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A superb and rarephoto. A really great shot of one of the greatest riders, JohnSurtees on one of the greatest bikes of all times, the 500ccM.V. Agusta four cylinder racing bike.
John Surtees won the 350cc WorldChampionship in 1958, 1959 and 1960, AND the 500cc WorldChampionship in 1956, 1958, 1959 and 1960! He went on to win theFormula 1 car racing World championship in 1964, being up until today the onlyperson who ever became world champion on 2 and 4 wheels.
In 1955, Norton race chief Joe Craig gave theyoung but very talented John Surtees his first factory sponsored ride aboardthe Nortons. He finished the year by beating reigning world champion Duke atSilverstone and then at Brands Hatch. With Norton in financial trouble anduncertain about their racing plans, Surtees accepted an offer to race M.V.Agusta. In 1956 Surtees would win the500cc world championship for M.V. In this he was assisted by the FIM\'s decisionto ban Geoff Duke for 6 months because of his support for a rider\'s strike overmore start money. In the 1957 season, the MV Agustas were no match for theGileras and Surtees battled to a third place finish.
Surtees and MV Agusta however went on todominate the competition in the two big classes. In 1958, 1959 and 1960, hewould win 32 out of 39 races and became the first man to win the Senior Isle ofMan TT three years in succession. During those years he became the double WorldChampion in both the 350cc and the 500cc classes.
At age 26, Surteesswitched from motorcycles to cars, full time in 1960 making his Formula 1 debutracing for Lotus in the Monaco Grand Prix in Monte Carlo. He made an immediateimpact with a second place finish in only his second Formula One race at the1960 British Grand Prix and a pole position at his third race in the 1960Portuguese Grand Prix. After spending the 1961 season with the Cooper racingteam and the 1962 season with the Lola team, he moved to Ferrari in 1963 andwon the world championship for the Italian team in 1964.
MVAgusta began also began as an offshoot of theAgusta aviation company which was formed by Count Giovanni Agusta in 1923. TheCount died in 1927, leaving the company in the hands of his wife and sons,Domenico (on the photo), Vincenzo, Mario and Corrado. Count Vincenzo Agustatogether with his brother Domenico formed MV Agusta (the MV stood for MeccanicaVerghera) at the end of the Second World War as a means to save the jobs ofemployees of the Agusta firm and also to fill the post-war need for cheap,efficient transportation.
CountVincenzo and Domenico Agusta had a passion for mechanical workings and formotorcycle racing. They were determined to have the best Grand Prix motorcycleracing team in the world and spared no expense on their passion. They achievedthis goal by hiring some of the best riders of the time, namely Carlo Ubbiali,John Surtees, Mike Hailwood, Giacomo Agostini, Phil Read, and others, andhaving the best engineers, most notably Arturo Magni. The fire-engine redracing machines became a hallmark of Grand Prix racing in the 1960s and early1970s, winning 17 consecutive 500 cc World Championships, and 63 WorldChampionships overall.
Withthe death of Count Domenico Agusta in 1971, the company lost its guiding force.The company won their last Grand Prix in 1976 and by 1980, stopped producingmotorcycles altogether. The Agusta aviation branch continued on with itssuccessful helicopter business.
Interestingly,MV produced their first prototype, ironically called \"Vespa,\" in1945. After learning of Piaggio\'s brand new motorscooter of the same name, itwas changed to MV 98. The company successfully manufactured small-displacement,quintessential Café racer style motorcycles (mostly 125-350 cc) through the1950s and 1960s, followed by the big four cylinder 600cc and 750cc bikes in the1960s and 1970s.
We have morephotos listed on of MV Agusta and other brands with various riders.
This is your rare chance toownthis non period photo thatreflects a very interesting and historic piece of motorcycle and MV ’s history.Therefore it is printed in a nice large format ofca. 8\" x 10\"(ca. 20 x 26 cm).
Shipping costs will only be $ 7.00 regardless of how many photos youbuy. For 5 or more photos, shipping is free!
(Note: A. Herl, Inc. does not appear onphoto, for purposes only)
No copyrightexpressed or implied. Sold as collectable item only. We are clearing out ourarchives that we have gathered from various sources.
All items always sent wellprotected in PVC clear filesand board backedenvelopes.
We havephotographs that came from professional collections and/or were bought from theoriginal photographer or press studio! They are all of professional andexcellent quality.
After many decadesof professionally collecting photographs and posters we are clearing out ourarchives. They make the perfect gift and are perfectly suited for framing. Theywill look gorgeous unframed and will be a true asset nicely framed with aborder. 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 anyquestions before the sale ends.
