Libero Liberati

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Libero Liberati
Liberati racing in 1957
NationalityItalian
Born(1926-09-20)20 September 1926
Died5 March 1962(1962-03-05) (aged 35)
Terni, Italy
Motorcycle racing career statistics
Grand Prix motorcycle racing
Active years19521953, 19551957, 1959
First race1952 500cc Swiss Grand Prix
Last race1959 250cc West German Grand Prix
First win1956 350cc Nations Grand Prix
Last win1957 500cc Nations Grand Prix
Team(s)Gilera, Morini
Championships500cc- 1957
Starts Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points
15 6 14 N/A 3 741

Libero Liberati (20 September 1926 – 5 March 1962) was an Italian motorcycle racer and the 1957 500cc Grand Prix World Champion.[1]

Liberati was born in Terni. He became famous in his country, winning the Italian championship in 1948. Two years later Moto Guzzi called him to race in the 500cc World Championship, where he took part in a single race. The same happened the following year with Gilera. Liberati scored his first points in the World Championship in 1953, and his first race victory came in 1956 in the 350cc class.[1]

Gilera's Liberati (28) and Geoff Duke negotiate La Curva Grande at Monza during the 1956 Nations Grand Prix.

In 1957, Liberati won the 500cc World Championship, scoring a total of four victories.[1] He also won a race in the 350cc class. However, at the end of the season, a dispute with the Gilera factory left him without a ride. Two years later Moto Morini gave him the opportunity to race again, this time in the 250cc class.

On 5 March 1962, Liberati died from an accident, after he slipped on the wet road, violently hitting his head, during a training session on the Strada statale 209 Valnerina [it].

Motorcycle Grand Prix results[1][edit]

Points system from 1950 to 1968
Position Points
1 8
2 6
3 4
4 3
5 2
6 1

(key) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Class Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Points Rank Wins
1952 500cc Gilera SUI
7
IOM
-
NED
8
BEL
-
GER
-
ULS
-
NAT
8
ESP
-
0 0
1953 500cc Gilera IOM
-
NED
-
BEL
-
GER
-
FRA
-
ULS
-
SUI
-
NAT
3
ESP
-
4 12th 0
1955 500cc Gilera ESP
-
FRA
2
IOM
-
GER
-
BEL
-
NED
-
ULS
-
NAT
-
6 7th 0
1956 350cc Gilera IOM
-
NED
-
BEL
-
GER
-
ULS
-
NAT
1
8 7th 1
500cc Gilera IOM
-
NED
-
BEL
-
GER
-
ULS
-
NAT
2
6 8th 0
1957 350cc Gilera GER
1
IOM
-
NED
3
BEL
2
ULS
3
NAT
3
22 2nd 1
500cc Gilera GER
1
IOM
-
NED
2
BEL
1
ULS
1
NAT
1
32 1st 4
1959 250cc Moto Morini IOM
-
GER
4
NED
-
BEL
-
SWE
-
ULS
-
NAT
-
3 12th 0

References[edit]

Preceded by 500cc Motorcycle World Champion
1957
Succeeded by