Benelli, one hundred years of a legend

In 1924 the beginning of Tonino's brilliant career, A pioneer of the two wheels that launched the family brand at the top of international motorcycling

by Roberto Mazzoli

There are legendary stories in which time seems to have stopped. In which the protagonist is a predestined that could have existed only in that place and at that moment. This is what happens for Tonino Benelli which was born in Pesaro on April 8th 1902. His human and sporting affair places him among the myths of Italian motorcycling in the dawn of the engine industry. Is the 1911 When the mother, Teresa Boni Benelli, widowed, He decides to give a future to his six children by investing the entire family heritage to open aMechanical workshop in the center of Pesaro, A stone's throw from the birthplace of Gioacchino Rossini.

Thus were born the "Officine Benelli", The oldest Italian motorcycle industries still in business. Immediately the city falls in love with the new rustrating "melody" of the engines that, just like music, Enter the DNA of the Pesaresi. After the earthquake of 1916 The factories move to via del Lazzaretto reaching up to a thousand workers in a city composed then by just 30 thousand inhabitants. It can be said that every family, before the outbreak of the Second World War, was engaged in the industries of the Benelli brothers. Here each of the founders has a strategic role: Giuseppe, Exceptional engineer and designer; Giovanni, Engineer and Technical Director; Filippo, administrative manager; Domenico, Head of sports management; Francesco Commercial Manager. Then there is Antonio called Tonino because he was the smallest.

It is the latter, Exactly 100 years ago, To launch the family brand, officially starting a brilliant sports career. In 1924 In fact, his flight begins among the motorcycle deities. That it was a predestined one understood immediately. Equipped with an innate sympathy, it was seen darting on the streets of his city intent on trying the thrill of speed.

(In the photo: The six Benelli brothers: from the left Tonino, Francesco, Giovanni, Giuseppe, Filippo and Domenico)

Here's what Paolo Prosperi wrote about him, Fruit president of the Historical Register of Benelli of Pesaro named after the Marche champion. «Tonino loves to do balances, Both with the bike and with the sidecar, and the unfortunate passenger can be in crazy pace in midair, Suspended in the void at the extreme margin of the dock of the port ". All this for the joy of urban supervision that filled the municipal coffers to the sound of fines. Tonino's career develops between the 1924 and the 1932. In these years, in which there was still no world championship, He manages to win everything by winning the title of Italian champion in category 175cc four times over the years 1927, 1928, 1930 e 1931.

To these are added: A France GP, Three circuits of the Lario, Four Nations GP, Two GP of the Moto Club d'Italia and two royal GPs. Commercial success for the Pesaro house is enormous and all sports newspapers celebrate Tonino's companies. The 5 October of 1929 He marries with Maria Rattini of Sassocorvaro (COULD), receiving congratulations from the prestigious "motorcycling" magazine that defines it as the "champion". Two children are born from the marriage, Pietro and Paolo. The 1932 It opens under the best auspices but on the Tigullio circuit, in Santa Margherita Ligure, That morning of 27 November it rains.

Tonino delayed by difficulty starting, Make a angry recovery and launches in pursuit. After taking up the head of the race, In a curve, It slides and bangs violently against a paracarro. Transported to the hospital of the Ligurian town, he enters a coma and remains for a week between life and death. The recovery will be long and complicated and all the newspapers of Italy will follow its fate with trepidation. He will recover but his career will end here. However, it is still linked to the world of engines as the first test driver of the machines that come out of the Pesaresi workshops. The will to chase the speed of speed again was so strong that it wants to try their hand again in the races. However, he decides to move on to four wheels, enrolling in the thousand miles of 1938. It therefore builds a small "cars" motorized with a engine Benelli from 500 cm³, Designed and built under his supervision and commissioned to a good craftsman from Rimini. The 27 September 1937, Back from the Romagna town to check the progress of the bodywork of the bodywork, His motorcycle Benelli 500 Sport clashes head -on with a car.
He dies instantly 34 years entering forever in the legend. The burning chamber is set up in its workshops, while the funeral is celebrated in the church of the Madonna delle Grazie. A gigantic crowd gathers to pay homage to the only champion who ran and won on the bike that bore his name: "Benelli".

Today the factory is in the hands of the Chinese group Qianjiang but the design remains a Pesaro. Tonino's legend still attracts thousands of fans and continues to win with "Benelli Trk702", which is in the first place among all the motorcycle models sold today in Italy.

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