Italian Gp

ITALIAN GP

Ivy Slides from Championship Contention

CARLO PERELLI

IN ONE of the wettest, most dramatic Italian GPs in nearly a half-century, Giacomo Agostini, with exceptional skill and determination, achieved another double in the major classes, to confirm that he is worthy of the world crown. His two most dangerous rivals—Renzo Pasolini and Mike Hailwood-both crashed in pursuit of him.

Ago also crashed, during unofficial practice, also in the wet, as did Heinz Rosner and Guiseppi Mandolini. In actual racing, the crash list included Phil Read, Ginger Molloy, Kel Carruthers, Bill Smith, Kent Andersson, plus four or five lesser known international riders, and about a dozen Juniors, for whom there were also two races that day.

All riders suffering these accidents, caused more by oil and tire deposits from the previous weekend’s automobile Italian GP than by rain, were not hurt, and many were even able to continue racing.

The other sensation of the meeting was Hailwood’s last minute switch from MV to Benelli. Mike had been invited to again join MV, for the Italian GP only. And, on MV equipment in Friday’s practice, had been faster than Agostini with 350 machinery, but had been slower with the 500 mount. The latter lack of speed was the result of a variety of minor mechanical troubles that compounded to make Hailwood 2nd to Agostini in practice. (Both were riding the proven three-cylinder models; the much discussed new mount, which many have speculated will show five cylinders, has not appeared, even during unofficial practice.) Hence, after practice on Friday, everything seemed settled, as Hailwood appeared top contender for the 350 win, and Agostini was the predictable 500 victor.

This illusion collapsed heavily shortly before Saturday practice. Dictatorial Count Agusta made his decision known. Agostini was to be 1st in both classes. Hailwood’s reaction was immediate. He stormed out of the MV camp, addressing corrosive comments to the Count and his entourage. Hailwood made his way to the Benelli establishment to seek a machine. Benelli, a month earlier, had sought Hailwood’s services to no avail. Now, without hesitation, Benelli favored Hailwood with one of the reworked 500 Four machines—with no strings, OR team orders. Showing his class, and his adaptability, Mike came very close to Agostini on the practice leader board, which surely created some apprehension among supporters of the Count’s marque.

But, next day, the menace evaporated before two laps were completed. In fact, while tailing the Italian champion, Mike crashed as he braked for the parabolic bend. After a long slide, he picked himself up, just shaken, and, as the bike also hadn’t suffered damage, he attempted to carry on. Then, realizing he had lost too much time to Agostini, he leaned the bike to a guard rail—just as his rival passed again. It was a melancholy Hailwood who set out on foot for the pits.

Benelli honors were then carried on by Pasolini. Handicapped by slight misfiring, he was unable to do more than hold 2nd place until the finish. The 3rd place went to an Italian, Angelo Bergamonti (Paton), who was very late at the start (13th on Lap 1), but who then quickly regained lost ground.

Unlucky Peter Williams held 4th spot until near the end, when he was forced to stop twice to fix the left side tank of his Arter-Matchless. He dropped to 9th.

His position was taken over by Alberto Pagani, who also made a fine show aboard his Linto Twin, in spite of misfiring caused by the wet.

In the 350, Ago was menaced only for a short time. In fact, Pasolini dropped his Benelli at the parabolic on Lap 3, and although he picked it up in a great hurry, and carried on with undiminished spirit and spectacular style, he could only repeat his 500 class performance. Teammate Silvio Grassetti, with another misfiring engine, circulated comfortably in 3rd place all the way. So the dampened, scarce public watched the Bergamonti (Paton)-Carruthers (H-D Aermacchi) duel, and the Stasa (CZ)-Molloy (Bultaco)Spaggiari (Ducati) flight. Bergamonti and Carruthers were first out, the Italian with ignition trouble, the exhuberant Australian for a crash at Lesmo. Molloy dropped it at the parabolic, the third consecutive accident at Monza in three years for the Kiwi rider! So, 4th place was grasped by energetic young Czech Stasa, ahead of veteran Spaggiari.

In winning the 250 race aboard the Yamaha four, Phil Read secured for himself a second world crown, after having conquered the 125 class. Bill Ivy finished 2nd and at level points with his teammate, but on the slender margin of aggregate time, Phil was best!

In an all-out effort to secure himself the 250 title, in practice Ivy had hoisted the record lap to 122 mph. But, in the race, trying to overbrake Read at the entrance of the parabolic on Lap 2, he ran straight into the meadow. His world championship hopes faded exactly there. In fact, he managed to keep upright and continue on, but there was nothing more to be done.

Walter Villa, comfortably 3rd until near the end, on the Montesa Twin built by himself and brother Francesco, dropped well back for big end trouble.

The 3rd place was then taken over by Santiago Herrero after a great duel with Heinz Rosner. The Spanish Ossa rider, in his first appearance at Monza, after practice had changed the pneumatic suspension units of his light alloy framed mount to more orthodox shock absorbers and found himself a great deal happier on that demanding track. The East German champion was another on the unlucky list because he was forced to slow down for ignition trouble. Until overtaken by Gordon Keith and Jack Findlay, Rosner put up a great scrap for nearly all the race. Both Keith and Findlay were riding Yamaha Twins, now that the Australian also has joined the five-port brigade.

The 125 race was another Read-Ivy affair, in spite of a brief initial intrusion by Anscheidt. Read led for the full distance with Ivy breathing down his neck until, on next to the last lap, Read hit the straw bales at Lesmo and crashed. He was able to pick up the bike and finish 2nd with a badly smashed machine running on one, occasionally two, of four cylinders.

Anscheidt finished a distant 3rd, but there was no fight for 4th place. David Simmonds held that slot from start to finish on his Kawasaki Twin, while for next positions things were much hotter. Duels developed between Szabo, Braun and Rosner, who later retired; Villa, Lothar, Reise and Molloy; and Canellas and Carruthers. All crossed the finish line in this order. [Ô]