125stradali would like to thank Michele Prontelli, better known in the web as "Ceppa", author of the very interesting article that we present you in a world preview about the Cagiva Mito in Sport Production version.
125stradali would also like to thank the MV Agusta group and Cagiva for giving their approval to the publication of the following article.
125 Sport Production, a name that evokes full grids (even selective A-B-C...), young talents and special bikes; this was the Italian 125 Sport Production Championship. The marketing departments of the various manufacturers involved in the 125 SP (Aprilia, Cagiva, Honda, Gilera and Yamaha) focused a lot on the media coverage of this competition, following the path of "win on Sunday, sell on Monday". Not to mention the Racing or Experience Departments of the various companies, which churned out kits that transformed the 125 with which a sixteen-year-old boy could easily go to school in the morning, into a ground-to-air missile.
In this section we will talk about the evolution of the Cagiva Mito in Sport Production competitions, starting from the very first version, the Mito 125 SP "Mini Moke".
-Cagiva Mito Sport Production "Mini Moke" 1991
The first Mito set up in the Sport Production version is dated 1991 and sees the light at Monza for a special test with official riders such as Davide Bulega (125 over), Franco Latini (test rider) and with guest star (for promotional reasons) Eddie Lawson wearing a full suit with the "Mito" logo in full view. The target is clear since the beginning and the gestation inside the Cagiva Racing Department says a lot; the victory of the 125 Sport Production 1991 is within the reach of the Varese factory.
The bike, on sale at 7 million and 600 thousand lire, can be purchased regularly by all riders who intend to participate in the Sport Production Championship and is supplied directly by the manufacturer in the configuration of the 1991 regulations, but since this is a new project, the development of the vehicle is exclusively entrusted to Davide Bulega and his official team as the development and production of an SP kit to be supplied to customers is still in the embryonic stage. The first series can be recognised by the Mini Moke writing on the tail.
Once the motorbike cover is lifted, the lines of the Mito in this "SP" version pay tribute to Tamburini's pencil and the resemblance of this 125 to Randy Mamola's C590 is more than just a statement. The press immediately vivisected the bike during the presentation at Monza and immediately, compared to the production model, several details worthy of a grand prix bike were noticed and in particular, the adjustable lateral steering damper with attachment to the frame.
The regulations are rather restrictive: the standard 28 mm carburettor is maintained and, compared to the road model, only the brake pipes change, now in Teflon with steel mesh and the transmission, now 415 pitch with ergal Cagiva CHT crowns. The tyres confirmed are the excellent Michelin Radial in sizes 100/80 on the front and 150/60 on the rear. The full fibreglass fairing with "double camber" plexiglass and rear seat cover made ad hoc for the occasion, as well as the front fairing support slightly different from its road counterpart to allow riders better visibility in the "fairing" position.
The suspension is fitted with a splendid Marzocchi front fork with traditional stanchions and improved hydraulics, while the rear is fitted with a brand new G.C.B. (Gazzaniga, Ceriani and Bianchi) shock absorber with external reservoir. The rear footpegs are mounted on splendid aluminium supports to improve and modify the rider's position on the saddle (20 mm up, 50 mm back compared to the standard ones).
As far as the engine is concerned, Cagiva's technicians (obviously) did not give too much away; the bike is equipped with a Series 6 SP cylinder (marked 66433 and 66650) and relative expansion made by the Cagiva Racing Department with an aluminium silencer (carbon is not yet allowed by the regulations), original piston (always according to the fiche) and head suitably modified, as well as the reed valve. The starter is electric, in accordance with the restrictive 1991 Sport Production regulations.
The photo you see below, courtesy of Cagiva, shows a hybrid. It is in fact a first series "Mini Moke" 1991, but already equipped with some components of the 1992 version, as you can clearly see from the upside-down forks.
-Cagiva Mito Sport Production 1992
The development carried out during 1991 has brought its fruits in Varese. The Mito built for the 1992 season retains the same peculiar characteristics that allowed Bulega to win all the selective races; but (also thanks to the regulatory changes) it adopts several upgrades.
The first obvious novelty is the adoption of the "upside down" fork with gold-coloured stanchions made by Marzocchi (the front mudguard is also different), again with 40 mm stanchions and 120 mm travel, but with "double spring" and recognisable by the two opening holes near the Allen key for access to the fixing crescents.
The second peculiarity of the bike is given by the adoption of high quality rims produced by Marchesini (confirmed Michelin TX), made exclusively for the eight litre Varesina, with the logo of the little elephant of Cagiva and the "M" of Marchesini inside the spokes; the front rim adopts a 320 mm floating Brembo disc.
The thermal is upgraded and the bike comes with a 7-series SP cylinder (marked 72625 and 72626), with a two-segment piston and head. The starter is electric and uses the same system as the stock bike.
