RACE IN PROGRESS; AGOSTINI WINNING




Initials PBS/V/CR/OS



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: GIACOMO AGOSTINI, THE ITALIAN MOTOR CYCLING CHAMPION, TODAY (WEDNESDAY) WON THE JUNIOR 350 cc. TOURIST TROPHY RACE AT THE ISLE OF MAN MEETING.

AGOSTINI, RIDING AN ITALIAN MV AGUSTA, AVERAGED 104.78 MILES AN HOUR (168.62 K.P.H.) FOR THE RACE OVER 226 MILES (361 K.M.).

AGOSTINI WAS ASSISTED BY THE BAD FORTUNE OF SOME OTHER RIDERS WHO HAD TO WITHDRAW FROM THE RACE. HE FINISHED BY A MARGIN OF TWO AND A HALF MINUTES OF THE SECOND RIDER, FELLOW ITALIAN RENZ PASOLINI, RIDING A BENELLI.

ONE HUNDRED AND ELEVEN RIDERS WERE NOMINATED FOR THE EVENT. OVER SIX LAPS OF THE TWISTING ISLAND CIRCUIT.

IT WAS THE SECOND TIME AGOSTINI HAS WON THE JUNIOR T.T. HE LAST WON IT IN 1966. HIS SPEED TODAY WAS 1 M.P.H. OUTSIDE THE RECORD SET BY MIKE HAILWOOD IN THE RACE LAST YEAR.