Giacomo Agostini: “I was born for motorcycling! »

He never came down from his throne! At the age of 80, the Italian remains the tutelary figure of motorcycling, and not only thanks to his 15 world titles and 122 victories. Audience, on four wheels, with “King Ago”.

Published on 27/01/2023 à 13:30

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Giacomo Agostini: “I was born for motorcycling! »

Giacomo Agostini Icon of motorcycle Grand Prix © Bernard Asset

A Peugeot 408 station wagon! We are far from the world of motorcycles and competition…

It's the car of a friend, Arnaldo Wittemberg, my right-hand man for over twenty years. For my 80th birthday he produced a remarkable book called “ The king with 15 crowns » and a vehicle was needed to bring examples to the Circuit Paul-Ricard (Carpooling made during the Sunday Ride Classic 2022. Editor’s note). There you go, you know the why and the how… (Laughs)

How did your passion for motorcycles begin?

I don't know ! It came naturally. In Brescia (Italy), no one in my family had any connection with motorcycles, and no one understood why I had this attraction. I was born with this in me. It could have been the mountains, the bike or I don't know what else. It was the motorcycle. Just the bike!

Who were your heroes?

Tarquinio Provini (125 cc world champion in 3 and 1957 cc in 250. Editor's note), to whom I succeeded at Moroni, Carlo Ubbiali (9 titles in 125 and 250 cm3 in the 50s. Editor’s note), Gary Hocking (double world champion 350 cc and 3 cc in 500. Editor’s note) or even John Surtees (only rider to have achieved the feat of being titled in Moto, seven times between 1958 and 1960, and in F1, with Ferrari in 1964. Editor’s note).

At what age do you start riding motorcycle competitions?

I won my first “trophy” at 11 years old riding a 250cc Moto Guzzi. It was the police who gave it to me when the gendarmes