Who is the greatest motorcycle roadracer ever? Giacomo Agostini, Valentino Rossi, Mike Hailwood, Angel Nieto, Jorge Lorenzo, Mick Doohan? Each era has its hero, but everyone is unanimous in recognizing the absolute role of Giacomo Agostini. The numbers speak in his favor. With 15 world titles and 122 GP wins, the Italian is widely regarded as the best rider of all time, thanks to a spectacular career in the second half of the 1960s and first part of the 1970s. For the record, Rossi has 9 titles and 112 victories, Nieto has “12+1” titles and 90 wins, while Hailwood can boast 9 world crowns and 76 wins. We chatted with “Ago” at Misano last week.
Cycle World: How did you used to feel going on the track every Sunday?
Giacomo Agostini: “The racetracks used to be very dangerous, but there was no choice: You raced under those conditions or you stayed home. The leathers, the helmets, the tracks, everything was different. There was no airbag as nowadays. In those times, it was not allowed to crash. I used to disappear before lining up on the starting grid. People thought that I wanted to concentrate for the race. This was true, but I was also scared to death! Some people remember the old times, highlighting the show and stating that the spectators want to see the blood. This is not true. Spectators want to see riding at the limit, breath-taking overtaking, hard battles, maybe crashes, but without consequences. At my time, there were too many tragic incidents, and the following race there were less spectators. Then people forget, and the crowd would return to pack the grandstands.”
CW: Exactly 50 years ago you scored your first GP win at the Nurburgring. How has roadracing changed?
GA: “I have participated in the evolution of roadracing, changing according to the trends—from the black leather and bowl helmet to the bi-color leathers and the wide tires. I followed all the evolutions, and stopped before the arrival of electronics. Not only the motorbikes have changed. Technology and riding style have changed, too. Safety has taken a huge step forward. When I was racing at Daytona in 1974, I was exiting the corner at 270 km/h (168 mph) with the guardrail only a few centimeters away!”
CW: Were the 500cc two-stroke bikes more difficult to ride than current MotoGP bikes?
GA: “I don’t think so. Maybe it’s easier now to reach a certain level, but winning is as hard as it used to be in the old times. Today the electronics represents a big help for the rider, doing what we used to do with our sensitivity and talent in using the throttle. But the world goes on. We are dealing with a generation of young riders who grew up with the electronics and cannot understand that for us the ‘wrist’ was very important.”
CW: Speaking about two-stokes: Your decision to sign with Yamaha after having dominated with the MV Agusta four-stroke was a huge decision.
GA: “It was not easy, as I was leaving my second family to work with a Japanese company. But I had to do it because in my opinion the two-stroke machines were the future. I flew to Japan and after two weeks I realized that at Yamaha I had found another family. I started to understand how they worked and how to ride a two-stroke bike. Then I won the first race at Daytona.”
CW: You made the debut at the Daytona 200, challenging King Kenny Roberts. It was the confrontation of the old and the new world. How were you welcomed?
GA: “It was strange. General Motors provided me a white Chevrolet with the number 13, referred to my world titles. Kenny (Roberts) declared to the media that he was the world champion, as the USA was the reference, not Europe. I didn’t answer but on Sunday I won. The first step on the podium confirmed that I was the number 1. Of course there was rivalry as Kenny was the national hero in US, but there was respect. That year, the Daytona 200 had a record number of spectators. There were airplanes coming from Italy, France, and Germany. It was a great show.”
CW: How did Kenny Roberts change the style of riding?
GA: “Kenny was racing in the US with the wide tires and had a very spectacular riding style: His lines were wider and he was leaning a lot as he was used to on the American racetracks. On the contrary, in Europe we were used to frequent and fast changes of directions. Kenny introduced this “wide” riding style, which today could be compared to [Jorge] Lorenzo’s style. It’s the opposite of [Marc] Marquez’s style. Valentino [Rossi] is in between. This is the style I prefer. Kenny arrived in Europe in 1978, the year after I stopped racing. We met again on track in 1983 when I was the manager of the Yamaha team with Kenny Roberts and Eddie Lawson.”
CW: Who was your toughest rival?
GA: “Mike Hailwood. He was a great talent. He was racing in three classes (125cc, 250cc and 500cc) and was always winning. One of the best memories I have is of battling with Mike at the Isle of Man in 1967. I was leading, but I broke my chain on the last lap. Mike won, but he invited me for dinner because he knew I could have won that day. Winning over Hailwood at the Isle of Man is not something for everybody. So this was a special day.”
CW: Did the premiere class lose part of its fascination with electronics?
GA: “A young rider will say it doesn’t. But Valentino would say yes, as he started with the 500cc two-stroke, and he knows what he’s talking about. I believe the electronics limits in a way the great differences with the riders.”
CW: Looking at the current MotoGP season, who will win the title?
GA: “Valentino is a professional. Race after race the tension will grow, and he knows how to handle it. He has the experience to make the difference and he can manage the gap on Lorenzo. This advantage for Valentino means a lot. In racing, anything can happen, but I think the title will be decided at the very last race.”
CW: Tell us a strength and a weakness for Valentino.
GA: “I can only say that Rossi is a great champion.”
CW: What about Jorge Lorenzo?
GA: “He is also a great champion. Maybe from a psychological point of view he is a bit more fragile and emotional.”
CW: And Marc Marquez?
GA: “He is aggressive and hungry to win. He always attacks. He is young. Considering his age, I think it’s right that he acts like this instead of being conservative.”
CW: Finally, who is the G.O.A.T (Greatest Of All Time)?
GA: It’s difficult to say. We often forget Mike Hailwood, John Surtees, even Tazio Nuvolari. Every era has its hero. I have a few records: 311 wins in total, 18 Italian Championships, 123 GP wins and 15 world titles. Valentino is very close to me with 112 GP victories. He can beat this record. Everybody likes to be number 1, so I cannot say that I’d be happy if he equals me. But if a rider has to take my record, I prefer that it’s a very good rider like Valentino. Who is the greatest? Who excites the crowd today? Rossi, not me. In my time, it was me. In 20 years, we will have a new reference. But if you look at the statistics, I have more titles and more wins. So, for the moment, it’s me!”