Fantic Motor

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Fantic Motor
Founded1968; 56 years ago (1968)
FounderMario Agrati
Henry Keppel-Hesselink
Headquarters,
Italy
Productsmotorcycles
ParentVeNetWork
SubsidiariesMotori Minarelli
Bottecchia
Websitehttp://www.fanticmotor.it/

Fantic Motor is an Italian manufacturer of motorcycles.

History[edit]

Fantic Motor 200 of 1982
Fantic Chopper Moped, 1972
Fantic TX 150, 2009
Fantic Caballero TZ 300, 2012

Fantic Motor began in 1968 by manufacturing and exporting enduro motorcycles, mini-bikes and go-karts. Today they continue in the same genre, though the names have changed to dual-sport and motard (supermoto), and they have returned to the US market in 2016, as Fantic USA Inc. Fantic launched in 2015 also new models of electric bikes, the Fat Bike.[1] and has now a complete line of eMTB and commuter electric bikes.

Fantic began exporting to the United Kingdom in 1972, as part of a wave of manufacturers who took advantage of "sixteener laws," legislation that forbade sixteen-year-old motorcyclists from riding motorcycles up to 250 cc, as they had been used to. As a result, European and Japananese manufacturers exported their sporty and lightweight below-50cc engines, which had been common in Europe, to England also. Fantic produced a "sensational chopper moped" and a TI ("Tourismo Internazionale)," both of which became very popular quickly,[2] with the reputation of being some of the fastest mopeds on the market, going as fast as 70 mph.[3]

From the 1970s until the early 1980s, Fantic produced a series of 50cc mopeds called Fantic Motor Lei.[4] The Fantic Motor motorcycles were first imported into the U.K. in 1972 by Barron Eurotrade Ltd whose headquarters were based at 51 High Street Hornchurch, Essex. The idea of forming the company and importing the Fantic came about because one of the founders saw the 50cc 'Chopper' model publicised in an American motorcycle magazine that his brother in law sent him from the States. The U.K. market of learner riders had several other makes of what were classed as Mopeds, (Motor and Pedals), but the Fantic T.I. quickly gained popularity with the rapid growth of a dealer network. The six speed gearbox was a strong selling point, and the perky Italian Minarelli 49cc engine proved to be very reliable. Stories of the T.I. model reaching 70mph were an exaggeration, as only just over 50-55mph could be achieved, and in the right conditions. The 125cc Chopper model could top 80mph, as Terence Shea found when the model was first demonstrated to him at the Fantic factory in Barzago , Italy. He test rode the new 125cc chopper model, reaching a top speed 130 km/h (81 mph). The chopper model was the original inspiration which the new U.K. importer saw as very special and distinct for a niche market, and fame grew. Part of the original marketing and advertising included a Fantic 125cc chopper model being given to comedian Dick Emery. There were many photos of Dick Emery with Terry Shea and Frank Harris of the U.K. importer, and one was blown up very large which showed Terence Shea standing next to the 'bike with his hand on the handlebars with Dick Emery sitting on it. Another popular model was the 125cc Caballero was for on/off-road, which was for a different sector of the market. The market for these types of Mopeds only lasted a handful of years. The official U.K. importers glossy studio photograph of the 125cc Chopper model was taken in London, and Terence Shea and Frank Harris of the Barron Eurotrade importer was taken from Hornchurch to London on a trailer towed by car. There was confusion in central London as to which turn to take at one particular junction on the way to the studio, which resulted in the trailer having to be unhooked and physically turned around in the narrow road and extremely busy area for the correct journey to the studio to be continued, much to the amusement of onlookers.

In the 1980s, Fantic enjoyed success in the Observed trials world championships, taking three titles as well as seven wins at the prestigious Scottish Six Days Trial.

In October 2020, Fantic bought Minarelli from Yamaha.[5]

Racing[edit]

Fantic Racing
2024 nameFantic Racing
BaseItaly
Rider(s)Moto2:
20. Xavier Cardelús
44. Arón Canet
MotorcycleKalex Moto2
TyresPirelli
Riders' Championships

Grand Prix motorcycle[edit]

In the 2005 season, Fantic competed in the 250cc championship with a team called Scuderia Fantic Motor GP.

Moto2 sponsorship[edit]

In the 2023 season, Fantic Motor competes in the Moto2 world championship but is the main sponsor of the VR46 Racing Team with its two riders, Celestino Vietti and Borja Gómez.[6]

Race results[edit]

Year Class Team name Bike Riders Races Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points Pos.
2023 Moto2 Fantic Moto2 Italy Celestino Vietti 17 1 2 2 1 116* 10th*
Spain Borja Gómez 14 0 0 0 0 0* 27th*
Italy Mattia Casadei 7 0 0 0 0 0* 40th*
Italy Lorenzo Baldassarri 1 0 0 0 0 0* 42nd*

By season[edit]

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Motorcycle Tyres Riders 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Points RC Points TC Points MC
2023 POR ARG AME SPA FRA ITA GER NED GBR AUT CAT RSM IND JPN INA AUS THA MAL QAT VAL
Kalex Moto2 Dunlop Italy Celestino Vietti 11 13 9P Ret 4 5 10 10 12 1 10 2P F DNS Ret Ret Ret 6 Ret 116* 10th* 116* 9th* 462.5* 1st*
Spain Borja Gómez 17 21 20 19 23 17 DNS Ret Ret 16 20 18 16 24 0* 27th
Italy Mattia Casadei 26 24 Ret 21 21 26 25 0* 40th*
ItalyLorenzo Baldassarri 23 0* 42nd*

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ "Fantic Fat Bike 2015 - Official Video Preview". mxlynx.blogspot.com. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
  2. ^ Skelton, Richard (2007). Funky Mopeds!: The 1970s Sports Moped Phenomenon. MBI Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84584-078-5. pp. 5–10.
  3. ^ De Burton, Simon (25 January 2002). "Twist 'n' go; Power wasn't their best feature but sports mopeds had Seventies style in abundance". The Evening Standard.
  4. ^ "MOPED OF THE DAY | FANTIC MOTOR LEI". Houston Mopeds & Custom Builds | Moped Rich. 13 August 2019. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
  5. ^ "Yamaha and Fantic Expand Strategic Partnership: Fantic To Buy Minarelli". 13 October 2020. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
  6. ^ "Berapa Milyar Duit Yang Dikucurkan Fantic Motor Sebagai Sponsor Tim Moto2 VR46 Tahun Depan ?".

External links[edit]