The start-finish straight in the royal park of Monza, a very popular racetrack in northern Italy, which, however, is also one of the most dangerous in history. In addition to Gregor Kuhn in 1922, Emilio Materassi (a grandstand was named after him in Mugello) and around 22 spectators with him in 1928, Jochen Rindt also died here in 1970.

When, on May 20, 1973, two riders died completely unnecessarily

There are still numerous contemporary witnesses from back then who have the tragic images in front of them. Jarno Saarinen as world champion in the 250 cm³ class was already called The Flying Finn and was well on the way to becoming one of the very best. He had already achieved a popularity with fans that only Barry Sheene would achieve in the near future. Jarno was an intelligent lad, he was a graduate of his hometown Turku Technical University and studied engineering, but he did not survive May 20, 1973. Just like Renzo Pasolini, as one of the most conspicuous drivers in the paddock. Born in Rimini on July 18, 1938, the northern Italian wore glasses that were very strong for a racing driver and was one of the best rain specialists of his time. Like many of his compatriots, he was somewhat in the shadow of his compatriot Agostini and often had to compete with inferior material against him and others of the best of their guild.

Jarno Saarinen as a Yamaha works rider in the paddock – the Finn had a great future ahead of him when he died on May 20, 1973 in Monza at the age of only 27. Many trusted him to soon conquer the title in the premier class,

The circumstances of the tragic accident are absolutely scandalous
Before the tragic accident, after which a number of other drivers ended up in the hospital, there had been discussions before the start of the 250cc race. After the mass fall, many participants and observers blamed the race management for the accident. This had apparently failed to stop Walter Villa in the previous 350cc run. As a result, he is said to have left an oil trail almost the entire route with his Kawasaki leaking oil. Actually, in the 30-minute break before the tragic 250cc Grand Prix, it was time to clean up the course accordingly. This is exactly what many drivers had asked for, but under the pressure of the race management and even threats of a ban for the next race, there was no boycott. If some had become strikebreakers and drove, they would have won the points and prize money, so the others gave in and started.

Renzo Pasolini finished third in the 1973 season opener in the 250 cm³ French GP in Le Castellet on a Harley-Davidson and was on the podium with winner Saarinen (Yamaha). The Finn had then won the next two races and took pole position everywhere, including in Monza.

The injustice of history

Have you ever heard of Carlo Chionio, or Renato Galtrucco, maybe Renzo Colombini? Actually, this is a bit astonishing, because Saarinen and Pasolini with their tragic fate are still on many lips and often mentioned today. This is also currently the case in relevant portals, which usually only care about the “most important” victims in their headlines and never mention such pilots. In addition to Rupert Hollaus in training in Monza on September 11, 1954, the 3 Italians also lost their lives in the royal park of Monza. And it’s hard to believe, it happened on July 8, 1973, less than two months after the “Monza Tragedy” of Grand Prix racing. The injustice of history clearly has it that these three 500-series drivers sacrificed their lives to the beloved racing on that day, but hardly anyone mentions them today. Sure, it was “just” a run for the Italian championship, but with even 3 fatalities. The youngest of them was only just 25 and came from nearby Milan with Chionio, just like Galtrucco, while Colombini was born in Livorno on the Ligurian coast.

The wreck of one of the three Italians who fell together in the Curva Grande after Chionio collided with Colombini in Turn 4 and Galtrucco could no longer avoid the first-named driver.

The officials have hardly learned anything from it

So much grass has already grown over it that we even found Italian reports seriously claiming it all happened in 1978. But our archive does not lie and in the end this is of no use to the deceased and bereaved. What is particularly bad is the fact that the bankruptcies and mishaps caused by incompetent sports officials continued. For example, the Swiss Hans Stadelmann lost his life on the Salzburgring, and he could probably tell us about his accident today if the marshals had completed their task on May 1st, 1977. But as it was, the 350 cm³ pilot was another fatality in racing in the mass crash. The fact that the incompetent stewards whistled along the route and were even pelted with stones by the audience was of no use to Dieter Braun, whose career came to an end after his serious injuries.

The drama of the Salzburgring 1977 on May 1st with first aid by Italian doctors who happened to be near the scene of the accident. However, the Swiss Hans Stadelmann died of serious injuries on the way to the Salzburg hospital.

The 1973 Monza tragedy is 48 years old and dangers lurk
We only remember Spielberg, when in “Turn 3” (it’s actually more of a sharp corner) at the Austrian Grand Prix, the wreckage of Zarco and Morbidelli’s machines missed the heads of the two Monster Energy Yamaha riders by just a few centimetres. Anyone who claims that this accident could not have been foreseen and that the position could not have been secured should take a closer look at the following picture. In Monza of all places, Max Neukirchner suffered as the best German of the WorldSBK and leader of the race. The course of the accident is reminiscent of the 2020 scene in Spielberg.

A split second before the fatal moment, a fallen driver and his bike slid on the grass in the direction of the chicane, into which Suzuki ace Neukirchner has just turned while lying in the lead.
The badly hit Neukirchner flew off and should not only miss the rest of the 2009 season due to his serious injuries, but also his place in the Suzuki works team. For his opinion on the upcoming WorldSBK season and his career, see “Interviews + TV” on this page. More about the earlier years of the Superbike World Championship in our richly illustrated history.