Giacomo Agostini Celebrates 70th Birthday with a New 2012 Yamaha T-Max

Racing legend Giacomo Agostini celebrated his 70th birthday at the British Grand Prix at Silverstone this weekend, where he was celebrated by Yamaha.

“Ago”, who holds the all-time record for Grand Prix wins (122) and Grand Prix World Championships (15), was feted in a ceremony that also included current Yamaha riders Jorge Lorenzo and Ben Spies as well as retired racers Loris Capirossi, Phil Read, John Cooper, Angel Nieto, Franco Uncini and Jim Redman, as well as MotoGP promoter Carmelo Ezpeleta and Yamaha Classic Racing Team principal Ferry Brouwer.

Yamaha presented Agostini with a one-off T-Max scooter with livery inspired by his 1975 championship-winning YZR500 OW23. The special T-Max also decorated with stars above the front headlights to represent Agostini’s 15 World Titles (including his two with Yamaha and the rest with MV Agusta).

“I want to say a big thank you to Yamaha for organising this special evening,” says Agostini. “It’s been fantastic to have my family and friends from the paddock all here to celebrate. My feeling with Yamaha has always been good and today I feel even more part of the family. My T-Max is a beautiful gift; the problem now is I would like to have a party like this every year!”

Spies and Lorenzo expressed their respect for Agostini, who won Yamaha’s first 350cc and 500cc world titles.

“Giacomo is easily the greatest rider ever in Grand Prix racing, I was too young to see him race myself but I grew up knowing about him and his achievements,” says Spies. “It’s great to be able to share his birthday here with him and pretty cool to see so many people showing their respect and honoring him.”

Lorenzo, who recently signed a two-year contract extension to remain with Yamaha, expressed similar sentiments.

“It’s a privilege to have Giacomo here and to be able to share his birthday with him,” says Lorenzo. “To have won fifteen world titles is incredible. To see him still part of the Yamaha family and celebrating together so many years later is a good feeling; it was amazing to see all these great legends in our hospitality together with him. I think I would like a T-Max like his one day!”

[Source: Yamaha]

By Dennis Chung