Libero Liberati

Libero Liberati (20 September 1926 – 5 March 1962) was an Italian former professional motorcycle road racer. He competed in the FIM Grand Prix motorcycle racing world championships from 1952 to 1959, most prominently as a member of the Gilera factory racing team where he won the 1957 500cc world championships.^[1]

Libero Liberati
Liberati racing in 1957
Nationality	Italian
Born	(1926-09-20)20 September 1926
Died	5 March 1962(1962-03-05) (aged 35) Terni, Italy
Motorcycle racing career statistics Grand Prix motorcycle racing Active years 1952–1953, 1955 – 1957, 1959 First race 1952 500cc Swiss Grand Prix Last race 1959 250cc West German Grand Prix First win 1956 350cc Nations Grand Prix Last win 1957 500cc Nations Grand Prix Team(s) Gilera, Morini Championships 500cc- 1957 Starts Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points 15 6 14 N/A 3 741

Liberati was born in Terni. He became famous in his country, winning the Italian championship in 1948. Two years later Moto Guzzi called him to race in the 500cc World Championship, where he took part in a single race. The same happened the following year with Gilera. Liberati scored his first points in the World Championship in 1953, and his first race victory came in 1956 in the 350cc class.^[1]

Gilera's Liberati (28) and Geoff Duke negotiate La Curva Grande at Monza during the 1956 Nations Grand Prix.

In 1957, Liberati won the 500cc World Championship, scoring a total of four victories.^[1] He also won a race in the 350cc class. However, at the end of the season, a dispute with the Gilera factory left him without a ride. Two years later Moto Morini gave him the opportunity to race again, this time in the 250cc class.

On 5 March 1962, Liberati died from an accident, after he slipped on the wet road, violently hitting his head, during a training session on the Strada statale 209 Valnerina [it].

Motorcycle Grand Prix results

Source:^[1]

Points system from 1950 to 1968
Position	Points
1	8
2	6
3	4
4	3
5	2
6	1

(key) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year	Class	Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Points	Rank	Wins
1952	500cc	Gilera	SUI 7	IOM -	NED 8	BEL -	GER -	ULS -	NAT 8	ESP -		0	—	0
1953	500cc	Gilera	IOM -	NED -	BEL -	GER -	FRA -	ULS -	SUI -	NAT 3	ESP -	4	12th	0
1955	500cc	Gilera	ESP -	FRA 2	IOM -	GER -	BEL -	NED -	ULS -	NAT -		6	7th	0
1956	350cc	Gilera	IOM -	NED -	BEL -	GER -	ULS -	NAT 1				8	7th	1
	500cc	Gilera	IOM -	NED -	BEL -	GER -	ULS -	NAT 2				6	8th	0
1957	350cc	Gilera	GER 1	IOM -	NED 3	BEL 2	ULS 3	NAT 3				22	2nd	1
	500cc	Gilera	GER 1	IOM -	NED 2	BEL 1	ULS 1	NAT 1				32	1st	4
1959	250cc	Moto Morini	IOM -	GER 4	NED -	BEL -	SWE -	ULS -	NAT -			3	12th	0