2020 Benelli Leoncino 500

With Dario Ambrosini, and

With Kelvin Carruthers. The company also won five Italian Speed Championships in the 250cc class: with Ambrosini (1950), Tarquinio Provini (1965, 1966), and Renzo Pasolini (1968, 1969).

"Mike the Bike" riding an old Benelli "350" came second behind "Ago" driving the three-cylinder MV Agusta. In the 1972 edition Jarno Saarinen riding the brand new Benelli motorbikes 4 cylinder "500" and "350" wins in both classes beating respectively Giacomo Agostini on MV Agusta and Renzo Pasolini…

Supported by the Pesaro industrialist Giancarlo Selci, operating in the field of woodworking machinery and ex machine operator in the Benelli factory, in December 1995 there was the decisive turning point: 28-year-old Andrea Merloni, passionate motorcyclist and scion of the family of the Marche hous…

The technician Riccardo Rosa (ex Cagiva) was hired and was then presented the new Tornado Tre, a sports bike (900 cm3, then brought to 1130 cm3), with interesting technological innovations. It was in fact a pure sports bike, equipped with a 3-cylinder engine in-line that presented a new arrangement…

And 2002 in the World Superbike Championship with the Australian rider Peter Goddard, who with his long experience has been able to give directions to improve the bike and consequently also the series. Given that the team was at the start and fierce competition, the results were higher than expected… (with 7 points) and a 22nd place

And the TNT, roadster some years later. "The races improve the breed" and Merloni, a former driver, knew it well so the next step was to prepare the new Tornado for the races. (with 23 points). A limited version of the Tornado (named the Tornado LE, where LE stands for Limited Edition) was built.