"Paso"

"Paso"

A Look At Benelli's Unorthodox Stylist

CARLO PERELLI

RENZO PASOLINI for the second year has captured the 250 and 350 Italian Senior Championships. More important, in securing the 350 title in the Adriatic Coast spring meetings this year, he scored four consecutive wins over double world champion Giacomo Agostini.

“Paso,” as he is nicknamed by his fans, is absolutely antithetical to his rival, both in private life and in racing. Ago is a star. He frequently is featured on television and in magazine articles. He has had offers to appear in movies and to ride works Ferraris. Handsome and always smiling, Agostini is adored by a multitude of fans, and especially enjoys the attention of his female following. On the tracks, he is a delight to watch for his dashing, yet clean style.

Paso is more modest, even somewhat an introvert. He shies away from publicity and crowds, shielding himself with a gruff demeanor. Married in 1964, he enjoys family life with his wife and three-year-old daughter in their Rimini cottage. Only racing lures him from them.

In 1958, Pasolini first competed in ISDT type events and in scrambles. He believes this experience fashioned his spectacular, unpredictable racing style, which amazes spectators everywhere. The typical riding techniques seem unnatural to him. After trying to adopt them, he reverted to his own system, which, fortunately, has seldom brought him trouble.

Pasolini was born in Rimini, Italy, on July 18, 1938. His father, Massimo, was a prewar Benelli rider, as well as a friend to Lino Tonti, who was then establishing the Benelli factory at Pesaro. In early postwar days, Massimo Pasolini raced the first Linto, a chain-driven dohc 125-cc single-cylinder, and assisted Tonti in building a revolutionary 125-cc two-stroke roadster, which was purchased by Aermacchi.

Lino Tonti and the Pasolini family emigrated to Varese in 1949. Massimo continued to compete on Aermacchis, designed by Tonti. In 1956, on a “flying cigar” powered by a dohc single-cylinder, based on the first Linto racing engine, he set the 75-cc one-mile and flying start one-kilometer world records at 104 mph. These records still stand after 13 years.

The future champion also had his start with Aermacchi. In 1959, he was chosen to test a racing mount on the magical Monza track. Says Renzo, “I was very anxious to show my skill and very excited to have a go, although I had never seen Monza before. So, when the attendants opened the gate, like a bull entering the arena, I roared into the track in the reverse direction! It took the people there quite some time to stop me and make me go the right way around.” But the tests were satisfactory, and Renzo entered junior class competition, riding 175-cc Golden Wing models.

Monza was the site of another Pasolini memory. “I was even more spectacular those days, because, although a bit nearsighted, I didn’t wear glasses. I had some close escapes. Signor Bianchi, Aermacchi technical director, forced me to wear them after I missed some signals he made during a training session at Monza. Yes, I saw somebody there, but partially because I was flat out and partially because of my vision, I didn’t notice the signs. Signor Bianchi was specific —specs or no more works Aermacchi. I bought the specs and have worn them since.”

After military service, Paso returned to junior racing action in 1962. At this time, he first clashed with Agostini, who had three years less experience. Though his mount was inferior to Ago’s works Morini, Paso defeated him twice, at Monza and at Rimini.

In 1965, Paso graduated to the senior class, competing in Italy and abroad alongside veteran Gilberto Milani. His Aermacchi could not be pushed to 1st places, but his growing skill took him to 4th in the 1965 Dutch TT, behind Jim Redman, Mike Hailwood, and Agostini. More improved in 1966, he placed 3rd in the 350 World Championship (after Hailwood and Agostini), 2nd in the Italian 250 Senior Championship, and 3rd in the Italian 350 Senior Championship.

Late that year, Benelli chose Pasolini to replace Tarquinio Provini, after the disastrous TT crash. In Paso’s initial performance on the Pesaro “fire engine” in the last round of the Italian Senior Championship at Vallelunga, he won the 500 class with a 350. Paso had led Ago, who ultimately crashed, and so confirmed Benelli’s choice.

In 1967, Paso won at Alicante (250), Modena (500, over Ago), Cesenatico (350, over Ago and Hailwood), Rimini (350, over Ago and Hailwood) and Pergusa (250).

In 1968 he claimed the 250 and 350 Italian Senior Championship crowns. In the 350 class, he defeated Ago and Hailwood at Cesenatico and Imola, but in the remaining five rounds, including the 350 TT, Agostini was the victor. Paso took 2nd place in the Lightweight TT.

Though one round remains in the Italian Senior Championship for 1969, Pasolini is sure of the title. But it is another opportunity for the Rimini challenger to practice against Agostini for the World Championship title races, which Benelli at long last has decided to support.