Born in the province of Cremona in 1939, he realized his dream of being signed on by MV in the late ‘70’s, following a shining career that brought him two Italian Championship titles with Morini (250 and 500) in 1967 and one with the Paton 125 in 1970. He came in behind team-mate Agostini in both the 350 and 500 in his first race with MV, the "Gran Premio delle Nazioni". The result was the same in the following two races, but he won both classes with record-breaking times at the final World Championship trial in Barcelona, when he was set free from team orders.

Generous and reckless to the point of being daring, he took on the 1971 season with a determination to beat his rival, Agostini. His goal took shape as early as the first race of the season, when he won the 350 class right in front of Agostini. But he hit his head on the pavement at the Riccione racetrack, which had been flooded by a heavy rain, tragically ending a dream of glory that was about to become reality.