A superb photo made of the magnificent Renzo Pasolini seen in action on
the Aermacchi - Harley-Davidson 250cc RR two stroke factory racing
machine during the 250cc race
at Zandvoort in April 1973.
The incredible
Harley-Davidson 250 RR and 350 RR racing machines clinched no less then four
world titles in three years! It was with these machines that Walter
Villa scored the 250cc world title in 1974,
1975 and 1976; and the 350cc world title
in 1976, making it a double that year! The H-D 250RR and 350RR
models have an interesting history that goes back to the end of the 1960s, when
the twin was initiated after the big success of the 125cc two stroke racing
single, also build by Aermacchi - HD in Italy. The first twin was basically
constructed as a double 125, sharing one joint crankcase. The first prototype
was build in 1970 and tested extensively by works rider Renzo
Pasolini. Development went rapidly and a 350cc version was also soon
being build. Water cooling also became an engineering fact on this fast racing
machine and soon the racing successes came flooding in for Harley Davidson,
clinching no less then four world
titles in three years!
Renzo Pasolini, nicknamed "Paso",
was a popular Italian Grand Prix motorcycle road racer in the 1960s. His
uncalculated style of racing made him a crowd favourite. Pasolini's rivalry
with Giacomo Agostini divided motorcycling enthusiasts, and while Pasolini's
style of racing brought mixed results which hindered him in his attempts to win
a world title, it nonetheless earned him a place in the affections of many
fans. Pasolini was born at Rimini, the son of a motorcyclist. He began his
motocross career in 1958, although he had shown a great interest in boxing.
With his smoking habit and appetite for food and drink, he did not fit the
mould of an athlete. His approach to corners was a risky combination of balance
and speed which always made it appear as though he was about to fall off his
bike. After performing well in motocross, Pasolini began to concentrate on road
racing, but he did continue his involvement in other sports as a means of
keeping fit. In 1962 he began racing with the Aermacchi 175cc, with two
first-place finishes ahead of Giacomo Agostini marking the start of their long
rivalry. Pasolini then took a two-year break from racing to complete his
military service; stationed in Sardinia, he
met his future wife, Anna. They would have two children, Sabrina and Renzo
Stefano. Pasolini resumed his racing career in 1964, racing Aermacchi 250 and
350cc bikes at senior level. Though these motorcycles were not the most
advanced at the time, Pasolini did achieve some excellent results. In the 1965
Italian championship Pasolini, racing a Benelli, finished second to Tarquinio
Provini in the 250cc class and third in the 350cc class behind Giacomo Agostini
and Giuseppe Mandorlini. 1966 was a year of varying results at domestic and
world championship levels. Most notable was the final race of the Italian
championship. Pasolini finished in first place on the then new four-cylinder
Benelli 500. With a more competitive bike, Pasolini was now able to compete
with the best, and this marked the start of a string of epic confrontations
with Mike Hailwood, then riding a Honda, and the renewal of his rivalry with
Agostini, an MV Agusta rider. 1968 saw Pasolini finish second to Agostini in
the 350cc world championship, in addition to winning the Italian 250 and 350cc
championship titles. The media-fuelled rivalry between Pasolini and Agostini
was at its fiercest in 1969, but it never escalated to so much as a war of
words, whereas on the race track, the intense competition between the two led
to the suggestion of a pair of head-to-head races, one with each rider on a
Benelli and the other with each rider on an MV Agusta. The FMI (Federazione
Motociclistica Italiana, the governing body of Italian motorcycling) and the
manufacturers quickly put a stop to such plans. 1969 was also the year in which
Pasolini lost out to Benelli team-mate Kel Carruthers in the 250cc world
championship. New regulations in the 250cc classification for 1970, which
limited the category to two-cylinder bikes, led the Benelli team to concentrate
on the 350cc class, but it was not one of Pasolini's best years. He split from
Benelli and returned to Aermacchi, now merged with Harley-Davidson. For Pasolini,
much of 1971 was given over to testing out the Aermacchi/Harley-Davidson 250cc
bike, which took much longer in development than had been anticipated. The
result of the perseverance of Pasolini and team was a competitive motorcycle,
albeit one of many at Pasolini's level of competition, and there were also a
number of up-and-coming racers to contend with, including Jarno Saarinen, to
whom Pasolini lost the 250cc world championship in 1972 by a single point.
Pasolini tragically lost his life during the Italian Grand Prix at Monza on May 20, 1973. He
retired four laps from the end of the 350cc race. On the first lap of the 250cc
race, Pasolini fell from his motorcycle, and Jarno Saarinen was unable to avoid
crashing into him. A pile-up involving twelve riders ensued, and Pasolini and
Saarinen lost their lives. In 1986, Ducati, then under the ownership of Cagiva,
introduced the Ducati Paso, which took its name from Pasolini's nickname. The
bike was designed by Massimo Tamburini, co-founder of Bimota.
Aermacchi was founded in the Northern Italian city of Varese in 1913. Soon
after World War II had ended it was decided to start peacetime production with
a three-wheeler truck. This was an unorthodox but very good design. Then,
anticipating the motor cycle boom and intending to have a stake in it, the
Aermacchi chiefs looked for a good designer who could produce an attractive
lightweight. Their choice was Lino Tonti, who had been at Benelli and had
worked on aircraft engines during the war. Tonti designed a lightweight
motorcycle that broke the land speed record for the displacement. The bikes
produced by Aermacchi were quite successful in the postwar Italian market, also
thanks to their repeated placements on the race tracks. The firm designed and
produced models incorporating the Italian word "Ala" (wing) in its
names, such as "Ala Verde", "Ala Blu" and "Ala
d'Oro" (respectively "green wing", "blue wing" and
"golden wing"). In 1959, 50% of Aermacchi stock was acquired by
Harley-Davidson to produce, in its assembly plant at Schiranna (near Varese), several models
of small bikes (with engine displacement between 125cc and 350cc) for the
American and the European market. This was an attempt to take back market
sectors that were at the time increasingly being taken by Japanese
manufacturers such as Honda and Yamaha. Aermacchi went on to have success in
the Grand Prix motorcycle racing world with rider Renzo Pasolini finishing 2nd
in the 1972 250 cc Roadracing World Championship. After 1974, when the American
manufacturer acquired complete control of the Italian company, Aermacchi bikes
re-badged as Harley-Davidsons won the 250 cc Roadracing World Championship
three years in a row in 1974, 1975 and 1976. They also won the 350 cc World
Championship in 1976. In
1972 AMF bought the remaining shares over from Aermacchi. From then on, the
name Harley-Davidson was the only name to be found on the bikes, instead of the
previous Aermacchi - Harley-Davidson name. In 1978 the Italian operations of
the firm were sold to the Castiglioni brothers, founders of the Cagiva
motorcycle company.
We have more photos listed on Ebay of Aermacchi, Harley-Davidson
, Renzo Pasolini and Aermacchi and Aermacchi-HD and other brands with various
riders.
This is your rare chance to own this non
period photo that reflects a very interesting and historic piece of motorcycle
history. Therefore it is printed in a nice large format of ca. 8" x 12"
(ca. 20 x 30 cm).
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.