Umberto Masetti


Umberto Masetti was an Italian two-time World Champion Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. In 1950, he became the first Italian to win the 500cc World Championship.

Career

Masetti was born in Borgo delle Rose, in the province of Parma.
He debuted in the Grand Prix motorcycle World Championship in 1949 aboard a Moto Morini, in the 125cc class. In the same year he also raced a Benelli in the 250cc class and a Gilera in the 500cc class.
In 1950, Masetti won the Grands Prix of Belgium and the Netherlands and defeated Geoff Duke for the 500cc World Championship. In 1952, still with Gilera, he was again World Champion, again taking victories in Belgium and the Netherlands.
In 1953 he raced in the 250cc class for NSU, but an accident at Imola prevented him from taking part for much of the season. In 1954 Masetti was again in the 500cc class with Gilera. In 1955 he divided his time between the 250cc and 500cc classes, this time for the MV Agusta factory, with whom he raced for until 1958. That year, after an unsuccessful season in the 500cc class, he retired from motorcycle competition.
Masetti then lived in Maranello, where he died in 2006.

Motorcycle Grand Prix results

1949 point system:
Position12345Fastest lap
Points1087651

Points system from 1950 to 1968:
Position123456
Points864321


YearClassTeam123456789PointsRankWins
1949125ccMoto MoriniSUI
5
NED
-
NAT
2
133rd0
1949250ccBenelliIOM
-
SUI
-
ULS
-
NAT
3
710th0
1950500ccGileraIOM
-
BEL
1
NED
1
SUI
2
ULS
6
NAT
2
281st2
1951500ccGileraESP
1
SUI
4
IOM
-
BEL
-
NED
-
FRA
-
ULS
3
NAT
2
213rd1
1952500ccGileraSUI
-
IOM
-
NED
1
BEL
1
GER
-
ULS
-
NAT
2
ESP
2
281st2
1953250ccNSUIOM
-
NED
-
GER
-
ULS
-
SUI
-
NAT
6
ESP
-
115th0
1954500ccGileraFRA
-
IOM
-
ULS
-
BEL
-
NED
-
GER
-
SUI
-
NAT
2
ESP
-
610th0
1955250ccMV AgustaIOM
-
GER
-
NED
2
ULS
3
NAT
6
115th0
1955500ccMV AgustaESP
3
FRA
4
IOM
-
GER
-
BEL
-
NED
3
ULS
-
NAT
1
193rd1
1956350ccMV AgustaIOM
-
NED
-
BEL
5
GER
-
ULS
-
NAT
8
214th0
1956500ccMV AgustaIOM
-
NED
-
BEL
4
GER
2
ULS
-
NAT
-
96th0
1957350ccMV AgustaGER
4
IOM
-
NED
-
BEL
-
ULS
-
NAT
-
310th0
1957500ccMV AgustaGER
-
IOM
-
NED
-
BEL
-
ULS
-
NAT
5
215th0
1958500ccMV AgustaIOM
-
NED
-
BEL
-
GER
-
SWE
-
ULS
-
NAT
3
413th0