Giacomo Agostini
Agostini in 2022
NationalityItalian
Born (1942-06-16) 16 June 1942
Brescia, Kingdom of Italy
Motorcycle racing career statistics
Grand Prix motorcycle racing
Active years1964 – 1977
First race1963 250cc Nations Grand Prix
Last race1977 500cc British Grand Prix
First win1965 350cc German Grand Prix
Last win1976 500cc German Grand Prix
Team(s)MV Agusta, Yamaha, Suzuki
Championships350cc – 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974
500cc – 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1975
Starts Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points
223 122 159 9 117 1577
Isle of Man TT career
TTs contested8 (1965 – 1972)
TT wins10
First TT win1966 Junior TT
Last TT win1972 Senior TT
TT podiums13
British Formula One Championship career
Active years1979–1980
Races23
Championships0
Wins0
Podium finishes7
Career points41
Pole positions0
Fastest laps0

Giacomo Agostini (Italian pronunciation: [ˈdʒaːkomo aɡoˈstiːni]; born 16 June 1942) is an Italian former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer.[1] Nicknamed Ago, he amassed 122 Grand Prix wins and 15 World Championship titles.[2] Of these, 68 wins and 8 titles came in the 500 cc class, the rest in the 350 cc class.[2] For these achievements obtained over the course of a career spanning 17 years, the AMA described him as "...perhaps the greatest Grand Prix rider of all time".[1] In 2000, Agostini was inducted into the MotoGP Hall of Fame as a MotoGP Legend,[3] while in 2010, he was named an FIM Legend for his motorcycling achievements.[4]

Early career

Agostini was born in Brescia, Lombardy. His family was from Lovere, where his father was employed in the local town council. The oldest of four brothers, Agostini initially had to steal away to compete, first in hill climb events and then in road racing, as his father did not approve of his son's motorcycle racing career and did everything he could to persuade him not to race.[1]

Eventually his father came to terms with his racing and Agostini won the 1963 Italian 175cc championship aboard a Morini. He got his break when Morini factory rider Tarquinio Provini left the team to ride for Benelli. Count Alfonso Morini hired the young Agostini to ride for him.[1] In 1964, Agostini would win the Italian 350cc title and proved his ability by finishing fourth in the Italian Grand Prix at Monza.[5]

World championships

These results caught the eye of Count Domenico Agusta, who signed Agostini to ride for his MV Agusta squad as Mike Hailwood's teammate.[1] Agostini then fought a season-long battle with Honda's Jim Redman for the 1965 350cc world championship. He seemed to have the title won when he led the final round in Japan at Suzuka when his bike failed him, handing the title to Redman.[5]

Agostini in 1968

At the end of the 1965 season, Hailwood left to join Honda as he had tired of working for the difficult Count Agusta. With Agostini now the top MV Agusta rider, he responded by winning the 500cc title seven years in succession for the Italian factory.[1][2] He would also win the 350cc title seven times in succession and won 10 Isle of Man TTs.[6] At the time, the Isle of Man TT and the Ulster Grand Prixs were regularly won by Anglophonic (mostly British) riders; in addition to Agostini's successes at the TT he also won 7 Ulster Grand Prix races- he was the only non-British rider to achieve the same kind of success in these British motorcycle races- which were 2 of the most difficult motorcycle races in the world at the time. In 1967 he battled Hailwood in one of the most dramatic seasons in Grand Prix history.[5] Each rider had 5 victories before the championship was decided in Agostini's favor at the last race of the season.[5]

Agostini (1) and Mike Hailwood (2) dueling during the 1967 500cc Dutch TT.
Agostini on the 350cc MV Agusta during practice for the 1976 German Grand Prix at the Nürburgring

Agostini dropped a bombshell on the Grand Prix world when he announced he would never again race at the Isle of Man TT, after the death of his close friend, Gilberto Parlotti during the 1972 TT.[5] He considered the 37 mile circuit unsafe for world championship competition. At the time, the TT was the most prestigious race on the motorcycling calendar. Other top riders joined his boycott of the event and by 1977, the event was struck from the Grand Prix schedule.

Agostini surprised the racing world when he announced that he would leave MV Agusta to ride for Yamaha in 1974 season. On his first outing for the Japanese factory, he won the Daytona 200, helping to cement the race's reputation as one of the most prestigious motorcycle races in the world.[7][8] He went on to claim the 1974 350cc World Championship but injuries and mechanical problems kept him from winning the 500cc crown. He rebounded and won the 1975 500cc title, marking the first time a two-stroke machine won the premier class.

The 1975 championship would also be the last world title for the 33-year-old Italian. In 1976, he rode both Yamaha and MV bikes in the 500cc class, yet raced only once in the 350cc to win in Assen. For the challenging Nürburgring, he chose the 500cc MV Agusta and took it to victory, winning the last Grand Prix for both himself, the marque and the last for four-stroke engines in the 500cc class.

