Libero Liberati

Libero Liberati (20 September 1926 to 5 March 1962) was an Italian professional motorcycle road racer from Terni. He competed in the FIM Grand Prix motorcycle racing world championships from 1952 to 1959, most prominently for the Gilera factory team, with which he won the 1957 500cc world championship. He first became famous in Italy by winning the national championship in 1948, and Moto Guzzi called him to a single 500cc World Championship race two years later. He scored his first world championship points in 1953 and won his first race, in the 350cc class, in 1956. In 1957 he took four victories on the way to the 500cc title and also won a 350cc race, but a dispute with Gilera left him without a ride. Moto Morini gave him another chance in the 250cc class two years later. He died on 5 March 1962 after a training accident on the Strada statale 209 Valnerina, when he slipped on the wet road.