Dario Ambrosini

Record type: Motorsport Biographies

Biography: Mount: Lightweight – Benelli

Aged 32, Dario Ambrosini is a “conduttore, " or to use his own words, "motor cycling rider" from Cesana, Italy.

He has had many racing successes on the Continent since the war. In 1947 he won the Italian Lightweight Championship, and in 1948 won the Swiss Grand Prix and the San Remo Grand Prix. In 1946 and 1947 he raced on a Guzzi but in 1948 turned to a Benelli, the make which he has been riding since.

The 1949 Lightweight was his first T.T. race. He had shown good form in practice, having made third fastest practice lap with a time of 29 mins, 23 secs. In the race itself, he was up amongst the leaders for most of the first lap, but crashed at Governor's Bridge and retired. He had, however, a good season on the Continent, winning, amongst other events, the 250 c.c. class of the Circuit de Floreffe and of the Grand Prix des Nations, and being second in the Swiss Grand Prix.

In 1950, again on a Benelli, he won the Lightweight T.T. at the record speed of 78.08 m.p.h., and also established the record lap in 27 mins. 59 secs. On the fourth, fifth and sixth laps he was riding second to Maurice Cann, whom he eventually pipped on the last lap on the approach to Governor's Bridge, and finished to win by a few yards.

There was no 250 c.c. class in either the Belgian Grand Prix or Dutch T.T. so Ambrosini’s next big event was the Swiss Grand Prix. Here, again on a 250 Benelli, he won at 75.99 m.p.h. In the Ulster Grand Prix of the following month. Maurice Cann was once more his main competitor, but on this occasion Maurice beat him by the handsome margin of over eight minutes. Ambrosini finished second at 78.29 m.p.h.

In the last International event of the season, however, the Grand Prix des Nations at Monza, Dario came back to his old form and won at 90.45 m.p.h. In the four of the six races which counted for World’s Championships and which ran 250 c.c. classes. Ambrosini therefore won three and was second in one, becoming 250 c.c. championship with a total of 30 marks as against Maurice Cann’s 14.

He is again riding his 250 Benelli and is his own entrant.
(TT Special, 6 June 1951, p.6.)

Nationality: Italian

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