Ago

AGO

A Dashing Italian Star Assumes The Throne As Hailwood Hangs It Up

WITH THE RETIREMENT of Mike Hailwood, in favor of car racing, comes the end of an era. In 10 fantastic years, in which he equaled Italian Carlo Ubbiali's all-time record of nine world championships, Hailwood snaffled 11 Isle of Man TT wins, countless hundreds of other victories and the world one-hour record of 144 mph.

In doing so, he put a stranglehold on racing the likes of which had never been seen before. But can it happen again? Hailwood’s totem pole could have boasted a few more notches were it not for the high-speed activities of a volatile, curly-headed Italian called Giacomo Agostini. In 1965, Count Agusta bought him from Morini after Agostini had shown outstanding ability in Italian races on a 250 Morini Single. He joined Hailwood as MV’s second string, but a remarkable series of rides soon established him as Mike’s natural successor.

Then 22, having only three years’ experience, Agostini too often seemed like an accident looking for a place to happen. Fiery, abundantly brave, he seemed likely to have his last plateful of spaghetti long before he reached the top of the ladder. In his first world championship outing, the 1965 West German Grand Prix, he handled the new threecylinder 350-cc MV with fantastic verve on treacherously wet Nurburgring roads. Then king of the class, Jim Redman (Honda) tried to match the Italian’s speed on the tricky 4.8-mile circuit, but Jim made a spectacular exit through a hedge. Hailwood, on the old, slow MV Four, was left trailing far behind.

In the Isle of Man five weeks later, Agostini electrified everyone by heading the Senior leaderboard on his first three outings. He eventually finished 3rd in the Junior, and slid off in the Senior. But he had caught the public’s imagination. Overnight he was a star.

A born genius, or just plain lucky? A bit of both, for his riding ability was that of a “natural,” a mixture of tremendous dash and bravery with uncanny judgment and great self-confidence. The GP and TT successes were the result of many hours’ reconnaissance of the two circuits, hours spent on the course memorizing each turn and sequence of corners, studying the best line, noting braking points and changes of surface. In short, Ago displayed an intelligent approach to a complex situation-in contrast with his carefree, abandoned style in the hot seat.

Throw away half his ability, and his Latin good looks would still assure him of a No. 1 pop rating, not only with the fair sex but also with their escorts. A heart throb, or a hero, must look the part. Of medium stature and compact build, Agostini’s dark curly hair crowns the sort of handsome, well-chiseled features which could only have come from

the land of Sophia Loren and Gina Lollobrigida. Ago could walk into any movie studio and win a part without opening his mouth. As it happened, he was dragged into an Italian studio, was tested and found fit for instant screening. Then he opened his mouth and said, “Arrivederci, not today, thanks. Count Agusta says I ride his bikes, so I do. Come back again sometime, when I’m older and not so fast, maybe then I think of your films.” So what does one do with a nut like that? They put him in a syndicated comic strip!

DAVID DIXON

Ago, as the fans call him, has a lot in common with Hailwood. Independent financially, as sons of wealthy parents, the two have minds of their own, know what they want and usually get it. Mike is the more forceful. Ago charms his way to his goal. In the season they spent together on MVs, 1965, Ago learned more than riding tricks from Mike. He also immersed himself in the grand prix rider’s way of life, swanning around between meetings in a coffee-colored Porsche. (“Yes, I lika the Ferrari but is not necessary for me to have a big car. Maybe for Mike, but not me.”)

Mike, fluent in Italian, taught Ago his first English. Ago orders breakfast in “Mike’s English”—“Two (censored) eggs, a pot of (censored) coffee, and make it pretty damn swift, you greasy great (censored) twit.” By the time he had added other campanions’ choice swear words to his vocabulary, the young Italian would have made a sailor blush.

Even before he began to speak Mike’s English, Agostini’s effervescent personality had transmitted itself to race followers everywhere. He rapidly attracted as many admirers as Mike. They painted their crash helmets the same colors as Ago’s (red, green and gold), pinned his pictures on bedroom walls and followed his every race with a fervor unknown among Hailwood’s fans.

Now 26, and still a bachelor-though he had a narrow escape from the altar a year ago-Agostini has star quality to match his riding ability. Yet no one begrudges him his popularity. A man at the top is there to be shot at, quite unjustifiably (as Hailwood found to his cost on many occasions) but Agostini, like Sophia Loren, is universally popular and disliked by none. He has earned this by maintaining certain principles (an outdated fashion among present-day professionals) such as sticking to MV Agustas instead of lobbying Honda or Yamaha for a contract. His desire to be friendly with everyone is a genuine feeling, and fans always find him approachable, and usually in a good humor. If he’s in a bad one, which is rare, he’s not to be found.

He is more even-tempered than Hailwood. Ago never blows his top, in spite of being more excitable than Mike. But Ago did not have Hailwood’s problems with Hondas! And Ago, like all Italians, thrives on adulation, whereas too much of it for too long embarrasses Hailwood.

Like Hailwood, but unlike many Italians, Ago is not devious. His views are expressed pointedly and honestly. He says what he thinks, and with as much diplomacy as his command of English allows. He admires Hailwood more than anyone else, except perhaps Count Agusta. “When Mike and 1 are racing, I trust him completely” says Ago. “He is very fast, but very safe, and when I follow him I know exactly what he is going to do every time. He has taught me so much. The only thing he has not shown me is how to go faster than him! The proudest moment of my life was when I won the 500-cc world title from Mike and Honda in 1966. But I felt sorry for Mike in 1967 when I won the title for the second time. Mike would have won that title if his Honda had not let him down.”

In spite of his screen test, and the offer of some good racing cars from Enzo Ferrari, Agostini is likely to continue motorcycle racing as long as Count Agusta provides the bikes. And Ago will make a race of it for the first few laps of each event, will mix it with the privateers and give the crowd a thrill before scooting off to win. For the little Italian has motorcycling in his blood. He loves the sport and is likely to love it twice as much without the worry of battling with Hailwood. And, with four world titles and three TT wins, he could beat Hailwood’s record of records. The money is good, too, though nowhere near the $50,000 or so a year that Hailwood was reputed to have earned from Honda. But even half that amount is enough to keep a chap in Porsches and wild, wild women for quite some time.