To celebrate Bellei's Italian title, Cagiva releases the Cagiva Mito 2 with black number plates (as per SP regulations) and stickers of the technical sponsors; a livery that leaves you literally breathless.The 125 stradali of Varese are bought by many teams and riders, thanks to what they have obtained in the previous season, who evolve their bikes according to what has been developed by the Cagiva Racing Department (several teams buy the bike in SP configuration, Zerbo and Rovelli race with a Kit bike managed by an external team; a practice that in the following years will be taken up several times by other teams). The Lusuardi team of Modena will manage the official Mito, with Roberto Bellei as rider (supported by Salvatori and Rabitti) who, at the end of the season, will bring the tricolour in Cagiva's house. After only two seasons the Cagiva Mito manages to win the title of the Italian 125 Sport Production Championship. The initial goal has been achieved; the bases for a bright future in competitions are already set. Bulega and the Mito also set a record, still unbeaten, during the 1992 Monza 200-mile race; on this occasion (with different regulations from the more restrictive Sport Production ones) the Mito of the Emilian rider exceeded 204 km7h... a real record for a 125! (Ducati Energia internal rotor ignitions will be developed and tested during these events).
-Cagiva Mito Sport Production 1993 Lucky Explorer
For the 1993 season, Gilberto Milani and his staff have further evolved the concept of "transformation" from a Mito 125 road bike to a Mito 125 SP. The rules are essentially the same as last year's, except for a few technical details (compression ratio limit and use of a single-segment piston for example) and ignitions.
Compared to last season, the sponsor Lucky Explorer is very noticeable on the fairings of the official Mito, giving a very racing look, accentuated by the beautiful front number plate. Compared to the previous version, the Marzocchi upside down forks have hexagonal plugs on the stanchions, while the rear shock absorber is the same as the one used in previous years. The channel of the Marchesini rims for the official bikes is 3.50 at the rear and 2.75 at the front, in this unit the starter block has also been eliminated with an "on - off" button on the right semi-handlebar, as well as the valuable original tank cap, now replaced with a lighter quick release one.
Many changes were made, building on the development of the 1992 season. The electronic part now features a Ducati Energia internal rotor ignition, which requires the use of a different design of the left crankshaft pin. It is equipped with a special control unit with adjustable advance (different control units with different advance curves are produced) instead of the Kokusan that equips the Mito stradali (heavier than the internal rotor, the starter remains electric as per the regulations). A straight-tooth clutch is also adopted instead of the helical clutch used until last season (as on the standard engine), as well as stronger springs.
The exhaust system is constantly evolving and is made according to the various circuits/performance needs of the riders Vittoriano Guareschi, Max Blaso and Bussei. In addition to the internal Cagiva team, there are many other teams that have decided to buy the Mito SP, among which riders the names of Max Temporali and even a shy Valentino Rossi stand out.
Compared to last season, the regulations now allow the adoption of a lighter single-segment piston with a completely machined head to increase the volume of the combustion chamber (code 200I), useful for achieving a compression ratio of 13.5:1. The piston pin was also lightened, retaining its 16 mm dimensions but 2 mm shorter than the 1992 version, as well as having a biconical bore to eliminate unnecessary material. The cylinders have codes 73037 (evolution of the one adopted on the road bike), 72666 and 75666 intended for private and official riders. In the last evolutionary step of these thermals, details were tested that will then be taken up in future SP kits from the Varese manufacturer.
From 1993 up to and including 2001, the Sport Production kit and related components are regularly sold by Cagiva dealers or authorised retailers; in just 3 years of development the company is now able to produce and sell items for racing use developed directly by the in-house racing department. The list is always being updated: it ranges from cylinders, to ignitions with different ECUs and mappings, to Marchesini rims, expansions and much more.
1993 is a very important year for the Mito; the new model is in the final testing phase and, for 1994 (the year in which the debut of the Cagiva Mito EV is set) the Mito EV SP has the objective of obtaining, on its debut, victory in the Italian SP. In fact, to confirm this, during the end of the 1993 season Cagiva began to develop different thermals, with square exhaust and Mahle piston then taken up directly in the winter tests of 1994 with the Mito EV.
-Cagiva Mito EV Sport Production 1994 "Lucky Explorer".
For the 1994 season Cagiva lines up the brand new Mito EV, realized in the Cagiva Research Centre by Massimo Tamburini and his team. During the press presentation is also communicated the SP kit for the 1994 season; literally "plug and play" composed of a series 8 cylinder, 200M head, Mahle piston, expansion and silencer (the latter in Kevlar, the same as the standard bike), crown - sprockets and transmission pitch 415, pawls for the rear stand, rear engine stand, Ducati Energia internal rotor ignition and its control unit, filter box specially designed by Cagiva engineers, Brembo 320mm floating disc, Ceriani mono, extensively tested over the years, footrest retractors and Marchesini wheels. Otherwise, at the price of 8 million and 940 thousand liras is available the complete motorbike in "Lucky Explorer" SP livery, with the above mentioned Kit already installed.
