Lambretta making a comeback

Lambretta is making a return to the 125cc motorcycle racing, some 60 years after Italian scooter brand last contested a world championship motorcycle race.

The European company, whose scooters outsold almost all others in 1950s and 1960s, has put together the Lambretta Reparto Corse team, which will contest the 125cc category that supports MotoGP.

Lambretta is planning on making a comeback on the street as well..

"It's is a wonderful day for Lambretta and one we've been working towards for nearly two years. We're delighted to be back on the racetrack and to compete in such an exciting and expanding sport. It’ll be fun to compete with the big boys and see what happens," said Labretta's marketing director John Scully.

The Italian scooter company is on the cusp of launching a fresh new range of scooters in 2010 – the first new models since 1970 – and there is talk that it may even have a motorcycle in development. If so, let's hope it’s a replica of its 125cc racebike.

The Lambretta Reparto Corse team will be based in Bologna, and at the time of writing only one rider has been confirmed, Marco Ravaioli, with an announcement on the second rider expected soon.

Ultimately Lambretta sees its return to racing as a way to develop and test new features for its two-wheeled models, with Scully adding: "We've been talking to Engines Engineering for quite a long time about this and it's pretty much a joint project at the moment, which we own. We see it as potentially a way for our technical director and all our technical people to develop innovations for our on-road products."

The Italian marque competed in the early 250 GP world title from 1950-1953 with its 250cc V-twin.

Check out the official Lambretta website for more details on the new models.