The firm was founded in 1959 as Morbidelli Woodworking Machines, initially operating as a woodworking shop that built furniture and wooden coach bodies for automobiles. After World War II, Morbidelli evolved into a leading designer and manufacturer of precision woodworking machine tools. While Giancarlo Morbidelli's machine business grew to have over 300 employees, his personal passion lay in motorcycles and motorcycle racing. He used income from the woodworking machine business to finance motorcycle design, development, and racing interests.
Although the woodworking firm dates to 1959, later corporate records from the brand's 2024 acquisition describe the "historic Morbidelli brand" as being born in Pesaro in 1968. In 1987, Morbidelli was acquired by the Italian SCM Group.
In 1969, Giancarlo Morbidelli entered a team in the Grand Prix motorcycle racing Italian championships with a 50 cc machine. In 1971, he commissioned the construction of a water-cooled disc valve 125 cc two-stroke engine of Ringhini design, inspired by the engine of an ex-works Suzuki 125cc. The team won two 125 cc Grand Prix races with Italian rider Gilberto Parlotti at the beginning of the 1972 season, but Parlotti was killed during the Isle of Man TT race.
Despite Parlotti's death, Morbidelli persevered with his racing effort. Starting in 1974, Jörg Möller, previously the designer for Van Veen Kreidler, took over development. In 1975, Paolo Pileri won the 125 cc World Championship, with Morbidelli teammate Pier Paolo Bianchi finishing in second. Bianchi won the 125 cc championship a year later. The 1977 Grand Prix season marked the height of Morbidelli's accomplishments, with the team winning both the 125 cc and 250 cc classes. Mario Lega won the 250 cc crown, and Pier Paolo Bianchi took the 125 cc honors.
Up until 1976, Morbidellis were not available for sale to private racers; only the team's own works riders could race on them. A new factory, the MBA factory (Morbidelli-Benelli-Armi), was built in Pesaro with help from Benelli Armi to produce Morbidelli motorcycles of 123 cc and 248 cc in quantity. These were raced successfully for several more years. The MBA team won the 125 cc World Championship in 1978 with Eugenio Lazzarini and in 1980 with Pier Paolo Bianchi. Morbidelli continued in Grand Prix competition until the 1982 season.
In 1994, Morbidelli constructed an innovative sport touring motorcycle featuring a shaft-drive, five-speed, 32-valve, liquid-cooled, 847 cc, 90° V8 engine. However, its high price meant it would not be economically feasible to produce. The Guinness Book of World Records listed it in 2001 as the world's most expensive motorcycle. Due to its exotic design, the V8 was displayed in The Art of the Motorcycle at the Guggenheim Museums in New York, Bilbao, and Las Vegas. An example can also be seen at the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum in Birmingham, Alabama, United States. Another V8 is on display at the Morbidelli Museum in Pesaro, Italy.
The story of the Morbidelli racing team is told in the documentary film Morbidelli - a story of men and fast motorcycles (2014), by directors Jeffrey Zani and Matthew Gonzales. The documentary features footage from the 1972 Tourist Trophy, the 1976 and 1977 racing seasons, and races in the city of Pesaro in the 1950s. It also features interviews with riders Eugenio Lazzarini, Alberto Ieva, Pier Paolo Bianchi, Mario Lega, and Graziano Rossi.
Today, the former Morbidelli factory in Pesaro houses a classic motorcycle museum that reminds visitors of the company's former glory. The complete world championship story is represented among the exhibits, as well as many antique motorcycles.
In April 2024, Keeway Group's Bologna-based subsidiary MBP Moto S.r.l. announced the acquisition of the Morbidelli brand name, merging it with MBP to create Morbidelli MBP. The historic Morbidelli brand, born in Pesaro in 1968, had won seven Grand Prix World Championships between 1975 and 1977, according to modern corporate records. The acquisition was announced as a commitment to Italian craftsmanship and racing heritage, with a new Centro Stile Morbidelli design and R&D center to be established in Bologna. The revived product range spans road and crossover motorcycles from 125 to 1,000 cc and scooters from 125 to 500 cc, with initial market launches targeting Europe, Asia, and America. Key models inherited from Morbidelli include the C1002V, a 997 cc V-twin cruiser, and the M502N, a 486 cc parallel-twin naked motorcycle, both of which were first shown at EICMA 2022. At EICMA 2025, the brand unveiled two further models for 2026: the C652V power cruiser and the T502XR adventure bike. The T1002V and T1002VX adventure motorcycles, powered by the same 997 cc V-twin producing 88.5 hp, became available across hundreds of European and American dealerships. An electric range of motorcycles and scooters has also been announced.
Giancarlo Morbidelli's son, Gianni Morbidelli, became a successful racecar driver, reaching Formula One where he achieved a podium finish.
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