The guest of honor yesterday of the Motor Show was Giacomo Agostini: the 15-time world champion motorcycle took the stage set up by the BBC in Hall 36, where he answered questions from many fans eager to know many curious things about him.
Here is a selection of all the most interesting questions: Let's clarify one thing: your winnings are 122 or 123? In any case now Valentino does not seem able to pick you up ... " Although I was convinced he had won 122 races, then a Spanish friend called me and told me that he thought were 123. At that point I went to check and jumped off a world championship race in 750, in which I won at Hockenheim in Germany and then the count rose to 123. As for Valentino, it's pretty close, but unfortunately for him this year is not managed to win. However, it is still young, has many years ahead, so it may well be able to beat my record, even if it is not easy . " What do you expect from him and Ducati in 2012? " I am convinced that eventually the Ducati is a motorcycle so bad, it's just a little 'different to drive compared to Yamaha, Valentino then need to know it best to exploit it properly. He's probably having a great sensitivity, immediately feel the small flaws that can have a bike and maybe this is not the only somewhat 'in doing what he wants. Also because I am convinced that it may have lost his prowess in the winter.
Certainly his opponents are very aggressive and also from the point of view things do not turn master in his favor, but I'm sure that in 2012 will see something more . " You have done the opposite direction, by the Italian MV Agusta Yamaha ... " I have won 13 World Cup with MV, which was a big house, but then I saw that the two-stroke engines were advancing, and those four times were disappearing.'s why I decided to change and go to Yamaha, where he won two more world titles. At that very time, the four-stroke engines are gone and not to If you have not spoken to them for over twenty years. Go to the two days was still a good choice, otherwise I'd never been able to win . " What was the best race fought in your career? " It I have been through many, but perhaps more willingly than I remember it is a race that I won the Tourist Trophy.
I fought until the last lap with Mike Hailwood. He ran with Honda and I will with the MV: the final lap I was in the lead with eight seconds ahead, and already dreaming of victory, but then the chain broke and I had to retire. He took me to celebrate on the podium, however, because it was a great sportsman, saying that the race was my moral, also because he was virtually unbeatable at the TT. I would have paid anything to really be able to beat him . " Compared to your time, things have changed a lot in terms of security? And then the pilot had more than it is today? " With respect to security has been done so much fortunately. The tracks were dangerous because they were roads open to traffic, so when you die you dropped a lot. You did not have the suits, helmets did not have that there are today, the air bags did not exist. When he died in the Tourist Trophy Italian Gilberto Parlotti, because he missed a curve and ended up in a ravine, as pilots have begun to challenge these circuits very dangerous and because of this that Today the tracks have become very safe, with adequate space to escape. After the fall pilots get up as if nothing had happened, then there can sometimes be fatal, but now it happens every twenty years.
With regard to technology, I believe that today there's too much mail. I remember in my time I said I had a great wrist, why did everything with that. Today, however, does all the electronics, even if compared to Formula 1 I think the pilot is even more important. In I think my time, however, that the pilot could make more difference . " How is your relationship with Valentino? " I know him that he still had two years, because his father Graziano ran for my team. It 'a nice guy , has a great talent and was able to make motorcycling with its media found after the race and interviews. It 'a great, even though many might not think so because you do not see much in public, or perhaps because does not stop to sign autographs. But we must also understand that if you stopped to sign autographs at all do not shed any more. However, I respect him a lot and is a friend . " Why did you choose this career? "
There is no a particular explanation. Since I was born I started to think about the bike: I wanted to race with the bike and my parents did not want to, but apparently it was in my DNA. In my time was needed to start running the signature of a parent and I am managed to get through to a notary who was a family friend. He persuaded my father to sign, but only because he knew I wanted to race in cycling. When he realized his mistake but it was too late . " prefer the four-stroke or two days? " I have the heart four times, the noise it makes and how you drive. With the two times I had great satisfaction, but no doubt prefer the four-strokes . " What was your title fight more and heard? " There have been more easy and more stretched, but what I carry in my heart is the first, which I obtained in 1966 at Monza in front of 150,000 people. It 's like the first love, never forget even if every world championship is one thing that remains unique in the heart . " In your opinion what was the cause of death of Marco Simoncelli? " I would say a great fatality. When he crashed, the bike did not fall completely. If it were so, the bike would go out and nothing would have happened. But the bike has continued because the curve has taken grip and then pull. Unfortunately, behind him came two other bikes that could not do anything to avoid it . Fortunately such accidents do not happen a lot . " But Mark has left a great void ... " Mark was a boy loved by all, because it was very simple.
A month before he died he told me that I would come to find Bergamo, given that his girlfriend is one of those parties, to go eat a pizza. This suggests that it was a simple guy and that's why he was loved so much . " With the void left by Simoncelli, see an Italian promise for the future? " It 'hard, we have some young guys, but to get where he is Valentino to wait a few years. In Italy we had a great first school, then was a little' abandoned. Fortunately, the Federation has understood that to be done something to help young people because they do not by themselves can do it to arrive. Before we were the most in the Championship, but now Spain has taken over, because the Federation has been able to work well, throwing many young people value . " About is the fiercest competitor you remember? " I've had so many strong rivals, but if I do say a name only Mike Hailwood, one capable of winning four races in the Tourist Trophy in the same edition, a lot of stuff in those days . " In your opinion Andrea Dovizioso can aspire to be world title and a new promise for the Italian motorcycling? "
I Dovizioso follow him for several years because it is a very good rider, who uses his head and driving with great professionalism. Now he must begin to win, but I would say give him one more chance next year, perhaps because the Yamaha might be the bike for him. We hope for good . " That the TT track is still the most difficult? " Driving on the track of the TT is always a great emotion, but you have to do it without thinking too much because otherwise it is impossible to go fast. Three years ago I was there with Valentino Rossi and we toured together. He was excited about it but told me not to run here even if I give one million euros . " Of the current drivers, who would you like to challenge to a duel, "melee"? " Being able to take off my thirty years of age, surely Valentine . " What do you think about whether they wanted more regular duels "melee "? " The duel is because it takes what one shows his class and his courage. Motorcyclists also do not want to see the trains as it happens from time to time in Formula 1.
It 'Clearly, it takes a little' of respect between the riders, because otherwise it can happen a bang. More than against duels, I am opposed to these very hard tires that have been used in recent years, which last throughout the race with the same performance. For me, just take a rubber is the same for everyone, but that falls a little 'its performance over the last ten laps. If we are all equal, is a great way to bring out the pilot's skill and sensitivity in the guide . " What do you think of Max Biaggi? " Biaggi is definitely a champion. He won both the World Championship and then was repeated in the Superbike, proving that he still has much to give at age 40. perhaps he pays his way of asking a little 'brusqueness it does appear presumptuous. Many love him, but not all, perhaps because of it. Although I think that over the years has matured and improved from this point of view. Anyway, I really like driving it because it does so with great technique and precision ".
source: omnicorse.it
