14 Facts About Renzo Pasolini

Renzo Pasolini, nicknamed "Paso", was an Italian professional motorcycle road racer.

Renzo Pasolini competed in the FIM Grand Prix motorcycle racing world championships from 1964 to 1972.

Renzo Pasolini was notable for racing with an open-face helmet and black horn-rimmed glasses at a time when most competitors had adopted full-face helmets.

Renzo Pasolini won five Grand Prix races during his career and narrowly lost the 1972 250cc world championship to Jarno Saarinen by a single point.

Renzo Pasolini died along with Saarinen in an accident at the start of the 1973 Nations Grand Prix at Autodromo Nazionale di Monza.

Renzo Pasolini was born in Rimini, in the heart of Romagna, the area of Italy with the strongest motorcycle sports tradition.

Renzo Pasolini's father was a motorcyclist and introduced him to both motocross and road racing at a very young age.

Renzo Pasolini began his motocross career in 1958, after having shown great interest in boxing and football as well.

Renzo Pasolini was well into his twenties when he made the decision to switch from motocross to road racing.

Renzo Pasolini resumed his racing career in 1964, racing Aermacchi 250cc and 350cc bikes at the senior level.

The resulting bike was not superior to most, and a number of up-and-coming racers increased competition; among them was Jarno Saarinen, to whom Renzo Pasolini lost the 250cc world championship in 1972 by a single point.

Renzo Pasolini lost his life at the Italian Grand Prix in Monza on 20 May 1973.

Renzo Pasolini was not able to finish the 350cc race because of mechanical problems, retiring from the race with four laps remaining, and fell during the first lap of the 250cc race.

In 1986, Ducati Motor Holding, then under the ownership of Cagiva, introduced the Ducati Paso, named after Renzo Pasolini and designed by Massimo Tamburini, co-founder of Bimota.