Photo ou archives : D. Ganneau
505
FB MONDIAL
125 Grand Prix- 1956
Double play on the race track
Ridden first by Pagani, Ruffo and Ubbiali, then in 1956-57 by Provini and Sandford, FB Mondial carried off most of the 125cc world championships between 1949 and 1957, when, like most European manufacturers, the marque withdrew from racing at the end of the season.
Starting in Style
Mondial started in fine style by taking the 125cc title in 1949-50-51, but was then beaten first by NSU, then MV Agusta. But then Mondial surged back, standing tall on the winner's podium in 1957 with a fantastic winning double - the 125 and 250cc championships. During that period, Mondial also took three second and three third places in the 125cc class.
Pioneer of Streamlining
Founded in 1936 by the Boselli brothers ("Fratelli Boselli" = "FB") to build delivery trikes, the marque built its first motorbike, a twin-cam racer, in 1948. It was an unusual choice for that period when most 125s were two-strokes, but it developed 12 hp @ 9000rpm and, fitted with a streamlined fairing, set a flying mile record of 100.4 mph. Mondial pioneered streamlined fairings on racing bikes, fitting them during the 1950 season. The company tested a single-overhead camshaft bike, but luck seemed to have
deserted Mondial until they announced a new double-overhead-cam machine in 1954. It developed 17 hp and could top 105 mph; its 216cc derivative built for the 1957 season developed 29 hp and was good for almost 140 mph.
SPECIFICATIONS
Engine: air-cooled 125cc (53x56mm) singlecylinder four-stroke
Power Rating: 18 hp @ 12,000 rpm
Valves: twin overhead camshafts, shaft & bevel driven
Fuel System: carburetor
Transmission: 5-speed
Suspension: telescopic fork (front) ; swinging fork (rear)
Brakes: drum
Wheels: wire
A dynamic duo - the world championship winning1956 125cc (foreground) and 1957
250cc FB Mondial racers.