Pierino Gagni, a pillar of the sport both on the track and in the pits, has died: Casey Stoner, Ducati, and Honda are among those mourning him
The Italian motorcycle racing community is in mourning: Piero Gagni, known as Pierino, has died at the age of 75. He was a figure who spanned decades of motorcycle racing history, first as a rider in regularity races and later as a mechanic in the MotoGP pits, leaving an indelible mark both on the track and behind the scenes.
A native of the province of Bergamo, Gagni built his career on passion, expertise, and dedication, becoming a role model for generations of riders and technicians. His motorcycle racing career began in 1974 when he entered the world of regularity races, a discipline in which he immediately distinguished himself with top-level results. In this discipline, he won two European titles, two Italian championships, and no fewer than six gold medals at the International Six Days Endurance Race, establishing himself as one of the leading figures in the category.
Among the most significant achievements of his competitive career was his contribution to winning the Silver Vase at the 1975 Isle of Man Six Days, a result that definitively cemented his reputation on the international regularity racing scene.
After retiring from competitive racing, Gagni decided not to leave the world of motorcycles behind; he joined the MotoGP paddock and embarked on a professional career that would lead him to collaborate with major motorcycle manufacturers and numerous champions. His experience and technical expertise made him a respected and sought-after figure in the industry.
Among his most significant collaborations was his partnership with Casey Stoner, with whom Gagni shared two unforgettable seasons: the 2007 season, when Ducati won the premier class world title for the first time, and the 2011 season, marked by the Australian’s victory riding a Honda. These experiences represent two of the highlights of his career as a mechanic.
Gagni did not limit himself to the MotoGP World Championship, however: his experience also led him to take on the challenges of rally raids, with seven appearances at the Dakar Rally alongside, among others, Edi Orioli. This journey has demonstrated his versatility and his ability to adapt to very different competitive environments.
Despite the years spent in the pits and at rallies, his passion for regularity racing never left him. In 2019, in fact, Gagni returned to competition in the Italian Vintage Regularity Championship, C2 category, winning the title on a Fantic Motor and securing seven victories in as many races. It was a triumphant return that demonstrated how his connection to this discipline had remained intact over time.
