Luigi Taveri (19 September 1929 – 1 March 2018) was a Swiss professional Grand Prix motorcycle road racer.[1] He competed in the FIM motorcycle Grand Prix world championships from 1954 to 1966. Taveri is notable for being a three-time 125cc road racing world champion. Although he specialised in the smaller engined machines, Taveri is the only competitor to have scored points in six Grand Prix classes: 50cc, 125cc, 250cc, 350cc, 500cc and Sidecars.[2] In 2016, he was named an FIM Legend for his motorcycling achievements.[2]

Luigi Taveri
Luigi Taveri, c. 1957
NationalitySwiss
Born(1929-09-19)19 September 1929
Horgen, Zürich, Switzerland
Died1 March 2018(2018-03-01) (aged 88)
Motorcycle racing career statistics
Grand Prix motorcycle racing
Active years19541966
First race1954 500cc French Grand Prix
Last race1966 125cc Nations Grand Prix
First win1955 125cc Spanish Grand Prix
Last win1966 125cc Nations Grand Prix
Team(s)Honda
Championships125cc – 1962, 1964, 1966
Starts Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points
143 30 89 N/A 28 541

Racing career edit

 
Taveri at the Salzburgring track in 2005

Taveri made his world championship debut in the 1954 season, racing in the 500 cc class on a Norton motorcycle. In 1955, he took his first win in the 125 cc race at the Spanish Grand Prix. He took one more win in 1955, in the 250 cc class at the Dutch TT.

 
Taveri (6) pursues Phil Read (8) during the 1966 125cc Dutch TT.

He participated in the Isle of Man TT on several occasions from 1955 to 1966 with three victories and several second places amongst his results.[3][4]

During his career he rode for MV Agusta, and became a works rider for Ducati, MZ, Kreidler and in 1961 for Honda. His final Grand Prix victory at the 1966 125cc Italian Grand Prix came 11 years and 133 days after his first win, marking one of the longest winning careers in the Grand Prix motorcycle racing history.[2] Over his racing career Taveri had 30 victories and 89 podiums in all classes, including three Isle of Man TT victories.[2] After retiring from competition, he continued in the sport by demonstrating historic machines.

Taveri died on 1 March 2018 of complications from a stroke at the age of 88.[5]

Motorcycle Grand Prix results[1] edit

Position 1 2 3 4 5 6
Points 8 6 4 3 2 1

(key) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Class Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Points Rank Wins
1954 250cc Moto Guzzi FRA
-
IOM
-
ULS
-
NED
-
GER
-
SUI
4
NAT
-
3 13th 0
500cc Norton FRA
4
IOM
-
ULS
-
BEL
-
NED
8
GER
-
SUI
-
NAT
-
ESP
-
3 17th 0
Sidecar Norton IOM
-
ULS
-
BEL
-
GER
-
SUI
6
NAT
-
1 10th 0
1955 125cc MV Agusta ESP
1
FRA
2
IOM
2
GER
2
NED
-
NAT
-
26 2nd 1
250cc MV Agusta IOM
-
GER
4
NED
1
ULS
-
NAT
-
11 4th 1
1956 125cc MV Agusta IOM
-
NED
2
BEL
4
GER
-
ULS
-
NAT
4
12 3rd 0
250cc MV Agusta IOM
-
NED
2
BEL
2
GER
2
ULS
1
NAT
4
26 2nd 1
1957 125cc MV Agusta GER
5
IOM
3
NED
3
BEL
2
ULS
1
NAT
3
22 2nd 1
250cc MV Agusta GER
5
IOM
2
NED
-
BEL
-
ULS
-
NAT
-
8 7th 0
1958 125cc Ducati IOM
-
NED
2
BEL
6
GER
-
SWE
2
ULS
2
NAT
5
20 3rd 0
350cc Norton IOM
-
NED
6
BEL
-
GER
-
SWE
-
ULS
-
NAT
-
1 15th 0
1959 125cc MZ IOM
2
14 4th 0
Ducati GER
-
NED
-
BEL
3
SWE
-
ULS
-
NAT
3
250cc MZ IOM
-
GER
-
NED
-
BEL
-
SWE
-
ULS
-
NAT
5
2 13th 0
1960 125cc MV Agusta IOM
3
NED
-
BEL
-
ULS
5
NAT
-
6 6th 0
250cc MV Agusta IOM
8
NED
3
BEL
3
GER
5
ULS
6
NAT
-
11 3rd 0
1961 125cc Honda ESP
-
GER
5
FRA
5
IOM
2
NED
-
BEL
1
DDR
NC
ULS
6
NAT
3
SWE
1
ARG
-
30 3rd 2
250cc Honda ESP
-
GER
-
FRA
-
IOM
-
NED
-
BEL
-
DDR
-
ULS
-
NAT
-
SWE
2
ARG
-
6 10th 0
1962 50cc Honda ESP
3
FRA
3
IOM
2
NED
9
BEL
3
GER
4
DDR
4
NAT
6
FIN
1
ARG
-
29 3rd 1
125cc Honda ESP
3
FRA
4
IOM
1
NED
1
BEL
1
GER
1
ULS
1
DDR
1
NAT
2
FIN
2
ARG
-
48 1st 6
250cc Honda ESP
-
FRA
-
IOM
-
NED
-
BEL
3
GER
-
ULS
3
DDR
-
NAT
NC
ARG
-
8 8th 0
1963 50cc Honda ESP
-
GER
-
FRA
-
IOM
-
NED
-
BEL
-
FIN
-
ARG
-
JPN
1
8 8th 1
125cc Honda ESP
1
GER
4
FRA
3
IOM
4
NED
3
BEL
3
ULS
3
DDR
4
FIN
2
NAT
1
ARG
NC
JPN
NC
38 2nd 2
250cc Honda ESP
5
GER
NC
IOM
NC
NED
NC
BEL
4
ULS
NC
DDR
5
NAT
3
ARG
-
JPN
5
13 5th 0
350cc Honda GER
-
IOM
-
NED
3
ULS
3
DDR
2
FIN
5
NAT
NC
16 3rd 0
1964 50cc Honda USA
-
ESP
6
FRA
-
IOM
-
NED
-
BEL
-
GER
-
FIN
3
JPN
-
5 7th 0
125cc Honda USA
-
ESP
1
FRA
1
IOM
1
NED
-
GER
2
DDR
2
ULS
2
FIN
1
NAT
1
JPN
2
46 1st 5
250cc Honda USA
-
ESP
NC
FRA
2
IOM
NC
NED
-
BEL
-
GER
6
DDR
-
ULS
NC
NAT
6
JPN
4
11 6th 0
1965 50cc Honda USA
-
GER
2
ESP
4
FRA
2
IOM
1
NED
3
BEL
3
JPN
1
32 2nd 2
125cc Honda USA
-
GER
NC
ESP
NC
FRA
NC
IOM
2
NED
5
DDR
-
CZE
-
ULS
-
FIN
-
NAT
-
JPN
2
14 5th 0
1966 50cc Honda ESP
1
GER
4
NED
1
IOM
2
NAT
3
JPN
-
26 3rd 2
125cc Honda ESP
2
GER
1
NED
2
DDR
1
CZE
1
FIN
2
ULS
1
IOM
8
NAT
1
JPN
-
46 1st 5

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Luigi Taveri career statistics at MotoGP.com". motogp.com. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d "FIM Legends". fim-awards.com. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  3. ^ TT Career Summary iomtt.com. Retrieved 11 March 2018
  4. ^ Isle of Man TT, detailed race results iomtt.com, Retrieved 11 March 2018
  5. ^ Luigi Taveri: adieu grand petit homme (in French)