He was known for his long career, spanning from 1928 to 1955, and for becoming the first 125cc World Champion in the inaugural 1949 campaign.

Englishman Les Graham on an AJS was Pagani's main rival.

He also finished fourth in the Modena Grand Prix that year, driving a Simca-Gordini.

[3] In 1952 Pagani finished second in class in the Mille Miglia, driving an OSCA[3] but was more involved with motorcycle racing and became the manager of the MV Agusta team.

(key) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap) (key) 1949  N. Pagani 1950  B. Ruffo 1951  C. Ubbiali 1952  C. Sandford 1953  W. Haas 1954  R. Hollaus 1955  C. Ubbiali 1956  C. Ubbiali 1957  T. Provini 1958  C. Ubbiali 1959  C. Ubbiali 1960  C. Ubbiali 1961  T. Phillis 1962  L. Taveri 1963  H. Anderson 1964  L. Taveri 1965  H. Anderson 1966  L. Taveri 1967  B. Ivy 1968  P. Read 1969  D. Simmonds 1970  D. Braun 1971  Á. Nieto 1972  Á. Nieto 1973  K. Andersson 1974  K. Andersson 1975  P. Pileri 1976  P. Bianchi 1977  P. Bianchi 1978  E. Lazzarini 1979  Á. Nieto 1980  P. Bianchi 1981  Á. Nieto 1982  Á. Nieto 1983  Á. Nieto 1984  Á. Nieto 1985  F. Gresini 1986  L. Cadalora 1987  F. Gresini 1988  J. Martínez 1989  À. Crivillé 1990  L. Capirossi 1991  L. Capirossi 1992  A. Gramigni 1993  D. Raudies 1994  K. Sakata 1995  H. Aoki 1996  H. Aoki 1997  V. Rossi 1998  K. Sakata 1999  E. Alzamora 2000  R. Locatelli 2001  M. Poggiali 2002  A. Vincent 2003  D. Pedrosa 2004  A. Dovizioso 2005  T. Lüthi 2006  Á. Bautista 2007  G. Talmácsi 2008  M. Di Meglio 2009  J. Simón 2010  M. Márquez 2011  N. Terol 2012  S. Cortese 2013  M. Viñales 2014  Á. Márquez 2015  D. Kent 2016  B. Binder 2017  J. Mir 2018  J. Martín 2019  L. Dalla Porta 2020  A. Arenas 2021  P. Acosta 2022  I. Guevara 2023  J. Masià 2024  D. Alonso