Luigi Taveri

After suffering a stroke in January, three-times World Champion LUIGI TAVERI passed away on March 1st in his native Switzerland. Taveri began his Grand Prix career in 1954 when he contested the 500cc class on a Norton, but the following year switched to the 125 and 250cc classes where he scored wins on MV Agustas. In 1961 he was signed up by Honda and the next year he became World Champion in the 125cc class. He took his second 125cc crown in 1964 and his third in 1966, after which he retired from racing. However he remained closely connected with the sport and particularly the Isle of Man, where he raced from 1955 and won the 125cc TTs in 1962 and 1965, as well as the 50cc event in 1965. After retiring from racing and taking 30 victories in World Championship events, he ran a modest motor mechanical workshop in Zurich.

ABOVE Luigi Taveri (centre) with Honda team members Jim Redman and Kunimitsi Takahashi. BOTTOM Taveri’s championship-winning 5-cylinder RC149 in the Honda Museum in Japan.