Sempre Piú Forte – The complete history of Moto Morini

Alone among today’s survivors of Italy’s rollcall of historic brands, nobody has yet written an in-depth history of Moto Morini.

It’s been the forgotten face of Italian motorcycling, despite an honourable record on the racetrack, and the development of the popular early 1970s 3½ which was the first Morini model to be exported in any quantity, and is today globally recognised as a landmark design – the first volume production motorcycle in the world to feature an electronic ignition, toothed-belt camshaft drive or a six-speed gearbox.

But now Belgian Morinista Wim Raeymaekers has rectified that, with the massive 554- page large-format selfpublished volume Sempre Piú Forte–The complete history of Mo to Mori ni.

It’s in both English and Italian and is now available by mail order. Thebook’s title means ‘Ever Stronger’– Morini’s motto since its foundation in 1937 – and is illustrated with a superlative array of photos (588 in total) froma variety of sources as well as Wim’s own extensive collection built up since 1988.

Chapters on both road bikes and racing are detailed and informative, especially coverage of the quixotic campaign by Tarquinio Provini on the lone 38bhp

Morini single, running to anastronomical 14,000rpm, in the 1963 250cc GPWorld Championship against the might of Honda.

There’s also fascinating coverage of the Moto Morini prototypes which never reached production, like the 350 cc Turbo, the super charged 125 cc four-stroke, and the liquid-cooled 720ccV-twin.

Thebook tells a story that’s been long overdue in the telling – and probably only someone truly passionate for the brand could have succeeded in creating such a complete and exquisitely presented history.

Price direct from publisher is €79 (shipping excluded– contact contact@ mori ni book. comfor price ).