Everyone knows “the king”, at least by name. If you follow motorcycle Grands Prix, even recently, you know that there was, in the past, a (very) dominant Italian rider. Giacomo Agostini rode in the world championship in the 1960s and 1970s. In total, he accumulated fifteen titles, including eight in 500cc. Absolutely legendary! However, his concrete exploits are not so well known to the general public.
So let's turn back the clock!
Here we are at the beginning of 1968. Giacomo Agostini is already considered one of the pillars of the world. The Italian is a double reigning 500cc world champion, and is preparing to put his title back on the line. He is playing on a MV Agusta efficient, but not yet at the top of its art: 1967 was more than contested, and Mike Hailwood on
Honda score the same number of points as the
king “Ago”.
Honda, in the meantime, decided to withdraw from the world championship in order to concentrate on the Formula 1 program; which left the field open to MV. Hailwood, the only man capable of containing Agostini, was unable to find his handlebars in time. Before it even started, the year seemed complicated for the competition.
The season began on Nurburgring and already, the suspense was nipped in the bud. Agostini set off, far in front, and was not caught again. In 350cc, but also in 500cc. At the time, almost all drivers raced in several categories during the same weekend, for the same manufacturer.
This easy victory marks the start of a series that is still unmatched and unparalleled. We will have to wait until the penultimate race of the 1973 season to see a rider other than Giacomo Agostini cross the line in the lead when the latter was still riding, in 500cc. This is the greatest period of invincibility in history.
The king, quite simply. Photo: Nationaal Archief
Of course, Agostini sometimes fell and retired due to mechanical failure, but on the track, no one finished ahead of him “regularly” for almost six years. It is Phil Read, who, at the Swedish Grand Prix, ended the Italian reign. Moreover, it is the British also evolving on MV Agusta who won this championship.
The worst part is that it's only 500cc! In 350cc, we had to wait until 1972 and Jarno Saarinen to dethrone Ago in the race. Amid all this is an even more impregnable record: a series of twenty victories in a row (including retirements and non-participations), from the opening round of 1968 to the 1969 Ulster Grand Prix.
In this little game, no one can keep up with the official MV Agusta.
Mike Hailwood achieved the feat of winning twelve in a row, compared to ten for Mick doohan,
Marc Márquez and…Agostini again. Hardly believable.
This golden series could have extended to more than thirty, without an ego conflict! In 1969, the Grand Prix des Nations was not contested at Monza for the first time since the creation of the championship. Imola was selected as a replacement, but Count Agusta refused to send his machines outside his Milanese stronghold!
This allowed Alberto Pagani, on Linto, to win his first 500cc race.
This small study helps to better understand the Agostini domination. A name that still resonates today, but which remains vague despite everything. Indeed, the world championship lost great interest during these years, given the absence of major manufacturers. We'll have to wait until the end of the years 1970 to contemplate a breathtaking championship with several factories to share the cake.
Cover photo: Ligabo
