GRAND PRIX GLORY: MV Agusta in World Championship racing from 1950s to the rise of the two-stroke!

MV Agusta four-stroke Grand Prix racers howling through their megaphone exhausts are legendary! Cycle World's Kevin Cameron and Mark Hoyer talk about MV from its first little modest little machine built in post-World War II Italy to world-dominating racing motorcycles that continued to compete into the 1970s. Sometimes slow to change and other times rapidly updating designs to stay competitive with upstart Honda's amazing multis of the 1960s, MV was a dominant force in GP racing until two-strokes took over in the world championship.

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[ToddWright]

This should be the biggest motorcycle channel on YT. Kevin has retained his entire encyclopedic knowledge of everything and that alone makes this a fabulous channel

[chriscadman]

I really like hearing what Mr. Cameron has to say, I learn every time. The guy with the Princess Leia headphones is cool also. Ha! Gotcha Mark.

[joereedmusic]

Thank you so much, this discussion was wonderful.

[BABYPOP]

My IQ increases a point or two every Wednesday 🎉

[jem-lc]

There were a number of places in this discussion where there was a reverence for the subject that put it on a sacred plain. Riders going out to ride beyond the capabilities of their machinery for that ethereal goal was one.
Came across this series a week or 3 ago - doing catch up and it's amazing... Buck

[bretloyd]

Morning from Australia gentlemen, it's crazy euro engineering time.

[Scott-sbxi]

The first time I saw an old MV up close, I was surprised at how homely it was. The new ones are freaking gorgeous by comparison.

[deepak]

Really a pleasure listening to both of you! This is a criminally under viewed and appreciated channel. More motorcycle riders should be listening to this excellent stuff! 🏍️❤️

[JL-qegl]

Many people don’t know that Agostini was the first world 500cc champion on a two stroke in 1975. What could have been if Saarinen had survived his crash at Monza in ‘73.

[markbrown-usxe]

Funny how we will adapt our riding style to stay at full throttle.
Glad you can help at knowing even the top levels struggle.

[TomStratis]

You talk about Giacomo Agostini and I will never forget the 1974 Daytona 200. I was pulling for my hero Gary Nixon to win. There was lot buil up during the week about the handsome world champion coming to America . I'm in the stands and the minute board has already been shown, all the angry 2 strokes reving up and Ago's mechanic is holding up the bike. Mr. Agostini casually struts up while adjusting his riding gloves one finger at a time. He throws his leg over, sticks into gear and let's out the clutch just as the green flag drops. How confident can you get! Funny thing was that with a handful of laps to go he was leading Nixon by a few seconds but he still had to make a gas stop. Nixon was in position to win then all of a sudden he crashed. Ago ended up winning. A year later I was In Nixons shop in Maryland buying some carburetors and I had to ask him why he was pushing so hard when he had the race in hand and with a cold stare he looked me in the eye and said the following. "Pit crew gave me a minus 4. That means I'm running second". End of discussion. Great memories.

[bananabrooks]

33:05 Also the two strokes Ginger Malloy etc were providing some road based design competition.

[yorkchris]

I didn't put the two together with Agusta Westland helicopters. I might have followed MV Agusta if they made off-road bikes, but they did enduro ISDT in 60s.
I can't remember which, but one of those racers won at motorcycles and cars - Surtees. I'm surprised at how many people on social media participated or attended races from another era. I saw a recent French interview with Jaco speaking French.

[wallywarburton]

Hailwood said with regards to beating AGO at the IOM TT in the 500 class he could do it on the 297 Honda 6, but Mr Honda said no.

[briensmith]

Cameron is gold, Hoyer should learn to be quiet.

[ds]

any chance you guys can do 2 programs a day?

[colinmartin]

I would describe the Velocette as being a beautiful steerer, but a poor handler, due to the weak swinging arm mounting. I am amazed that Velo did not update the frame.

[Tal]

My Uncle was at Spa in 1975 and Phil Read won the race by almost 2 minutes from the 2 strokes they won at Spa every year they were there. It was sad when silencers were introduces in 76 which killed the power of MV Agusta's they were still competitive but loosing ground. I wonder if Ago had rode the MV at Spa in 1976 if he could have won... The race times in 76 Spa was no quicker than 75.If MV had continued they would have to have gone 2 stroke route.

[SanjuBrian]

THANKS VERY MUCH FOR THE UPDATE, I want to start investing, but l'm unsure where to start. Do you have any advice or contacts for assistance?

[larryt.atcycleitalia]

M V AH-GOOS-TAH, OK? AH-GO-STEEN-EE. Bravo for getting MAGNI (mahn-yee) right!
These fellows should stick to the technical moto stuff and leave the amateur psychoanalysis to others. I bailed on them after 40 minutes or so.