Carlo Molinari, French motocross champion and FC Metz president, Digi Mart USA News (Villerupt, Meurthe-et-Moselle, France): Carlo Molinari was born on February 28, 1933, in Villerupt, in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department, the hometown of world 250cc champion Olivier Jacque. Of Italian origin, he spent the war years in Biandronno, the family village on the shores of Lake Varese, before returning in 1948 to Metz, where his father Hector, a transporter and enthusiast of football and motorcycles, lived.
After discovering riding in Biandronno, Molinari began motocross racing in 1950 on a Panther 350. In 1952, at just 19 years old, he won the French 350 National Championship on a BSA Gold Star, defeating experienced riders such as Robert Klym and Jacques Mellioli.
In 1953, Molinari moved up to the 500cc class, the premier category, riding a Gilera Saturno acquired in Varese by his father, who was friends with dealer and tuner Costante Bertoni. He finished runner-up in the French championship behind the era’s star, Gilbert Brassine.
Called to military service in 1954, Molinari was named French champion by the French Motorcycling Federation (FFM) at the end of a season he had dominated. His success included victory at the President of the Republic’s Prize, held in June at the Montreuil circuit, and fifth place at the Grand Prix of Luxembourg in Ettelbruck, a European championship event.
In 1955, the French motocross championship was decided in a single round at Chemiré-le-Godin in the Sarthe. Molinari beat Gilbert Brassine to win his second consecutive 500cc title.
That same year, while still in military service, he co-founded Sodima with his friend Roger Carpi, a distributor of Unic (later Iveco) trucks. His business commitments and the unreliability of his Gilera led him to retire from competition in 1957.
Through Sodima, Molinari became briefly the French importer of Cagiva in the mid-1980s.
During his racing career, Molinari trained with players of FC Metz. After retiring from motorcycle racing, he quickly took on responsibilities at the club and was elected president in 1967.
He held the post for a total of 37 years and won two Coupes de France, among other achievements. At 93 he was still the club’s honorary president.
Molinari was also honorary president of the Moselle Moto Club, which he supported actively, notably during the organization of three French Grands Prix at the Buttes de Rozérieulles circuit: the 125cc event in 1977, the 500cc event in 1981 and the 250cc event in 1989.
FFM President Sébastien Poirier and all members of the French Motorcycling Federation extended their condolences to Molinari’s family and loved ones.
