Yamaha 500cc Giacomo Agostini Dutch Grand Prix TT Assen 1977 paddock motorcycle

Description

A superb and rare image of the
Yamaha 500cc works factory Grand Prix racer
of
1977
and legendary road racing World Champion
Giacomo Agostini
before the
500cc Dutch Grand Prix
that was ridden on the T.T. circuit of
Assen
.
15 Times world champion Giacomo Agostini is seen on this great action shot in the paddock with his M.V. Agusta!
Agostini was born in Lovere, in
Lombardy
, the son of a wealthy, Italian industrialist. His father originally didn't approve of his son's motorcycle racing career. He did everything he could to persuade his son not to race. Agostini would have to steal away to compete, first in hill climb events and then in road racing. Eventually his father came to terms with his racing and he won the 1963 Italian 175cc championship aboard a Morini. He got his break when Morini factory rider, Tarquinio Provini left the team to ride for Benelli. Count Alfonso Morini hired the young Agostini to ride for him. In 1964, Agostini would win the Italian 350cc title and proved his ability by finishing fourth in the Italian Grand Prix at
Monza
.
These results caught the eye of Count Domenico Agusta who signed Agostini to ride for his MV Agusta squad as Mike Hailwood’s team-mate. Agostini then fought a season-long battle with Honda's Jim Redman for the 1965 350cc world championship. He seemed to have the title won when he led the final round in
Japan
at Suzuka when, his bike failed him handing the title to Redman.
Hailwood left to join Honda as he had tired of working for the difficult Count Agusta. Agostini responded by winning the 500cc title seven years in succession for the Italian factory. He would also win the 350cc title six times in succession and won 10 Isle of Man TTs. In 1967 he battled Hailwood in one of the most dramatic seasons in Grand Prix history. Each rider had 5 victories before the championship was decided in Agostini's favor at the last race of the season.
Agostini dropped a bombshell on the Grand Prix world when, after the death of his close friend, Gilberto Parlotti at the 1972 Isle of Man TT he announced he would never again race at the event because he considered it unsafe. At the time, the TT was the most prestigious race on the motorcycling calendar. Other top riders joined his boycott of the event and by 1976, the event was stricken from the Grand Prix schedule.
Agostini surprised the racing world when he announced that he would ride for Yamaha in 1974, the year the image of this auction was taken. On his first outing for the Japanese factory, he won the prestigious Daytona 200, the premiere American motorcycle race, becoming the first of would be seven 500cc or MotoGP world champions to win the event. He went on to claim the 1974 350cc World Championship but injuries and mechanical problems kept him from winning the 500cc crown. He rebounded and won the 1975 500cc title, the first time that a two-stroke machine had claimed the premier class. It would also be his last world title. In 1976, he would win his last Grand Prix, taking an MV Agusta to victory at the Nürburgring. He retired from motorcycle competition after finishing 6th in the 1977 season.
Agostini, who was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1999, is considered one of the greatest Grand Prix riders of all time. In 17 years he won a record 15 Grand Prix World Championship titles and 122 Grand Prix victories. In 2000, the FIM named him a Grand Prix "Legend".
We own what we believe is the original negative, and are now auctioning off a photo made from it. For people that are interested in owning a piece of Yamaha’s magnificent history, we offer it in a large format.
This is your rare chance to own an image that reflects a very interesting piece of Yamaha’s and roadracing’s glorious history. Therefore it is printed in a nice large format of ca. 8" x 11.3" (ca. 20 x
28.5 cm
).
Check out our other Ebay auctions or contact us for more Yamaha and other motorcycle (racing) photos! Combine auctions and save on shipping.
Shipping costs will only be $ 7.00 regardless of how many photos you buy.   For 5 or more photos, shipping is free!
(Note: A. Herl, Inc. does not appear on photo, for ebay purposes only)
No copyright expressed or implied. Sold as collectable item only. We are clearing out our archives that we have gathered from various sources.
All items always sent well protected in PVC clear files
and board backed envelopes.
We have photographs that came from professional collections and/or were bought from the original photographer or press studio! They are all of professional and excellent quality.
After many decades of professionally collecting photographs and posters we are clearing out our archives. They make the perfect gift and are perfectly suited for framing. They will look gorgeous unframed and will be a true asset nicely framed with a border. They are a gorgeous and great asset in every home, workshop, workplace, restaurant, bar or club!
First come - first served. And you can always contact us for your requests. Please ask any questions before the auction ends.