The history of the 1000 Laverda in race begin then in June 1972, at the "Trophée Steiermark" in Zeltweg, some days only before the effective marketing of the road bike (the 30th of July 1972). And this history has a good beginning as the 1000 Laverda won this race (its during was about one hour).

This bike had a strictly stock engine but it was fixed 3 cm higher in the frame, thanks to some spacers under the front engine mounting, in order to increase the ground clearance, especially on the alternator side. There was no oil cooler and the carbs control remained with the 3 cables system, but there was a 3 into 1 free-flow exhaust. The frame and the suspensions were stock too, but the bodywork and the fairing were of actually 750 SFC type (drum brakes type) and the front brake was a 4ls Ceriani.

It's interesting to note, on the photo below, the primary case of the early series, without the stiffening rib and the "1000" lettering.
Naturarly, the pilot was Augusto Brettoni.
This race was very important to test the bike under racing conditions before its effective production and also before the Bol d'Or, in September 1972.

For the Bol d'Or, the factory slightly improved the bike: It had always the A11 camshafts, the 32mm Dell'Orto carbs and the small compression ratio, but the inlet stubs were polished and the crankshaft was lightened and polished. The gearbox was of a racing type, with special ratios (very long first gear). The front brake was a Fontana and the tank was a 24 liters SFC type. The suspensions were the Ceriani of the road bike, with the "little" fork of 35 mm.

Laverda was very busy with the marketing of the 1000, over and above the fantastic rise of the 750 since 1971, and also with the imminent moving of its factory from the downtown of Breganze to the new industrial area, and it could send to the Bol d'Or only one 1000 (and two750 SFC). This bike had the number "62". The riders were the British Melody and Cash, presented to the factory by the importer Roger Slater.

The bike ran very well, being always in the ten fastest bikes, but it stopped after some hours due to gearbox problems

In 1973, the factory was busy with its delocalization problems, it limited its participation in endurance races and, apart the two very special 1973 750 SFC, one waited for 1974 to bring again a 1000 Laverda in races.

Then in 1974 arrived a new model, really better improved: 4C camshafts, 36mm carbs, 10/1 compression ratio, larger inlet valves. The alternator took place in front of the engine. The power was about 92 cv at 8000 rpm.
The frame remained the same of road bikes except some reinforcements to the steering head and to the swinging arm pivot point area, the suspensions were the Ceriani ones, with the 38mm fork, the brakes were the three Brembo discs.

The gearbox was of racing type and the chain was a duplex type.
A new integral fairing was used, orange colour with a night-blue stripe, with a large protection for the night hours, and also a large tank with special shape.

Conscious of the necessity to improve the bike, the factory conceived for the 1975 season three endurance 1000 with new specifications: These bikes were the maximal development of the 3 cylinders 1000 Laverda for racing purpose: 36 or 38mm carbs, 4C or 7C camshafts, power 98 to 102 cv, top speed of more of 250 km/h. The gearbox retained the close ratios and the chain was a duplex.

It's interesting to note that, at the Bol d'Or, the riders Fougeray/Lucchinelli tested the first 120° engine.

However, the main change concerned the frame, with a new one called "space frame", with very good stability at high speeds.

This bike finished 6th at the 24H of Barcelone (riders were Fougeray/Lucchinelli), 3rd at the 1000 km of Mugello (Brettoni/Cereghini), 2nd and 3rd at the 24H of Francorchamps (Fougeray/Lucchinelli and Gallina/Cereghini) but retired again at the Bol d'Or. The 120° engine (Fougeray/Lucchinelli) had a lot of vibes which destroyed the electronic ignition after 12 hours (not yet silent-blocks like on 120° road bikes). Another 1000 (180° - Gallina/Cereghini) retired for various technical problems.