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
1972 Isle of Man TT of Parlotti, his friend, Giacomo Agostini, an Italian MV Agusta rider and a ten time 350cc and 500cc world champion, announced that he would never return to the Isle of Man to race. He considered the course too dangerous for international competition. As the years went on more top riders joined Agostini's boycott and in 1976 it was announced that the TT would be removed from the championship calendar. The British round of the FIM championship was held at Silverstone Circuit on the mainland from 1977 onwards. In the last race of the 1972 event, Agostini won his 10th TT