AGV Helmets Founder Dies at 89

Called the "King of the helmets," Gino Amisano was known to the world of motorsports as one of the pioneers in the sponsorship of professional racers by manufacturers. Founder of the famous helmet company AGV (Amisano Gino Valenza), he died at the age of 89 from bronchopneumonia.

"While many young people may not recognize his name, 'Ginetto' was a legend not only in Italy but also the entire racing world," said Paolo Bacchiarello, head of AGV Helmets U.S.

"Champions from Giacomo Agostini and Kenny Roberts right up through current MotoGP frontrunner Valentino Rossi have worn AGV as Signor Amisano was one of the first people to believe that motorsports sponsorships made for a great vehicle to advertise your company."

Amisano lived most of his life in Valenza, where he founded a bicycle seat business in 1946. However, it was only in 1948 that he first branded a line of leather racing helmets with the AGV logo (the AGV initials over the top of the tricolor Italian flag). In 1953, AGV was producing the first fiberglass racing helmets.

As we aforementioned, AGV was one of the first manufacturers to sponsor professional racers, so there is no wonder the company had sponsored seven-time MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi since 1996.

Other motorcyclists that wore the AGV helmet on the track were Giacomo Agostini, Angel Nieto, Barry Sheene, Kenny Roberts, Randy Mamola, Johnny Cecotto, as well as Formula 1 racing drivers such as Niki Lauda and Emerson Fittipaldi.

Amisano sold his company to the Belgian Imag group planning to retire to a growing grapes and making wine activity, but he couldn’t live without sports, so he became president of the Alessandria Football Club.

"Although he was retired from the business, Ginetto always took an active interest in AGV, and he was overjoyed when two of the biggest legends in protective gear merged in 2007 as AGV and Dainese merged," remembers Paolo Bacchiarello.