In 1994 many riders managed by external teams bought the official Mito EV, ranging from Valentino Rossi (Luasuardi team), to Dellino, to Franco Battaini, Ruozi, Pagliarini and many others (over category). The bike is the exact evolution of what we have seen so far with the Mito 2; the tank changes (less capacious but more ergonomic for the rider's driving position), all the fairings are made directly in CRC using the know-how obtained during the GP competitions, as well as the front and rear frames, with a difference in the height of the saddle from the ground. The SP KIT is essentially the same as the previous edition; the only differences are in the double spring forks, which adopt silver-coloured tubes (the inside does not change), while the Marchesini rear rim becomes a 4.00 channel. Towards the end of the season, the 8-series cylinders (code 81782) will be tested, with a special exhaust bushing (square exhaust), different head (200L) and different expansion, as well as a special piston.
Amongst other modifications adopted during the course of the year, several useful components were made to further lighten the bike (up to the weight limit allowed) such as the aluminium rear frame, the machined rear caliper support, the attachments for the expansion springs and also an ignition kit for the "Kick starter" bike, replacing the classic electric starter (allowed by the regulations).
The title of Italian Champion 125 Sport Production Under 1994 is assigned to the Cagiva Mito EV 125 SP number 26 of Valentino Rossi; the tricolour comes back after one year in Varese and the media impact is such to increase considerably the sales of the Cagiva Mito EV 125; at the absolute debut the new eight of litre Varesina gets the success in the most important competition dedicated to the 125 SP.
Naturally, during the Milan show in 1994, to celebrate the title, the Mito EV was presented in Lucky Explorer livery, with the same colours and graphics as its racing counterpart and which for the first time adopted as standard (only for the road version) a Mikuni TMX 35 carburettor in place of the familiar Dell'Orto PHBH 28.
-Cagiva Mito EV Sport Production 1995 - 1996
The 1995 and 1996 versions of the Cagiva Mito EV Sport Production continue to evolve what had been developed so far by the Racing Department. The Varese company has recently withdrawn from the 500 GP world championship and all the resources are now addressed to the development of the new 4 stroke 750 SBK, the attention towards the 125 SP has slightly decreased. The main differences from the previous version are the adoption of the code 81782 cylinder, developed during the 1994 season and its kit, a new 200M head with rounded squish for Mahle pistons (the same as the C594 GP) and a new expansion system. On this bike the kick starter kit is available immediately, with the fairing drilled right at the millerighe of the lever, which is removable (you start the bike on the starting grid and remove the lever).
The livery of the motorbike, as well as the technical sponsors remain the same of the previous seasons; the motorbikes are entrusted to various teams, but except for some exploits of Sanna (at the debut), Zappa, Massimi, Giordano and Massimiliano Blaso, these seasons are stingy of titles for the Cagiva Lucky Explorer team.
-Cagiva Mito EV Sport Production 1997 - 1999
The maximum evolution of the Cagiva Sport Production kit is obtained in these last years thanks to the introduction of a new thermic group (90087) which adopts a new exhaust valve and new exhaust manifolds and a new ignition made by Kokusan with external rotor of less weight than the standard one. The Marchesini rims are replaced by the original "six-spoke" ones, while what has been developed so far is regularly available from authorised dealers.
The limitation to 11kw for the eighth of a litre arrives and so the internal market collapses as well as the interest of the sixteen year olds and the media towards the Sport Production and consequently also the commitment of Cagiva in an official form is reduced and the development is left to external teams or preparers, notwithstanding the possibility to buy parts of the kit until 2001.
-Cagiva Mito SP 525 2006
For the 2006 season Cagiva/MV Agusta decides, with the collaboration and the structure of Capirossi Safety School, to organize a Mito SP trophy, setting up the Cagiva Mito EV in SP525 configuration, a model that will be regularly sold by dealers from 2008.
The front and rear frames are modified, as well as the complete fairings, now inspired by Cagiva GP 594; the rear single shock absorber is adjustable with external tank made by FG Special Parts and Mupo, the rear footrests and side buffers are made by Valter Moto while the ignition is Ducati Energia with a special CDI; vice versa, the cylinders are series 90087 with its kit.
Cagiva technicians have further developed this thermal, supplying the bikes with special expansions made just for the occasion. The front disc is made by Braking and the front forks are set up in SP "double spring" configuration with the appropriate KIT. The bike can be purchased regularly and by private riders and teams who want to compete in this wonderful trophy.
This is how the official history of the Cagiva Mito Sport Production ends, in its forms and in its developments. As it can be highlighted, what has been realized has always been finalized to the sale of the final product from the first to the last version realized. The Cagiva brand has always been linked to competitions, as well as the name Mito, able to dominate the 125 2-stroke scene for years and years; never was the name more appropriate.
Michele Prontelli 'Ceppa'
