From the archive

Gilera versus MV Agusta – another era

Great riders, amazing engineering, futuristic aero and old-school circuits...

Bill Lomas on the Moto Guzzi V8 runs wide at Glemseck Kurve after outbraking Geoff Duke on Gilera 4-Cilindri in the 1956 German GP at the Solitude circuit.

‘Dustbin' fairings helped the bikes hit huge top speeds and increased the spectacle of these futuristic machines, with Duke hitting 99.97mph in 1955 at the Isle of Man, and Bob McIntyre hitting the magic 100mph in 1957 – both on the Gilera 500-4.

The fairings were banned shortly after for their lack of stability in sidewinds, and fans liked seeing the incredible engineering underneath – none more so than the Moto Guzzi V8, an engine before its time – and before chassis, tyres and most riders' ability, too.

Lomas was one of the brave and while the V8 was fast, it was not successful. Lomas proved his skill by winning the 350 World championships twice, in 1955 and 1956.