Reenactment of the Biella Motorcycle Circuit
Event organized by AMSAP Biella
Biella - Via Nazario Sauro 15
Contacts | Lucio Ferrigo +39 380 1251144
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THE HISTORY
The first (and only) motorcycle circuit in Biella took place:
📅 Sunday, July 2, 1939
📍 In the urban center of Biella, on a city circuit
🏍️ Organized by the Biella Motorcycle Association
THE CIRCUIT
2 KM BETWEEN HAIRPINS, STRAIGHTS AND CLIMBS
It was a city street circuit, so no racetrack: the race was held on regular streets.
Start: current area of viale Matteotti / via Repubblica
The route crossed the city center with:
- ascent towards the “Fons Vitae” area
- descent on via Cernaia
- U-turn towards Chiavazza
- return to the city center
Basically a technical track, with curves, ups and downs, and U-turns — very “old school.”
The competing categories
Why did it end up there?
Participation and audience
1939 is a "key" year:
a few months later the Second World War breaks out, and many sporting competitions are suspended.
The Biella circuit was never held again and remained an isolated episode in local history.
About 6,000 spectators present
Race lasted about 4 hours
Drivers of second and third national category (so good level, but not absolute elite)
The motorcycles were divided into classes, typical of the era:
250 cc Sport
500 cc Sport
250 cc Racing
500 cc Racing
So we are talking about a true and competitive race, not a simple exhibition.
CURIOSITY
It was created as an alternative to the Biella - Oropa hill climb, which was the traditional event of the area
It was a typical "old-fashioned" race: open roads closed for the event, spectators along the roadside and very few protections.
Known results of the 1939 race
🏆 500 cc Race Category
🥇 Renato Magi – Gilera Rondine 500
🥈 Leo Lorenzi – Moto Guzzi Condor 500
🥉 Paolo Grimoldi – Gilera Rondine 500
4. Oscar Cemencich - Gilera
5. Aldo Fiorina - Astra
👉 Winner's time: 38’57”
👉 Average speed: 83.462 km/h
The other categories
🏆 250 Race
(30 laps, 54 km)
🏆 250 Sport
(25 laps, 45 km)
🏆 500 Sport
(25 laps, 45 km)
1. Giuseppe Raccagni (Moto Guzzi)
35’44” (average 75.550 km/h)
2. Enrico Galante (Benelli)
3. Emilio Beltrami (Fusi)
4. Pierino Spagnolo (Sertum)
5. Giuseppe Muto (Moto Guzzi)
6. Mario Prina (Moto Guzzi)
7. Sebastiano Piacco (Miller)
1. Vittorio Lanzani (Moto Guzzi)
34’31” (average 78.223 km/h)
2. Aldo Brini (Gilera)
3. Arsilio Clement (Taurus)
4. Ferdinando Schellino (Moto Guzzi)
5. Antonio Gardiol (Moto Guzzi)
1. Pieiro Tizzoni (Moto Guzzi)
41’11” (average 78.653 km/h)
2. Nino Manzoni (Moto Guzzi)
3. Giuseppe Puppo (Moto Guzzi)
4. Franco Barresi (Benelli)
5. Nino Grieco (Sertum)
6. Ferdinando Gastaldi (Imperia)
The gem
⏱️ Impressive speeds for the time
👉 Magi won at an average speed of over 83 km/h
It seems little today, but in 1939 it meant:
- drum brakes
- narrow tires
- rigid frames
👉 Basically, they were unstable missiles
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