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Mototrans 250/4 | A Grand Prix racer from 1967

Phil Aynsley by Phil Aynsley
December 29, 2017
in Features, MotoGP, Motorcycle News, Motorcycle Racing
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Mototrans 250/4 Grand Prix Motorcycle

Back in 2008 I had the opportunity to photograph a very interesting but little known Grand Prix bike – the Mototrans 250/4. This sole example (plus an extra motor) was built in 1967.

PA Mototrans 250/4 side on
 Often mistaken to be a development bike of Ducati’s 125/4 

 

When it does get a mention it is often assumed to be a development of Ducati’s 125/4, however it was not related in any way to Taglioni’s design HERE.  Instead it was the work of Aulo Savelli (ex-Benelli) and Renato Armaroli (ex-Benelli and Tecno BMW Formula 2 design and later to work on Ducati’s 4-valve, belt-driven 500GP V-twin).

67 PA Mototrans 250
 PA Mototrans 250 is a is an example from 67. Its first race appearance was at the Spanish GP at Barcelona in April ’67 

 

Their design was quite unusual in being basically two parallel twins joined together. Two 180º crankshafts were were employed as well as twin head castings – each featuring its own cascade of gears driving the camshafts. The heads used two valves per cylinder with an included angle of 63º. Bore/stroke was 44.5x40mm. The gearbox could be fitted with either six or seven ratios. By the time development ceased in 1969 (due to a change in the GP regulations limiting 250cc class bikes to a maximum of two cylinders) problems with the clutch and ignition had been rectified, the later by fitting a belt-driven magneto ignition from an outboard motor, driven from a camshaft.

Mototrans-250/4 Motor
 Two parallel twins joined together to make a 4. Two 180º crankshafts were employed as well as twin head castings 

 

50hp at 14,000rpm form the 250cc motor
 50hp at 14,000rpm from the 250cc 4 cylinder motor 

 

The claimed weight was 116kg and an output of 50hp at 14,000rpm was also stated. However figures of 130+kg and 42-43hp were more accurate. As a slightly interesting aside, when testing commenced in early 1967, it was likely the first motorcycle to be run at the new Jarama circuit, which was still being constructed at the time.

 Despite higher bhp claims, 42-43hp was more accurate 

 

Its first race appearance was at the Spanish GP at Barcelona in April ’67. In the first practice session rider Bruno Spaggiari (a long time factory Ducati racer who also competed for Mototrans) was 6th fastest, behind such notables as Mike Hailwood and Ralph Bryans on Hondas and Bill Ivy and Phil Read on Yamahas. Final qualifying had him in 14th place but only 3.5 seconds behind pole. However in the race clutch problems saw him retire after only three laps.

Mototrans 250 Grand Prix Bike rear end
 Rear Shot of the Mototrans 250/4’s quad muffler outlet and skinny rear tyre. 

 

The following month saw a 6th place in Madrid then another DNF in September in Guadalajara. Its final race of the year was also in Madrid but the result is unknown. In 1968 Spaggiari once again was entered in the Spanish GP but after practicing on the 250/4 chose to race the new 250 Ducati desmo single, which while being down on power (36hp) compared to the four, only weighed 98kg. The 250/4 was not raced again although development continued. In fact a second, much lighter chassis was planned as well as desmodromic, 4-valve heads for the motor.

Mototrans 250 /4 gear drive cams
 Featuring its own cascade of gears driving the camshafts. Later versions went for 4 valve Desmodromic gear version 

 

 Spoked alloy wheels and drum brake 

 

The bike, in its final 1969 form, is now owned by a collector in Italy and was successfully ridden at the IOM in 2005 and in Spain the following year.

 

 

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Tags: Aulo SavelliClassic Race BikesHistoric GP BikesMototrans 250/4Old School GP BikesPhil AnysleyRenato ArmaroliSpanish GP Bikes
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Phil Aynsley

Phil Aynsley

Phil has been a Ducati rider for 45 years and professional photographer for the last 27. Best of both worlds really!

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