Gilera 500cc factory racer Umberto Masetti winner 1950 Dutch TT Piero Taruffi

Description

A superb and rare photo of the magnificent
Umberto Masetti
, shortly after
WINNING
the
500cc Grand Prix of the Netherlands
of
1950
, a.k.a. the
Dutch T.T.
!
Masetti was a works rider for
Gilera
and won the race on his mighty
Gilera 500cc four cylinder factory racer
.
Umberto Masetti
was an Italian two-time World Champion Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. In 1950, he became the first Italian to win the 500cc World Championship. Masetti was born in Borgo delle Rose, in the
province
of
Parma
. He debuted in the Grand Prix motorcycle World Championship in 1949 aboard a Moto Morini, in the 125cc class. In the same year he also raced a Benelli in the 250cc class and a Gilera in the 500cc class. In 1950, Masetti won the Grands Prix of Belgium and the
Netherlands
and defeated Geoff Duke for the 500cc World Championship. In 1952, still with Gilera, he was again World Champion, again taking victories in
Belgium
and the
Netherlands
. In 1953 he raced in the 250cc class for NSU, but an accident at Imola prevented him from taking part for much of the season. In 1954 Masetti was again in the 500cc class with Gilera. In 1955 he divided his time between the 250cc and 500cc classes, this time for the MV Agusta factory, with whom he raced for until 1958. That year, after an unsuccessful season in the 500cc class, he retired from motorcycle competition.
Gilera
was founded by Giuseppe Gilera in the Northern Italian town of
Arcore
, close to the city of
Milan
, in
1909
. In
1935 Gilera acquired rights to the Rondine four-cylinder engine. This formed the basis for Gileras four cylinder racing machines nearly forty years. From the mid-thirties Gilera developed a range of four-stroke engine machines. The engines ranged from 100 to 500cc. The most famous of which was the 1939 Saturno. After World War II,
Gilera dominated Grand Prix motorcycle racing
, winning the 500cc road racing world championship 6 times in 8 years. Facing a downturn in motorcycle sales due to the increase in the popularity of automobiles after the war, Gilera made a gentleman's agreement with the other Italian motorcycle makers to quit Grand Prix racing after the 1957 season as a cost cutting measure. In 1969 the company was purchased by the Piaggio & Co. SpA -- which now holds six marques and is the world's fourth largest motorcycle manufacturer. In 1992, Gilera made a return to the Grand Prix arena and Piaggio continues to produce small-displacement motorcycles with the Gilera name.
World Championships:
1950: 500cc with Umberto Masetti
1952: 500cc with Umberto Masetti
1953: 500cc with Geoff Duke
1954: 500cc with Geoff Duke
1955: 500cc with Geoff Duke
1957: 500cc with Libero Liberati
2001: 125cc with Manuel Poggiali
It is a superb and rare
non period
photo, and this is your rare chance to own it! It reflects a very interesting and highly historic piece of motorcycling history and shows one of the absolutely greatest riders of all time in a great way! The size is perfectly suited for framing: ca. 8 x 10” (ca.
20 cm
x 25 cm).
We have more photos of Umberto Masetti. You can always contact us for any requests. Please check out our Ebay auctions and take advantage of our shipping discount!
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No copyright expressed or implied. Sold as collectable item only. We are clearing out our archives that we have gathered from various sources.
All items always sent well protected in PVC clear files
and board backed envelopes.
We have photographs that came from professional collections and/or were bought from the original photographer or press studio! They are all of professional and excellent quality.
After many decades of professionally collecting photographs and posters we are clearing out our archives. They make the perfect gift and are perfectly suited for framing. They will look gorgeous unframed and will be a true asset nicely framed with a border. They are a gorgeous and great asset in every home, workshop, workplace, restaurant, bar or club!
First come - first served. And you can always contact us for your requests. Please ask any questions before the auction ends.