Those were the days when MV ruled the roost and the top rider was world champion Giacomo Agostini who was successful at the Ulster Grand Prix on every occasion in which he appeared - but for a famous day when his clutch burnt out and he had to pull in before restarting and eventually finishing in 30th place.

Well Agostini has been through a lot of ups and downs since those days but he still has memories of the Ulster supporters and he will be keen to give them a smell of success when he steps out on board another MV during a celebration lap at today's Ulster Grand Prix.

"To many Agostini was one of the greatest riders to grace this place," said race coordinator Leslie Moore. "I know he has been here since his glory days and done a parade lap but it's nice to have him this year in view of the fact that it's 30 years since that famous day when Mike Hillwood won that memorable race which Agostini was so unlucky to lose."

Agostini is here to support his fans who have never left him and have followed his career since the late Sixties. I know you have to be a veteran to remember those days but they were exciting to say the least with the battles between MV and Honda. It's unlikely if we'll see anything similar in years to come for road racing has changed dramatically since those balmy days.

Unfortunately it won't be the old sound of the MV which we'll here. Times have moved on but while the machine may be different the rider is the same and everyone will be delighted that Agostini has taken the trouble and time to home in on Dundrod once again.

"I still remember those days and the keen enthusiasm which was whipped up by the Ulster fans," he said. "They were behind me all the way and that day when I had the bad luck with the clutch I felt it best to continue in the race for the sake of the fans even though I had no chance of winning."

Agostini still looks as fresh as he did in those days when he dominated the Isle of Man TT as well as the Ulster Grand Prix. It seems like only yesterday when he was winning race after race but today he will help to recall an era which saw motorcycle road racing at its finest.