Team
MARCO MELANDRI
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PERSONAL STATS |
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| Born: 7 August 1982 Ravenna (Italy) | ||
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CAREER STATS |
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| 2008: Ducati MotoGP Team Rider | ||
| 2007: 5th MotoGP World Championship (Honda) | ||
| 2006: 4th MotoGP World Championship (Honda) | ||
| 2005: 2nd MotoGP World Championship (Honda) | ||
| 2004: 12th MotoGP World Championship (Yamaha) | ||
| 2003: 15th MotoGP World Championship (Yamaha) | ||
| 2002: 250 World Champion (Aprilia) | ||
| 2001: 3rd 250 World Championship (Aprilia) | ||
| 2000: 5th 250 World Championship (Aprilia) | ||
| 1999: 2nd 125 World Championship (Honda) | ||
| 1998: 3rd 125 World Championship (Honda) | ||
| 1997: Italian 125 Champion (Honda) | ||
| 1994: Italian minibike Champion | ||
| 1992: Italian minibike Champion |
BIOGRAPHY
Italian hero Marco Melandri started racing minibikes at the age of eight, riding a machine given to him by his father who was a keen racer on the Italian national scene. Melandri made his GP debut seven years later at the 1997 Czech GP, just a few days after his 15th birthday. And ten months after his World Championship debut he won his first GP victory, at Assen, aged 15 years and 324 days. The man from Ravenna is still the youngest GP victor in motorcycle racing history. Since then Melandri has gone on to conquer the 250 World Championship and become one of MotoGP's most successful riders. During the past three seasons he has always finished inside the championship top five and has won five MotoGP races, taking his GP total to 22 victories. One of the toughest riders on the grid, Melandri is a quiet man who prefers to let his riding do the talking.
Melandri came close to winning his first World Championship crown in 1999, when he was just one point away from winning the 125 title. He graduated to 250s the following season and went on to win the 250 crown in 2002, scoring no less than nine GP wins that season, including an amazing run of six consecutive victories. Melandri didn't hang around in 250s after taking the title, preferring to move up to MotoGP in 2003. He had a tough first two seasons in the premier class, riding Yamaha machinery, though he did show real promise in scoring his first front-row starts and podium finishes in the category. Melandri's fortunes changed dramatically when he moved to Honda in 2005. He won his first two MotoGP victories that summer ? at Istanbul and Valencia ? and went on to finish an impressive second overall. Throughout 2006 Melandri consolidated his status as one of MotoGP's greatest talents, winning three more races ? at Istanbul, Le Mans and Phillip Island ? and revealing a remarkable ability to bounce back from injury and ill fortune. His 2006 season was marred by his involvement in a horrific turn-one accident at the Catalan GP, nonetheless he went on to finish fourth overall, just one point off third place. Melandri's steely resolve is already legendary in a sport that has always demanded awesome physical and mental strength.
Last season Melandri began MotoGP's new 800cc era still with Honda but using Bridgestone tyres for the first time. He scored two second-place finishes and one third to end the year fifth overall, ready for his new challenge with Italian marque Ducati. Melandri is one of MotoGP's most popular stars and he also enjoys some fame away from the racetracks as a DJ. Melandri has worked the decks since he was a teenager and plays house and hip hop. He currently lives near Derby in the United Kingdom.
For information on Marco Melandri, visit www.marcomelandri.it
