Duilio Agostini


Duilio Agostini was an Italian Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. He had his best year in 1955 when he won the 350cc French Grand Prix and finished the season in seventh place in the 350cc world championship. He is not related to Grand Prix motorcycle racing legend Giacomo Agostini.

Biography

Duilio Agostini was born to a well off family that owned the hotel restaurant Al Porto, now known as the Giardinetto, at Mandello del Lario on the shores of Lake Como; Guests included many important personalities linked to motorcycling, such as Omobono Tenni, Stanley Woods, Terzo Bandini, Primo Moretti and Ugo Prini.
Duilio worked for Moto Guzzi first in the customer service department, and finally, in 1947, as the official test rider alongside of Engineer Giulio Cesare Carcano.
His first race, which he won, was at Asola, Lombardy riding a borrowed Condor 500. From that moment his racing career began and he gained many podium positions and victories. In 1953 he won first overall in the Milano-Taranto on a Moto Guzzi Dondolino. That year he also won the Italian Championship in the Second Category of the 500cc class. In 1954 he became an official Moto Guzzi rider both in the 250cc class and in the 350 class, as they used to do in those days, with the Bialbero. That year he was victorious winning the Italian 250cc Seniors.
Whilst at the 1955 Isle of Man TT he met an Australian, Margaret Ward, who later became his wife. They had two daughters Alis, born in 1957, and Lindy, born in 1962.
His best year was 1955 when he won the French motorcycle Grand Prix and ended the season in seventh place in the 350cc World Championship.
In 1957 Duilio retired from racing and devoted himself to his workshop and Moto Guzzi dealership in Mandello del Lario.
In the seventies he founded a team for endurance racing using the Moto Guzzi V7 Sport. The race development projects led to the manufacture of many special components that were later marketed by the dealership. In the 70's, together with a group of enthusiasts, formed a new motorcycle club, the Moto Club Carlo Guzzi, of which he was president for many years. Together with the club he organised the first international Moto Guzzi rallies in Mandello del Lario. The rallies were held every two years and giving rise to a tradition which continued over the years. The last rally organised by Duilio in collaboration with the Moto Club took place in September 1989.
In 1993 he retired from the dealership leaving it totally in the hands of his daughter Alis who already managed it from 1981, initially with her sister Lindy. After a life dedicated to the brand of Mandello he died April 12, 2008, following a serious illness.

Race results

1950

  • 16 April Circuito di Asola 1st place
  • 18 May Circuito di Lodi 4th place and fastest lap
  • 28 May Circuito di Codogno 1st place and fastest lap
  • 18 June Circuito di Castano Primo 1st place

1951

  • 15 April Circuito di Finale Emilia 3rd place
  • 20 May Circuito di San Secondo ad Asti 5th place
  • 3 June Circuito di Busto Arsizio 3rd place
  • 9 September Circuito di Asola 2nd place
  • 30 September Circuito di Castelfranco Veneto 1st place
  • 7 October Circuito di La Spezia 1st place
  • 21 October Autodromo di Modena retired
  • Italian Championship second category 5th place

1952

  • 13 April Circuito di Cattolica retired
  • 25 April Autodromo di Modena 2nd place
  • 2 June Circuito di Gradisca retired
  • 15 June Milano Taranto retired
  • 6 June Circuito di Fossano retired
  • 21 September Circuito di Castelfranco Veneto 1st place
  • Italian Championship second category 5th place

1953

  • 3 May Circuito di Crema 1st place and fastest lap
  • 10 May Circuito delle mura di Bergamo 1st place and fastest lap
  • 14 June Circuito di Busto Arsizio 1st place and fastest lap
  • 21 June Milano Taranto 1st Absolute
  • 12 July Coppa del mare Livorno 1st place
  • 16 August Circuito di Luino retired but had the fastest lap
  • 6 September GP delle Nazioni a Monza 3rd place
  • World Championship 10th place
  • Italian Championship second category 1st place

1954

  • 28 March Autodromo di Modena 3rd place
  • 28 March Autodromo di Modena retired
  • 19 April Circuito di Ferrara 2nd place
  • 25 April Coppa d’oro Shell at Imola retired but had the fastest lap
  • 23 May Autodromo Monza 3rd place
  • 17 June Circuito di Piacenza 1st place
  • 20 June Milano Taranto retired
  • 25 July Circuito di Locarno 1st place
  • 25 July Circuito di Locarno retired
  • 1 August Circuito di Senigalia 1st place
  • 12 September GP delle Nazioni Monza 4th place
  • 26 September Circuito di Codogno 2nd place and the fastest lap
  • 3 October Spanish GP 2nd place
  • 3 October Spanish GP retired
  • World Championship 7th place
  • Italian Championship seniors 1st place

1955

  • 11 April Coppa d’oro Shell at Imola retired
  • 11 April Coppa d’oro Shell at Imola retired
  • 1 May Spanish GP retired
  • 15 May French GP at Reims 1st place and the fastest lap
  • 6 June Isle of Man TT 8th place
  • 3 July Belgian GP at Spa retired
  • 3 July Belgian GP at Spa 4th place
  • 16 July Dutch GP at Assen retired
  • 11 August Ulster GP Ireland retired
  • 4 September GP delle Nazioni at Monza retired
  • World Championship 7th place
  • World Championship 16th place

1956

  • 2 April Coppa d’oro Shell at Imola 6th place
  • 29 April Gran premio della Sarre at St. Wendel 4th place
  • 13 May Hockenheim Circuit retired
  • 13 May Hockenheim Circuit 5th place
  • 4 June Isle of Man TT 9th place
  • 30 June Dutch GP at Assen 7th place
  • 8 July Belgian GP at Spa retired
  • 9 September GP delle Nazioni at Monza 8th place

1957

  • 19 March Circuito di Siracusa retired
  • 15 September Autodromo di Modena 4th place
  • Italian Championship Seniors 8th place