Luigi Taveri becomes the 35th legend in MotoGP

Luigi Taveri became the 35th rider to achieve MotoGP Legend status on Thursday, joining the Hall of Fame that now boasts a number of champions.

According to tradition, during an official ceremony led by Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of Dorna Sports, the identification of the former Swiss driver was formalized, in the presence of his family. Died in 2018He was represented by his wife and daughter, who were awarded a medal symbolizing his new status.

Born in the canton of Zurich in 1929, Luigi Taveri joined the Grand Prix in 1954 and achieved in the five individual classes at that time until 1966. In the 125cc, he achieved most of his success, with 22 victories and three world champion titles. In the last four years of his career. He spent the second part of his career with Honda, but he has previously raced MV Agusta, Norton, MZ and Ducati, already finishing six times in the top three of championships with these brands.

One of the few riders to score Grand Prix points in the 50cc, 125cc, 250cc, 350cc and 500cc classes, Luigi Taveri has podiums in four of them and won in three classes. He is considered a pioneer in Switzerland, and in particular he is the first driver from his country to win the world championship. Tom Luthy and Dominic Agerter were in attendance Thursday to honor his memory during his dedicated party.

“For me, it’s a symbolic name,” Carmelo Ispeleta said, referring to Luigi Taveri. “Times have been different, but if we can get to where we are today, it is thanks to people like Luigi, who started this championship and played this amazing sport in front of everyone. It is a great pleasure for the entire MotoGP family to welcome the name from Luigi Taveri. He was a legend. Genuine and we are very pleased to have him inducted into the Hall of Fame.”

Thirty-four contestants have previously been entered into Legends of MotoGP, the most recent one Jorge Lorenzo And the Max Biaggi, who had to wait for the suspension of these events due to COVID-19 to be lifted to receive this honor, respectively on the sidelines of the Spanish and Italian Grand Prix. At the end of last season, it was Valentino Rossi That status was restored once he retired. New Zealand champion Hugh Anderson will also join this closed circuit in October on the sidelines of the Australian Grand Prix.