READER REQUEST
We love making CB readers’ wishes come true – and CB photographer Phil Aynsley has answered the plea of Terry Birch (Letters, CB October). Terry asked if Phil had any photographs of his all-time favourite motorcycle, the 1963 250cc Moto Morini ridden by Tarquino Provini – and Phil came up trumps.
Phil says: Sometimes, despite all the research you undertake before arriving at a collection, you get a surprise. One such occasion, and an extremely pleasant one, was at the Bruno Nigelli collection near Bologna. The concept behind Mr Nigelli’s collection is that all the bikes and motors were manufactured by companies based in the Bologna region between 1919 and the 1970s. Naturally enough, there are quite a few Morinis – but what I hadn’t expected was that Taquino Provini’s 1963 250 Bialbero (dohc) was amongst them!
This, to my mind, is undoubtedly the pinnacle of classic Italian single-cylinder race design. The history of Provini’s ’63 campaign against Jim Redman on the Honda 250/4 is one of Grand Prix’s greatest stories. The Morini race department was a small concern, with the inherent organisational limitations that entails, so they weren’t able to enter two of the ten rounds – with the result that Provini finished second to Redman by two points, both finishing with four wins apiece. Morini’s single made 38hp at 11,000rpm, weighed 107kg (dry) and had a top speed of 225kph. It should be noted that there are a number of 250 Bialberos in existence as a result of the factory disposing of the contents of the race department after they quit racing. This particular bike is documented as being Provini’s ’63 mount. Cheers, Phil