The Bikes - 100 Milan Taranto

 

The works Laverda 100cc racers were highly-modified, production based machines. The specification included special cams, a high compression piston and on some machines, modified porting. The frames were altered to provide a rearset footrest position and a fabricated nacelle was fitted to the headlamp to improve aerodynamics.  For short circuit racing the highly tuned engines had quoted power outputs as high as 12bhp. 120bhp/litre was an astonishing figure for an aircooled engine in the mid 1950s and was testament to Dr. Francesco Laverda’s expertise in thermodynamics.   

In the 1950s the infamous Moto Giro D’Italia and the Milan to Taranto race had become so hazardous that they became known as ‘the terrible twins’. Average speeds had increased significantly and these long distance events had become highly dangerous with accidents and deaths becoming increasingly commonplace. In 1957 the Italian authorities finally called time on these open road events following an accident when a Ferrari careered into a crowd of people watching the Mille Miglia, tragically causing the deaths of ten spectators and also killing the driver and co driver.

As a result 1957 became the unscheduled swansong for events such as these spectacular events. The last great Italian motorcycle road race to be held on public roads was the Moto Giro and this final event provided victories for Laverda in the 75cc and 100cc classes.   Lino Marchi riding the works Laverda 100cc machine averaged an astonishing 114.5kph for over 200kms on one of the stages. It is claimed that on this particular section the Laverdas were ridden against the stop in top gear for almost the entire 200kms!

The tough and reliable singles had established Laverda as one of Italy’s foremost and best loved motorcycle manufacturers but another decade would pass before the name Laverda became synonymous once more with success in long distance events.