Agostini at Phillip Island 2013
 

It's summer Down Under and Phillip Island hosted the 20th Island Classic race meeting. The guest of honor this year was Giacomo Agostini, the holder of 15 world championships and the winner of 122 GPs. I managed to see him do some demo laps and get some shots.

He signed autographs for over an hour, however, I didn't have the patience to line up as half the spectators at PI were in the cue.

http://tarsnakes.smugmug.com/Motorcy...Ago%2001-L.jpg

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He was riding a replica MV Agusta 500cc four. It sounded magnificent.

http://tarsnakes.smugmug.com/Motorcy...ack%2001-L.jpg

http://tarsnakes.smugmug.com/Motorcy...%20track-L.jpg

I will add some other pics of racers and spectators bikes of interest over the next week if folks are interested.

I think it would be fair to say that folks are interested. :clap

John

Nice shot.

First time I rode Phillip Island, I didn't notice the sea at the end of the straight... that braking marker comes up pretty fast!

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[IMG]<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/wy2-CGFdrU7ZgD5qD6bM0dMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embed website"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-OzVmPZ-mKqk/UQY74Et1sWI/AAAAAAAAAd4/vDvh4OO_8gk/s640/P1260101.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/105025879659901630404/OldBikes?authuser=0&feat=embedwebsite">old bikes</a>
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My contribution fro the weekend in Phillip Island

I saw him about 10 years ago at Pukekohe, they had the real deal MV's then - you could tell they were Ago's bikes from the tape for grips, and on the levers. Apart from the noise, you could hear him all around the track, but his gear changes were exceptional, I've never heard anything like it.

I woke up this morning and reflected on what a great day it had been yesterday - sometimes you just need a little time for the appreciation to really sink in!

Rather than post more teaser pics, below is a link to a gallery with around 200 pics from the event. Please keep in mind that I'm just an amateur photographer with a low end Canon consumer SLR and a Panasonic P & S. Some of the pics mean more to me than others. It includes race bikes and spectators' historic mounts. A lot of my youth was tied up with CB 750 Hondas, Z1's and Z1R Kawasaki's. My mates are Norton owners and restorers, so some shots are purely for their benefit.

My wife and I went to the very first of these events 20 years ago and I just found my old pin that I bought back then. It was such a small event then and no-one knew if it would work out. Something that hasn't changed is full track access by motorcycle or car and full access to pit lane included in the admission, mind you at $45 each entry isn't that cheap.

The length of the PI circuit means that some of the really old bikes actually don't race here - that main straight is just too long for them I think, so lots of post classic and forgotten era Japanese stuff racing.

Pics are best viewed by clicking on 'slideshow'

http://tarsnakes.smugmug.com/Motorcy...7519&k=NhNzjsv

No "keep in mind" necessary, nice photos, well done!

Last summer, Ago was here in Tübingen at a small Motor meeting, was very nice and handsome. He subscribed all things you gave him. Very nice a guy with a paper MV Augusta and a Phil in half leather.
Hans
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Funny you should say that because I found video of that meeting just this week - didn't realise I had taken it. I agree wih both points.

Ago and the magnificent MVs at Pukekohe as mentioned. Not the best footage but the noise is great.

<iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/L_bFr_Kz-Jc" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" width="420"></iframe>

NZ seems to have a great heritage of world class racing from what I've read.

Bendernz - that is great footage to have. I like its authenticity.

hensmen, thanks also for sharing those pics - what's with the MV pic? A photochop?.

FWIW I'm heading to NZ - South island for a trip soon. I did a motorcycle trip there a year ago with a mate. Some pics on my blog about half way down the following page CLICK HERE .This time I'm taking my wife for a holiday so will be in a rental car.

Saw this guy, but didn`t ask him, he collected subscribtions, by the way, it was Jim Redmann.
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