TT 1972
The 1972 TT marked a real turning point in the history of the races with some of the top stars vowing that they would not return to the Island to compete.
Italian Gilberto Parlotti was leading the 125cc World Championship riding a works Morbidelli and was determined to win the TT on his first visit to the Island to increase his title chances. Tragically he was killed on the second lap of the race when he crashed while leading in pouring rain at the Verandah.
His death caused great personal sadness to Agostini, who only rode in the later Senior race after much persuasion. He then declared that he would never race on the Island again and was supported by the MV Agusta factory. Phil Read and Rodney Gould also agreed to boycott the races, although Read later changed his mind.
Agostini's last appearance brought a typically commanding victory, with teammate Alberto Pagani second after Peter Williams went out on the last lap at the Bungalow. He had ridden brilliantly on an Arter Matchless to push Pagani back into third place until his retirement. Mick Grant moved up to third spot on a three-cylinder Kawasaki, much more would be heard of the gritty Yorkshireman in the years to come.
Phil Read had joined Agostini in the MV team for the Junior, but dropped out on the second lap as the Italian overwhelmed his rivals once again. Tony Rutter, another name for the future, produced his first 100 mph lap to pip Mick Grant, who ran out of petrol on the line, for second.
Read reigned supreme in the 250cc class, totally eclipsing his challengers with a perfect demonstration of TT riding. He led from the start, with Gould finally seeing off the challenge of John Williams in an exciting battle for second place.
Sadly the 125cc race will be remembered for Parlotti's death rather than Chas Mortimer's victory over Charlie Williams and Bill Rae.
The Production event was distinguished by close racing, with Ray Pickrell gaining his third TT victory for Triumph despite a brave effort by Peter Williams on a Norton twin. He had problems starting and was immediately 35 seconds down on Pickrell, who was flying at the front. Williams's chances of catching the Triumph ended when he hit a familiar Norton problem and lost fourth gear. He nursed the machine into second place ahead of David Nixon on a Boyer Triumph.
The 500cc class provided a much closer finish, Stan Woods (Suzuki) eventually seeing off the challenge of Triumph-mounted Roger Bowler, with Bill Smith third. The 250cc class was a battle of the Williams's, with John, riding a Honda, beating Charlie, riding a Yamaha by 41.4 seconds.
Siggi Schauzu continued his record-breaking ways in the sidecar class, becoming the first rider to win both the 500cc and 750cc races in the same week. In the 500cc race he was lying third behind teammate Klaus Enders and the crowd's favourite, Chris Vincent, aboard the four-cylinder Munch-URS.
Vincent went out at Crosby on the second lap and Enders a lap later at Ramsey, handing Schauzu his seventh TT victory. Earlier he had been a comfortable winner of the 750cc race when BMW teammates Enders and Heinz Luthringhauser went out on the first lap.