Nello Pagani

Cirillo Pagani (11 October 1911 – 19 October 2003), nicknamed "Nello", was an Italian Grand Prix motorcycle road racer and Formula One driver. He was born in Milan, Lombardy, and died in Bresso.

Pagani was known for his long career, spanning from 1928 to 1955, and for becoming the first 125cc World Champion in the inaugural 1949 campaign. He almost became a double Champion in that first year of the World Championship series. In the 500cc class, he was officially runner-up. The series was run over six rounds with a rider's best three scores counting towards the championship. Englishman Les Graham on an AJS was Pagani's main rival. Although Pagani scored more overall points than Graham, he lost the championship with two wins and a third place as his scores that counted, whilst Graham had two wins and a second.

Pagani's car racing exploits resulted in wins at the Pau Grand Prix in 1947 and 1948, before his single Formula One World Championship Grand Prix, on 4 June 1950, in the 1950 Swiss Grand Prix at Bremgarten. He finished seventh and scored no championship points. He also finished fourth in the Modena Grand Prix that year, driving a Simca-Gordini.

In 1952, Pagani finished second in class in the Mille Miglia, driving an OSCA but was more involved with motorcycle racing and became the manager of the MV Agusta team.

He was the father of Alberto Pagani, who was also a racing motorcyclist.

Motorcycle Grand Prix results 1949 point system: Position 1 2 3 4 5 Fastest lap Points 10 8 7 6 5 1 Points system from 1950 to 1968: Position 1 2 3 4 5 6 Points 8 6 4 3 2 1 5 best results were counted up until 1955.

(key) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Class Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Points Rank Wins 1949 125cc Mondial SUI NED NAT 27 1st 2 500cc Gilera IOM SUI NED BEL ULS NAT 29 2nd 2 1950 500cc Gilera IOM BEL NED SUI ULS NAT 12 4th 0 1951 125cc Mondial ESP IOM NED ULS NAT 3 10th 0 500cc Gilera ESP SUI IOM BEL NED FRA ULS NAT 10 5th 0 1952 500cc Gilera SUI IOM NED BEL GER ULS NAT ESP 12 8th 0 1953 500cc Gilera IOM NED BEL GER FRA ULS SUI NAT ESP 2 15th 0 1954 500cc MV Agusta FRA IOM ULS BEL NED GER SUI NAT ESP 4 13th 0 1955 500cc MV Agusta ESP FRA IOM GER BEL NED ULS NAT 2 20th 0

Complete Formula One World Championship results (key) Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 WDC Points 1950 Scuderia Achille Varzi Maserati 4CLT/48 Maserati Straight-4 GBR MON 500 SUI BEL FRA ITA NC 0