recommissioning to a greater or lesser extent before further use and thus is sold strictly as viewed. Please note there is a secondary stamp to the engine cases of *223*.
Footnotes:
All lots are sold 'as is/where is' and Bidders must satisfy themselves as to the provenance, condition, age, completeness and originality prior to bidding.

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This Lot will be auctioned on Saturday 20 April starting at 2pm GMT.