Vittorio Minarelli and Franco Morini founded Fabbrica Bolognese Motocicli in 1951, but later adopted the Motori Minarelli name in the 1960s. By the 1970s, the Italian firm supplied Fantic Motors with powerplants, but Yamaha eventually purchased the brand in 2002. After nearly 20 years under Team Blue’s roster, Motori Minarelli came full circle when Fantic acquired the company in 2021.
The Motori Minarelli nameplate returned to Italian hands just in time too, as the Bologna brand celebrated its 70-year anniversary at an event in November, 2021. Of course, a retrospective of Motori Minarelli’s accomplishments has to include Arteno Venturi's 1966-1974 world records, the race team’s four consecutive constructor’s championships (1978-1981), and Angel Nieto’s two rider’s championships. While Motori recognizes its rich lineage, the leadership is focused on the brand’s future success.