He retired from motorcycle competition after finishing 6th in the 1977 season in which he also raced in 750cc endurance races for Yamaha.[5]

Agostini in 2003

Racing car career

Like Jean-Pierre Beltoise, John Surtees and Mike Hailwood before him, Agostini raced in Formula One cars. He competed in non-championship Formula One races in 1978. He competed in the European Formula 2 series in a Chevron B42-BMW and British Aurora Formula 1 with his own team and a Williams FW06. He ended his auto racing career in 1980.[9]

Team manager

In 1982, Agostini returned to motorcycle racing as the Marlboro Yamaha team manager. In this role he won three 500cc titles with Eddie Lawson and managed many successful riders including Graeme Crosby and Kenny Roberts. Under his management riders won the 1982 Daytona Formula 1 (Crosby), 1983 and 1984 Daytona Formula 1 (Roberts) and 1986 Daytona Superbike championships (Lawson). Between 1986 and 1990 he also managed the Marlboro Yamaha 250cc team with riders like Luca Cadalora, Martin Wimmer and Àlex Crivillé.

Since 1992, he served as the Cagiva factory racing team manager until 1994, when Cagiva withdrew from the world championship. Agostini's last season as team manager was 1995 when he managed a 250cc Honda team with Doriano Romboni as rider.

Complete Grand Prix motorcycle racing results

Source:[2]

Points system from 1964 to 1968:

Position 1 2 3 4 5 6
Points 8 6 4 3 2 1

Points system from 1969 onwards:

Position 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Points 15 12 10 8 6 5 4 3 2 1
Year Class Bike 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Pts Pos
1963 250cc Moto Morini ESP GER IOM NED BEL ULS DDR NAT
Ret		 ARG JPN 0 NC
1964 250cc Moto Morini USA ESP FRA IOM NED BEL GER
4		 DDR ULS NAT
4		 JPN 6 12th
1965 350cc MV Agusta GER
1		 IOM
3		 NED
3		 DDR
Ret		 CZE
Ret		 ULS FIN
1		 NAT
1		 JPN
5		 32 2nd
500cc MV Agusta USA GER
2		 IOM
Ret		 NED
2		 BEL
2		 DDR
2		 CZE
2		 ULS FIN
1		 NAT
2		 32 2nd
1966 350cc MV Agusta GER
Ret		 FRA
2		 NED
2		 DDR
1		 CZE
2		 FIN
Ret		 ULS
2		 IOM
1		 NAT
1		 JPN 42 2nd
500cc MV Agusta GER
2		 NED
2		 BEL
1		 DDR
Ret		 CZE
2		 FIN
1		 ULS
2		 IOM
2		 NAT
1		 36 1st
1967 350cc MV Agusta GER
2		 IOM
2		 NED
2		 DDR
2		 CZE
7		 ULS
1		 NAT
Ret		 JPN 32 2nd
500cc MV Agusta GER
1		 IOM
Ret		 NED
2		 BEL
1		 DDR
1		 CZE
2		 FIN
1		 ULS
20		 NAT
1		 CAN
2		 46 1st
1968 350cc MV Agusta GER
1		 IOM
1		 NED
1		 DDR
1		 CZE
1		 ULS
1		 NAT
1		 32 1st
500cc MV Agusta GER
1		 ESP
1		 IOM
1		 NED
1		 BEL
1		 DDR
1		 CZE
1		 FIN
1		 ULS
1		 NAT
1		 48 1st
1969 350cc MV Agusta ESP
1		 GER
1		 IOM
1		 NED
1		 DDR
1		 CZE
1		 FIN
1		 ULS
1		 NAT YUG 90 1st
500cc MV Agusta ESP
1		 GER
1		 FRA
1		 IOM
1		 NED
1		 BEL
1		 DDR
1		 CZE
1		 FIN
1		 ULS
1		 NAT YUG 105 1st
1970 350cc MV Agusta GER
1		 YUG
1		 IOM
1		 NED
1		 DDR
1		 CZE
1		 FIN
1		 ULS
1		 NAT
1		 ESP 105 1st
500cc MV Agusta GER
1		 FRA
1		 YUG
1		 IOM
1		 NED
1		 BEL
1		 DDR
1		 FIN
1		 ULS
1		 NAT
1		 ESP 90 1st
1971 350cc MV Agusta AUT
1		 GER
1		 IOM
Ret		 NED
1		 DDR
1		 CZE
Ret		 SWE
1		 FIN
1		 ULS NAT
Ret		 ESP 90 1st
500cc MV Agusta AUT
1		 GER
1		 IOM
1		 NED
1		 BEL
1		 DDR
1		 SWE
1		 FIN
1		 ULS NAT
Ret		 ESP 90 1st
1972 350cc MV Agusta GER
2		 FRA
4		 AUT
1		 NAT
1		 IOM
1		 YUG
Ret		 NED
1		 DDR
Ret		 CZE
Ret		 SWE
1		 FIN
1		 ESP 102 1st
500cc MV Agusta GER
1		 FRA
1		 AUT
1		 NAT
1		 IOM
1		 YUG
Ret		 NED
1		 BEL
1		 DDR
1		 CZE
1		 SWE
1		 FIN
1		 ESP 105 1st
1973 350cc MV Agusta FRA
1		 AUT
Ret		 GER
Ret		 NAT
1		 IOM YUG NED
1		 CZE
2		 SWE
2		 FIN
1		 ESP 84 1st
500cc MV Agusta FRA
Ret		 AUT
Ret		 GER
Ret		 NAT
C		 IOM YUG NED
Ret		 BEL
1		 CZE
1		 SWE
2		 FIN
1		 ESP 57 3rd
1974 350cc Yamaha FRA
1		 GER AUT
1		 NAT
1		 IOM NED
1		 SWE
DNS		 FIN YUG
1		 ESP 75 1st
500cc Yamaha FRA
Ret		 GER AUT
1		 NAT
Ret		 IOM NED
1		 BEL
2		 SWE
Ret		 FIN CZE
6		 47 4th
1975 350cc Yamaha FRA
2		 ESP
1		 AUT
Ret		 GER
Ret		 NAT
2		 IOM NED
4		 FIN
2		 CZE
Ret		 YUG 59 2nd
500cc Yamaha FRA
1		 AUT
Ret		 GER
1		 NAT
1		 IOM NED
2		 BEL
Ret		 SWE
Ret		 FIN
1		 CZE
2		 84 1st
1976 350cc MV Agusta FRA
Ret		 AUT
Ret		 NAT
Ret		 YUG
Ret		 IOM NED
1		 FIN
Ret		 CZE
Ret		 GER
Ret		 ESP 15 15th
500cc MV Agusta FRA
5		 AUT
6		 GER
1		 26 7th
Suzuki NAT
Ret		 IOM NED
Ret		 BEL
Ret		 SWE FIN
Ret		 CZE
Ret
1977 350cc Yamaha VEN GER
2		 NAT
8		 ESP
-		 FRA
11		 YUG
-		 NED
-		 SWE
13		 FIN
-		 CZE
10		 GBR
-		 16 16th
500cc Yamaha VEN AUT GER NAT
5		 FRA
2		 NED
Ret		 BEL
8		 SWE
9		 FIN
Ret		 CZE
2		 GBR
9		 37 6th

