In a house on a hill on the outskirts of Bergamo, near Milan, lives the king of motorcycling and he is not happy. This is Giacomo Agostini, former film star, serial seducer and owner of all-time bragging rights. It is three decades since the romantic hero stopped flirting with women and death, but the memories remain vivid, which is why he is angry about what he sees as the lost grand prix.
Tomorrow, in Valencia, Valentino Rossi will wrap up the MotoGP season, having secured an eighth world title. Some have suggested that Rossi will go on to surpass Agostini’s fabled mark of 122 grand prix wins. Fabled and, according to the man himself, flawed. “They talk about Valentino beating my 122, but I actually won 123,” he said. “The record books don’t count my 750cc win at Hockenheim in 1977. My last victory. It is wrong. Valentino can win at 800cc, 1,000cc and 125cc, but they won’t count my 750cc victory.”
It may sound a minor point, but it shows how passionate Agostini is about his legacy. Rossi, who has 97 wins, is respectful of the legend and has struck a retirement deal with him. “Valentino said to me that when he gets one short of my number he will ask me whether he should stay or go. People expect me to be happy when he breaks my records, but why should I be?”
Flair and Latin machismo meant that Agostini fraternised with royalty and Hollywood stars. He made three films and dined with Gina Lollobrigida and Imelda Marcos. Like Rossi, he dragged motorcycling from its outsider status towards the mainstream. Then, in 1982, Agostini, as a team manager, signed Graziano Rossi, later the most famous father in the paddock.
Agostini remains a success. His cavernous villa is decked out with art and trophies and 15 bikes are in the garage, one for every title. Rossi’s revival, after two barren years, is huge news in Italy; only Agostini had regained the title after such a lull. “It’s hard to compare between generations, but Valentino is the best of his, I was of mine,” Agostini said. “The difference between Valentino and his rivals? They are very good, but he is great.”
