The motorcycle was introduced in 1966 to compete against the ever competitive Honda racing machines and was a bored out version of MV Agusta's highly successful 350 cc three cylinder.

Giacomo Agostini won consecutive world championships in the 500 cc class with this motorbike from 1966 to 1972.

Within a week the technicians converted the engine to four valves per cylinder and that immediately yielded an extra 6 horsepower.

The valves are operated by bucket tappets from two overhead camshafts, which are driven by a spur gear set on the right side of the engine.

Over the passing of years, MV race engineers provided information on the 500 cc Three cylinder.

The young Giacomo Agostini won confidently in front of the old master Mike Hailwood.

The first races of the 1973 season were driven by Agostini still on his tre, then it was replaced by the more powerful MV Agusta 500 four-cylinder.

The 1973 Tre was modified to use front disc brakes from Scarab, but in terms of performance it was inferior to the two-stroke Yamaha.