Description
Built for Privateer racers between 1953 and 1958, the 125 Monoalbero was derived from Cecil Sandford’s 1952 championship winning bialbero (twin-cam) machine. The Monoalbero (single-cam) featured a duplex loop frame, telescopic forks, Dell’Orto carb, and was even the model bike with which Mike Hailwood had won his first race. Capable of 16 horsepower and a top speed of approximately 93 miles per hour, these racers weighed 165 pounds dry.
This specific bike has quite an interesting history, we’ll hand it over to the seller – “This bike is number 55 of the 166 made between ’53 and ’56 and was one of six imported to the UK in 1955 by Bill Webster, a prominent dealer and race team owner from Crewe in Cheshire. Of the six bikes, one went to Mike Hailwood, who aged 17, competed on it in his first race on April 22nd 1957 at Oulton Park in Cheshire where he finished 11th. By the end of the same season, he had bored the bike out to 203cc and taken his maiden victory at Oulton Park. This bike was bought by Wilf Friend a clubman racer from London, who raced under the Westminster Racing MCC and he continued to race it for the rest of the 1950s and early 1960s. A number of race programmes show Wilf lining up next to Maike Hailwood in 1958 who was by this time on a Ducati and holder of the lap record at Snetterton. Wilf raced against Hailwood and other top racers of the time including Dan Shorey, Jim Daikin and Tommy Robb, sometimes using a full dustbin faired machine. There is a picture of Wilf Friend in Mick Walker’s MV book riding this Monoalbero fully faired with a dustbin fairing, typically used on faster circuits.
Wilf’s note book showed some very specific details of his race preparation, especially with gear ratios and sprocket choices. His standard gearing led to a calculated 96mph at 10,400 revs in top gear (41mph in first gear!). This was meticulously calculated to the point of measuring the tyre circumference at his preferred pressure – 26 psi. Engine preparation was standard with only changes made to the jetting. He used Castrol 20R oil and 100 octane fuel with a 115 main jet, “unless it is a hot day” when he dropped to 112. In 1961, Wilf came 13th at the Ulster GP at Dundrod, arguably his best result on this machine.
In 1961, Wilf came 13th at the Ulster GP at Dundrod, arguably his best result on this machine. Wilf fell on hard times in the 1980s and was evicted from his rented accommodation by his landlord. At the time of eviction, the engine was not housed in the frame; he had a number of motorcycles in various states of disassembly, and all of Wilf’s possessions were thrown out of the house and ended up on the lawn outside and in the street including another Monoalbero that ended up in a skip!
The rolling chassis minus engine was bought by “A Touch of Classics” owner Dave Lynch in Croydon. The engine was bought separately by Ray Bell. Martyn Simpkins, a world leading MV expert and member of the UK MV Owners Club bought the engine off Ray Bell. In time and with some persuasion, he also managed to buy the rolling chassis, which included some parts missing from the engine. Martyn recognised it for what it was and re-assembled the bike so that original engine and frame were re-united.
Martyn eventually sold the bike to a fellow enthusiast Dorian Skinner of the MVOCUK who paraded the bike occasionally and then sold it on in 2017 to another MV enthusiast and member of the UKMVOC. This latter owner maintained the bike well and regularly displayed it at shows and at parades. With the bike being completely as raced condition, unrestored and with original patina, it is a major draw at historical events and receives invitations to display and parade all over Europe.
I bought the bike recently with a view to parading it around Europe when I retire. Foolishly I expected it to be very similar to my MV Agusta CSS 175 but the 125 is smaller in stature and I physically cannot wrap my 6’3” frame up small enough to comfortably ride it so those plans have somewhat been torn up. I can’t in all good conscience keep the bike hidden away, it deserves to be seen and enjoyed, not be part of a secret collection and therefore I’ve decided with a heavy heart to part with it as I simply cannot ride it. This bike is incredibly historically significant being of completely original condition. This is one of the reasons it attracts so many invitations for parading and display and must be one the last few 125 Monoalberos in such original unrestored condition anywhere in the world. It is advised by MVOCUK and the MV Agusta museum in Italy that it should not be restored, or attempts made to substantially clean it or polish it from the condition it is in today; it is an historic artefact and its value lies in its originality.
The bike runs well and comes with a large history file and certificate of originality from the MV Agusta museum in Italy. There is further research warranted on the bike as Wilf Friend was not the original factory purchaser. There is a suspicion that it may have been purchased by either Frank Cope or George Arnold originally, both well known in racing circles. Research shows it’s unlikely to be earlier than Ivor Lloyd’s July 1953 TT bike, and George Arnold’s bike is next one along after that bike in 1953, this being a definite 1953 machine.
The bike runs well and comes with a large history file and certificate of originality from the MV Agusta museum in Italy. There is further research warranted on the bike as Wilf Friend was not the original factory purchaser. There is a suspicion that it may have been purchased by either Frank Cope or George Arnold originally, both well known in racing circles with Frank Cope being favourite as most other pilots of the time can be ruled out. Research shows it’s unlikely to be earlier than Ivor Lloyd’s July 1953 TT bike, and George Arnold’s bike is next one along after that bike in 1953, this being a definite 1953 machine. For someone interested in the history and research about the machine, there is a trail of breadcrumbs yet to be discovered to lead to its factory purchaser. Often unique aspects of the bike are the clues needed to do that and this bike has some small but unique features such as ball ended handlebar levers and a carburettor float bowl painted in the same colour as the frame, both unusual minor variations that may help trace more of its history. This makes it a unique and fascinating ownership proposition for an enthusiastic and empathetic new custodian. The bike comes with a small display stand and a large file of information, magazine references, pictures and other paperwork. Despite being a full-on race machine, it has been road registered in the UK by the previous owner and comes with a full UK V5 registration document. “
“Frame number 10055, engine number 10053. Frame and engine numbers verified correct and original.”
There is no odometer, true mileage unknown.
Maintenance:
“It runs and rides perfectly and it must not be cleaned or restored so maintenance is low and only needs a rub with an oily rag!”
Modifications:
“This is an over the counter customer racer so is not a ‘routine’ model from the factory.”
Inside of the tank:
It is riding on Dunlop Racing tires which are aged out.
As a factory custom race bike, there are no keys. The sale includes ownership documents and certificate of authenticity from MV Agusta.
Cosmetic Blemishes: please see the album up top for all known cosmetic blemishes. Here is a selection:
Currently located in Crewe, England this MV Agusta is offered on a Bill of Sale only. Have any 125 Monoalbero Corsa stories or questions about this listing? Let us know in the “Comments” tab!
