Giacomo Agostini 1967 he battled Hailwood in one of the most dramatic seasons in Grand Prix history. Each rider had 5 victories before the championship was decided in Agostini's favor at the last race of the season. Agostini dropped a bombshell on the Grand Prix world when he announced he would never again race at the Isle of Man TT, after the death of his close friend, Gilberto Parlotti during the 1972 TT. He considered the 37 mile circuit unsafe for world championship competition. At the time, the TT was the most prestigious race on the motorcycling calendar. Other top riders joined
Sunday Times and Sky Sports Sportswomen of the Year Awards Kelly Holmes, Zara Phillips and Victoria Pendleton. Sarah Stevenson, the 2011 world Taekwondo champion, was crowned the overall winner in December 2011. The Awards are supported by the Women's Sport and Fitness Foundation, the Sport and Recreation Alliance, UK Sport and Sport England. Sky Sports announced in September 2013 that they would partner the Sunday Times Sportwomen of the Year Awards from 2013 onwards. It was an extension on the channels support of women's sport and their commitment towards its year-round coverage of women's sport. Previous winners of "The Sunday Times" Sportswoman of the Year Award are: 2017 Sunday Times