The Italian motorcycle company honors Giacomo Agostini with an exclusive Superveloce
“I dreamt of a summer day, my father telling me “don’t go too fast, Mino”. I liked the wind rushing towards me, the road fast-scrolling under the wheels. I learned that the ocean is just a lake, only bigger. And what it means to be in front, doing things others can’t do. Not to have that number 1 on the fairing, but to do a job I call love. Even if it can turn on you, and if you harm it, it will take its revenge. For with a bike you must give and take. Perhaps I’m still that child, perhaps I never stopped dreaming.”
MV Agusta has produced a limited edition Superveloce in honor of the great Giacomo Agostini, whom the AMA once described as “perhaps the greatest Grand Prix rider of all time.” This special 2022 edition Superveloce hearkens back to the multi-year world championships Agostini accrued, with dramatic period paint reminiscent of his title-winning bikes. MV is only producing 311 of these, for his total career wins, and the first 15 produced are dedicated to the 15 world titles Ago took across his 17-year racing career.
Ago in his championship years.
Giacomo Agostini was born June 16, 1942 in Brescia, Lombardy, a province in northern Italy. The oldest of four boys, “Ago” as he was nicknamed developed a penchant and passion for motorcycle racing at a young age, much to the chagrin of his father, who tried unsuccessfully to persuade him not to race. But Ago did race, and by 1963 won the Italian 175cc championship aboard a Moto Morini. The following year Agostini took the Italian 350cc title, and soon caught the eye of Count Domenico Agusta, who hired Ago to join his MV Agusta team along with Mike Hailwood.
The Agostini and MV partnership would become the stuff of legend, as Ago would go on to claim an unprecedented seven 500cc world championships in a row, seven 350cc world titles in a row, and an unbelievable ten Isle of Man TT wins. And we should mention Ago won the Ulster Grand Prix seven times as well- the IOMTT and Ulster TT being considered the most difficult and dangerous races in the world at the time, Ago being the only non-British Isles rider to ever have that level of success in those up to that point.
Agostini briefly rode for Yamaha in the 1974 and ’75 seasons, winning the Daytona 200, claiming the 350cc World Championship in 1974 then the 500cc title the following year. By 1976 Ago once again rode for MV Agusta as well as Yamaha, taking a win in the 350cc class at Assen and a win in the 500cc class at Nürburgring. Ago retired from the motorcycle road racing scene in 1977 after a 6th place season finish, promptly moving into Formula One and Two racing, then motorcycle racing team management by 1982. He managed various race teams and subsequent legends like Eddie Lawson, Graeme Crosby and Kenny Roberts before finally retiring in 1995.
What a career.
The 2022 MV Agusta Superveloce Ago.
MV Agusta pays tribute to the legendary racer with this exclusive Superveloce, and it is absolutely striking. The livery makes one pause and do a double-take, with first-glance thoughts of, “Is this his bike?” The attention to historic detail is amazing. The color scheme, the big “1” designation, even the nose fairing trim are a perfect throw-back to the MV machines Ago rode during his unprecedented championship runs. Making 147 hp at 13,200 rpm, and clocking 150 mph, the inline 798cc triple is no mere looker. The Arrow exhaust is reminiscent of the Ago championship bikes, with two blacked out pipes exiting stage right and one exiting stage left. Agostini’s signature is emblazoned on several places across the bike, even in the baffling covers on the end of the Arrow pipes. That’s attention to detail.
We’ve loved the MV Agusta Supeveloce since it was first unveiled in the States at the final MotoAmerica race round at Barber Motorsports Park back in fall of 2019, then when we had one for several days to ride around coastal central Florida back this spring. It’s got to be one of the most beautiful motorcycles on the road today. And this special Ago edition is stellar. A proper homage to arguably the greatest motorcycle racer in history.
Agostini’s name is seen across the bike.
For more on the MV Agusta Ago Superveloce, click here:
Rob
*All photos by MV Agusta
The legend himself, taking some laps astride his namesake MV Agusta Superveloce Ago.
As we grow older an era we knew and loved slowly becomes lost in time 🇺🇸
The relentless march of time,
In my youth, I well remember watching Agostini in action. He was an incredibly talented rider, highly skilled and with great personal flair.
I cannot think of any rider quite like him and it’s good to see that this is being recognised by MV Augusta.
The man is a living legend, no doubt, and certainly worthy of the honor.