Renzo Pasolini

Italian motorcycle racer

Renzo Pasolini (18 July 1938 – 20 May 1973), nicknamed "Paso", was an Italian professional motorcycle road racer. He competed in the FIM Grand Prix motorcycle racing world championships from 1964 to 1972. Although he never won a world championship, Pasolini was a popular competitor due to his fearless and passionate riding style. He 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. after having shown great interest in boxing and football as well. A smoker and incorrigible party goer, he was an uncommon athlete, as was his approach to corners while racing—a dangerous combination of balance and speed which always made him seem about to fall off his bike. Pasolini was well into his twenties when he made the decision to switch from motocross to road racing. Much of the 1971 season was lost to testing the Aermacchi/Harley Davidson 250cc bike, which took much longer in development than had been anticipated. 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 Pasolini lost the 250cc world championship in 1972 by a single point.

Pasolini lost his life at the Italian Grand Prix in Monza on 20 May 1973. He 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. Jarno Saarinen, immediately behind him, was unable to avoid him and fell as well, causing a chain reaction ultimately involving twelve riders and resulting in Pasolini's and Saarinen's deaths. Much debate has surrounded the probable causes of the accident, with the most common explanation suggesting that a spill left on the track during the 350cc race (when Walter Villa's Benelli leaked on the penultimate lap, but the urge to collect championship points led the rider to continue racing despite the leak) likely caused the bike to slide. While it has been ascertained that race officials did neglect to order clean up of the track prior to the 250cc race—one rider, John Dodds, made his concerns known to authorities, only to be met with threats—Pasolini's fall and the damage sustained by his vehicle are consistent with an engine problem, likely a seizure of the pistons. Pasolini was buried in the Monumental Cemetery of Rimini. His motorbike helmet and some testimonies of his victories are sited at his tomb.

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