Libero Liberati

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Libero Liberati
Motorcycle Grand Prix Career
Nationality Flag of Italy Italian
Active years 1953 - 1959
Team(s) Gilera, Morini
Grands Prix 15
Championships 500cc- 1957
Wins 6
Podium finishes    14
Pole positions N/A
Fastest laps N/A
First Grand Prix 1953 500cc Nations Grand Prix
First win 1956 350cc Nations Grand Prix
Last win 1957 500cc Nations Grand Prix
Last Grand Prix 1959 250cc West German Grand Prix

Libero Liberati (September 20, 1926 - March 25, 1962) was an Italian motorcycle racer and the 1957 500cc Grand Prix World Champion.

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.

In 1957, Liberati won the 500cc World Championship, scoring a total of four victories. 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.

[edit] Motorcycle Grand Prix Results

Year Class Classification Machine Victories
1955 500cc 7th Gilera 0
1956 350cc 7th Gilera 1
1956 500cc 8th Gilera 0
1957 350cc 3rd Gilera 1
1957 500cc 1st Gilera 4
1959 250cc 12th Moto Morini 0
Preceded by
John Surtees
500cc Motorcycle World Champion
1957
Succeeded by
John Surtees