Agostini: "If I were team manager today? The bikes would be Yamahas, and the riders…”

Giacomo Agostini’s love of everything two wheels began as a child. But there was no outside influence from his family, who weren’t particularly passionate about bikes. After 313 race wins, 15 world titles, 10 TT wins and a brief foray into the world of car racing, Giacomo decided to remain in the two-wheeled world as a team manager. He headed up both the Yamaha and Cagiva teams, bringing home many wins, even from behind the scenes, as well as some near misses.

And the Italian racing legend has remained in the bike world ever since. He’s a regular presence in the MotoGP paddock but also at other events, like the recent Tourist Trophy.

To celebrate his upcoming 80th birthday, we invited Giacomo Agostini to the Motosprint offices for a chat.

Today I’d choose…

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At the end of the event, one of our readers asked the multi-titled champion: “If Ago were team manager today, what bikes and riders would he choose?” Considering his experience and knowledge, it didn’t take long for Giacomo to come up with a reply: “I have a weakness for Yamaha, having also won with that bike. Despite it not being the quickest, it performs well. Quartararo continues to win. So I’d say Yamaha.”

As for the second question, the riders: “Right now I’d imagine Marquez, although as an Italian I’d also bet on Bastianini and Bagnaia. I think they’ll both come to do great things.”

And so Giacomo’s dream team is complete. Who knows whether the Yamaha-Marquez pairing would be a success. Perhaps even more so than his run with Honda.

As for the future of Italian motorcycling, Agostini has high hopes for the abovementioned Ducati and Gresini riders, and other Italians on the grid too: “It takes time; they won’t get there right way as they need experience. But the joy that Marquez has brought in recent years is also within reach of our Italian riders.”

Agostini paved the way for all the riders that we now remember as being so successful. The likes of Lucchinelli, Biaggi, Rossi, Lorenzo, they all took up where Agostini left off. But none of them, to date, has been as successful as he was.

Translated by Heather Watson