Walter Villa

Walter Villa was an Italian professional motorcycle road racer, born on 13 August 1943 in Castelnuovo Rangone and died of a heart attack on 18 June 2002, who competed in the FIM Grand Prix world championships from 1967 to 1980 and won four world championships as a member of the Harley-Davidson Aermacchi factory team. He began racing at 13 on a 175cc Moto Morini and finished third in his first race, ahead of Giacomo Agostini. Harley-Davidson hired him after the death of Renzo Pasolini at Monza in 1973, and he won the 250cc championship in 1974, 1975 and 1976, together with the 350cc title in 1976. He also won eight Italian championships. He was known for his quiet nature off the bike and his ruthless competitiveness in races, and after retiring in 1980 he became a figure in historic motorsport demonstrations and a trainer of young riders.