Remembering a day long ago...

project racer
Edited Date/Time 5/21/2014 11:32am
Not moto, but reflecting on this day , 41 years ago. The motorcycling world lost two of the greats at Monza.

RIP guys. Legends are never forgotten.



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project racer 5/20/2014 6:52pm
5/20/2014 6:52pm Edited Date/Time 5/20/2014 6:56pm
Jarno Saarinen of Finland and Italy's Renzo Pasolini. Being a devout Yamaha fan forever, Jarno was a favorite. 1972 250 World Champion. Won it on a distributor backed Yamaha, (Arwidsson), doing all of his own wrenching. Even when picked up by the factory for '73, he insisted on doing much of the wrenching himself.

I recall a little story from Daytona '73, just eight weeks before his death. Riding the TZ350 against many big bore machines, during the weeks practice sessions many , cylinders were tried. Yamaha was there with basically truck loads of spares for the team, as well as privateer support.

Having a degree in Mechanical Engineering, Saarinen asked for a different set of cylinders to be fitted to the bike. Upon inspecting this first set, he wanted another. I believe he eyeballed a few sets before he saw what he liked. Those went on the bike, and he was the first European to win the 200 at Daytona, on a 350 at that.

First rider to win on the OW20 (YZ500R), Yamaha's first 500cc , four cylinder GP bike in '73.

Such a great loss, when two greats are taken in an instant.

https://youtu.be/LHa4Lf8r00w?feature=player_detailpage
Capone
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Capone 5/21/2014 5:42am
5/21/2014 5:42am
Both great riders, that was a bad day for road racing, monza claimed a lot of racers over the years on bikes and cars
Vecchia Scuola 5/21/2014 11:32am
5/21/2014 11:32am
That day was so bad!
Here in Italy magazines and tv motorcycling shows still talk about that day.
It's like if today we could loose Rossi and Marquez in one crash..
They were really good riders and good people as well.
Godspeed both of them

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