Strong and Vital No 2

When he turned 19, despite his father’s concerns about his deci sion, Ago bought himself a Settebello (payable in 30 monthly instalments), a motorbike that he and most of his contemporaries dreamed of. Later on he won his first competitions. But it was only with the MV Agusta that Ago made the big leap in 1965 and made his debut in the World Championship in the 350 and 500cc clas ses. Since then, his career developed with no apparent obstacles. However, Agostini was not just about motorcycling and speed. He was the first Italian sportsman to manage his personal image professionally on his own. He used his great popularity, his attractive looks and his natural photogenicity to become known in other areas too. The talented motorcyclist became a perfor mer in photostories, an actor in three films, a testimonial for famous brands, covered his motorbike suit with sponsor stickers and lent his handsome face to numerous advertising campaigns. Good-looking and successful, he made headlines even without a suit. The paparazzi followed him around like an actor, publishing gossip about his private life in the magazines. A prominent film maker even offered him the leading role in one of his films, but Ago turned him down because the long production time would have interfered with his sporting activities. He always remained faithful to the two wheels.

Top: Motorbike Museum Centre: La Gazzetta dello Sport from 7 March 2024 Below: Model for the MV AGUSTA e-bikes in 2024

«I am honest, I have no dreams that I have to fulfil, because I am convinced that I have received a lot from life. This great passion, this great love, motorcycling, has given me everything,» Ago told the newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport on the occasion of his 80th birthday. «I’m still riding, the other day I was travelling at 250 km/h. I feel good, I do a lot of things like I used to, not with the same intensity of course, but I’ve never stopped. I jump, I run, I go to the swimming pool, I take the shovel, I chop...» The soon-to-be 82-year-old multiple world champion, married and father of two, cur rently lives in the city of Bergamo in nor thern Italy. To this day, Ago is a popular guest at various motorbike events. «Fear of death? YES. But when I was racing motorbikes, I didn’t think about it, at that age you’re a bit reckless».

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STRONG and VITAL No. 2 - 2024

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