News

[Seeker]

Agostini is riding an MV-Agusta at the Classic TT. (He's 76)

https://www.rideapart.com/articles/3...classic-tt-mv/

I saw Agostini race the 3 and 4 cylinder 500cc bikes, I always thought the MV sounded "flat" as if something was wrong with it but since it always seemed to be in the lead at the chequered flag, I guess that what it was supposed to sound like.

On less happy news, Gene Romero has passed away. There used to be a brilliant race series that pitted American riders against Brits. It was held over Easter at 3 tracks Brands (I think), Mallory and Oulton. I cannot remember which came first but one year they all road works Triumph Tridents or BSA Rocket 3 (which always sounded incredible) but other years there were works Kawasaki triples, Suzuki triples. John Player Nortons and so on. Gene Romero was one of the American riders - back then most US riders were relatively unknown this side of the pond and, although we won, it wasn't as easy as we expected. The American riders were very talented.

https://www.rideapart.com/articles/3...ro-dies-at-71/

[Craig380]

That's sad about Gene. A proper old-school racer, the US riders were tough because of the demands of AMA championship racing.

Have a look on Youtube for the Barry Sheene Daytona documentary about his 1975 crash - as well as being fascinating, Romero appears in it because he wins the 200 and visits Barry in hospital, and they have a very funny chat (mostly taking the pee out of Kenny Roberts).

I've got a nice Ago story which I'll post later ....

[Craig380]

Link to the video here: worth having a look at Gary Nixon's x-rays that are shown too. Racers truly are a different breed.

https://www.motorcyclistonline.com/1...g-barry-sheene

[Craig380]

Right, my Ago story.

In 1999 me and my dad went to Elvington for an evening talk by Ago, Jim Redman and Phil Read about their GP days.

A collector had brought along John Surtees' 1958 World Championship winning MV 500-four to display, and the idea was that Ago was going to ride it into the venue. I cottoned onto this so me and my dad went outside to listen to the MV fire up. When we got there, there was just Ago and the bike's owner.

So my dad and I shook hands with Ago and my dad had a little chat with him. Then the owner asked if we'd help push-start the bike as he had a dodgy knee. Well, we didn't need asking twice.

We pushed about 5 steps, Ago dumped the clutch and bounced on the seat, and the BARK as it chimed in on all four was awesome, followed by the growl of the revs as he blipped it to keep her running.

I can still picture it like it was yesterday - my dad walking behind the MV with a grin like a 10-year-old as Ago revved and paddled it into the venue, the exhaust blast blowing my dad's hair out of place. Believe me, an unsilenced 50s GP bike sounds effing lovely in a hallway