Livre Motocross Motocross Book

MxLarge Story

Italian Stallions - World Champions from Italy

Back to previous page
Share |

News Thursday 08th February 2012 By Geoff Meyer

Italy has really proven to be one of the most important nations over the last 30 years when it comes to Motocross. It was back in 1984 that Michele Rinaldi swept to victory in the FIM World 125cc (MX2) Championship and put Italy on the map.
Italian Motocross fans would have to wait six years for their next Champion when Alex Puzar proved too strong for his rivals to win the 1990 FIM World 250cc Motocross Championship. Puzar was not happy with one title though as he claimed the 1995 FIM World 125cc Motocross Championship in a stunning and surprising win.
Then in 1997 Alessio Chiodi arrived on the scene, winning the FIM World 125cc Motocross Championship, before backing that up with wins in the 125cc class in 1998 and 1999. While Chiodi was winning the small bike class Andrea Bartolini did his thing by winning the FIM World 500cc Motocross Championship, and to cap off a brilliant season Italy won the Motocross of Nations for their first time in their countries history.
David Philippaerts also did his part with that great win in the 2008 FIM World MX1 Championship and of course the greatest Italian Motocross rider is defending World MX1 Motocross Champion Antonio Cairoli. Cairoli showed the World what a talent he was by winning the 2005 FIM World MX2 Championship after a tough battle with Australian Andrew McFarlane.
Cairoli one of the most motivated riders in the history of the sport put together a winning record that can only be matched by the King of GP Motocross Stefan Everts. Cairoli added title in 2007, 2009, 2010, and 2011 to bring his tally to five World Championships and bring him into that elusive group of five times winners. He joined the legendary Roger De Coster, Eric Geboers, Georges Jobe and Joel Smets and is now just one victory away from Joel Robert and his six World Motocross Championships.
Cairoli knows of the importance of his country in Motocross and its hero’s. The World MX1 Champion also knows about his Motocross history.
“I like Alex Puzar because of his riding style; he was one of my favorite riders when I was young! I know Michele Rinaldi more as a team manager from the Yamaha team, not from when he was still riding. Alessio Chiodi he wrote for the same team as me when he won the World title (Team de Carli) and Claudio still tells me a lot of nice stories from when he was riding for the team! Andrea Bartolini, he had a great year when he won the championship in 1999 and he was part of the MXoN team that won also in that same year! It's great for the Italian sport that we have another great Italian rider in David Philippaerts! It's good for the publicity and the attention mx gets in Italy! I hope so much I can ride with David together in the Motocross of Nations team again after so many years.
Whatever happens in the 2012 season you can count on Italian riders putting in great efforts and bringing their country a lot of pleasure.
Back to previous page
RSS Feed
To view this content, please download the latest version of Flash Player (free and easy). Get Adobe Flash player

FMF Hangtown Motocross Classic - AMA Nationals

James Stewart makes his return to American Motocross, Blake Baggett looks to repeat last year's success at Hangtown, and another 2011 champion gets knocked out of contention. Watch highlights from every moto in the 450, 250, and WMX classes at the FMF Hangtown Motocross Classic.

News 22/05/2012

Grand Prix of Brazil - MX2 Podium comments

For MX2 series favorites and red plate owner Jeffrey Herlings it was one of those days he will want to forget, but for three others it was a great day at the office. Our reporter Dave Bulmer was on the spot to catch the riders comments after the race and here is what the top three had to say.

News 22/05/2012 Dave Bulmer

Grand Prix of France - Live on MXlarge

Back to Europe and the Grand Prix of France is the next stop for the FIM World Motocross Championship. Can Jeffrey Herlings fight back from his Brazilian disappointment, and will Christophe Pourcel continue his charge towards the points lead of Antonio Cairoli in MX1. Watch all the action from France right here on MXlarge.

News 22/05/2012 Geoff Meyer

Todd Waters wins in Australia - Coppins struggles

Motul Pirelli Suzuki's Todd Waters raced to his first Pro Open victory of the 2012 Australian Motocross Championship in the fifth round at Murray Bridge in South Australia on Sunday. The 21-year-old from Cairns became the first Australian to win a round this season as the series reached its half way point.

News 21/05/2012

Grand Prix of Brazil - MX1 Podium interviews

Christophe Pourcel moved back onto the top of the MX1 podium and showed why he is considered one of the most talented riders in the World. The Frenchman was the winner, but we also have comments from the other podium finishers and also Antonio Cairoli.

News 21/05/2012 Dave Bulmer

Grand Prix of Brazil - Rider comments

The Grand Prix of Brazil proved to see some surprises and plenty of rain as the FIM World Motocross Championship turned into a mud bath for the riders. While it was Tommy Searle and Christophe Pourcel who came away the winners many riders performed well. Here is what they had to say.

News 21/05/2012

Searle and Pourcel win in Brazil - Herlings struggles

This morning Beto Carrero woke up with heavy rain, but it did not stop the thousands of motocross fans to come to the track to cheer the best motocross riders in the world. Christophe Pourcel and Tommy Searle succeeded in putting two Kawasaki’s on the top of the podium, while Antonio Cairoli and Jeffrey Herlings finished eighth and seventh respectively.

News 21/05/2012

Dungey, Roczen and Musquin perform in Hangtown

Red Bull/KTM Factory riders Ryan Dungey and Ken Roczen opened their outdoor season with flair at the Hangtown Motocross Classic on Saturday. Dungey finished second in the 450 class and Roczen scored a podium third in the 250 class. Marvin Musquin rode a solid two motos despite a fractured had that has surgery just two weeks ago

News 20/05/2012 KTM

James Stewart Wins in Return to Motocross

Another season of Motocross in America and a massive crowd watched the FMF Hangtown Motocross Classic on Saturday afternoon for the opening round of the 2012 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing.

News 20/05/2012

KTM Dominate Qualification in Brazil

Racing started today at the outstanding facilities of Beto Carrero with both MX1 and MX2 qualifying races. The grand stands of the Honda Grand Prix of Brazil were already almost full today and the warm Brazilian public enjoyed watching Antonio Cairoli and Jeffrey Herlings dominating their respective heats with superb authority.

News 20/05/2012