Complete Formula 750 Championship results

Year Class Bike 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Pts Pos
1975 750cc Yamaha USA
4		 ITA 1 ITA 2 BEL 1 BEL 2 FRA 1 FRA 2 SWE 1 SWE 2 FIN 1 FIN 2 SIL 1 SIL 2 NED 1 NED 2 GER 1 GER 2 8 21st
1976 750cc Yamaha USA VEN 1 VEN 2 ITA 1 ITA 2 ESP 1 ESP 2 BEL 1 BEL 2 FRA 1 FRA 2
3		 SIL 1 SIL 2 NED 1 NED 2
1		 GER 1 GER 2 12 18th
1977 750cc Yamaha USA ITA 1 ITA 2
3		 ESP FRA 1 FRA 2 GBR 1 GBR 2 AUT
2		 BEL 1 BEL 2 NED 1
4		 NED 2
4		 USA 1 USA 2 CAN 1 CAN 2 GER 1
1		 GER 2
1		 45 3rd

Complete British Formula One Championship results

(key)

Year[9] Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Pos Pts.
1979 Giacomo Agostini Williams FW06 Cosworth ZOL
9		 OUL
6		 BRH
5		 MAL
Ret		 SNE
2		 THR
6		 ZAN
3		 DON
9		 OUL
3		 NOG
Ret		 MAL
Ret		 BRH
Ret		 THR
6		 SNE
7		 SIL
7		 8th 19
1980 Giacomo Agostini Williams FW06 Cosworth OUL
 BRH
4		 SIL
Ret		 MAL
 THR
4		 MNZ
3		 MAL
 SNE
Ret		 BRH
3		 THR
3		 OUL
 SIL
3		 5th 22

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Giacomo Agostini at the Motorcycle Hall of Fame". motorcyclemuseum.org. Retrieved 8 March 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Giacomo Agostini career results". motogp.com. Retrieved 8 April 2017.
  3. ↑ "2000 MotoGP Legends: Roberts, Hailwood, Nieto, Rainey, Schwantz, Agostini". MotoGP.com. Dorna Sports. 7 March 2002. Archived from the original on 18 November 2021. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  4. ↑ "FIM Legends" (PDF). fim-live.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 October 2020. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 50 Years Of Moto Grand Prix. (1999)(1st Ed). Hazelton Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-874557-83-7
  6. ↑ "Giacomo Agostini Isle of Man TT results". iomtt.com. Retrieved 8 April 2017.
  7. ↑ Amick, Bill (January 1975). 1974 Grand National Championship Series Summary. Retrieved 8 March 2017. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  8. ↑ Schelzig, Erik. "Daytona 200 celebrates 75th running of once-prestigious race". seattletimes.com. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
  9. 1 2 "Giacomo Agostini auto racing career profile". forix.com. Retrieved 8 April 2017.
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