Full Name: Loris Capirossi
Date of Birth: 4th April 1973
Height: 165cm
Weight: 59kg
Place of Birth: Castel San Pietro, Italy
First Race: 1986
Grand Prix Debut: 1987

 

Loris Capirossi was born on the 4th April 1973 in Castel San Pietro, Italy. He currently rides for the factory Ducati MotoGP team and is a former 250cc World Champion for Aprilia. Loris is married to Ingrid and they live in Monte Carlo.

 

Loris started racing on dirt bikes in 1978 and made his motocross competition debut in 1986. He made his road racing debut with Honda in 1987, finishing in 6th place in the Italian 125cc Production Championship. Entering the 125cc Championship again in 1988 Loris finished in 9th place with a Mancini. In 1989 he managed 4th place on a privateer Honda.

 

1990 saw Loris make his debut in the 125cc World Championship. At the age of just seventeen he took his first title. He finished in the top six on ten occasions and eight on those were on the podium. Scoring 182 points he won races in Australia, Hungary and Britain.

 

During his second season in the 125cc Championship Capirossi defended his title comfortably. Out of thirteen races he was on the rostrum for twelve, the other being a sixth position. Capirossi scored 200 points, more than enough to take the title and accelerate his progression into the 250cc class.

 

Riding a privateer Honda in 1992 Capirossi had a mediocre season. He learned quickly, and qualified in the top eight a few times and had a number of top ten results. He finished with 27 points, which was enough to give him 12th place overall.

 

Capirossi rode a factory Honda in 1993 and his results took an upturn. He held the Championship lead for part of the season before being overhauled by Tetsuya Harada and finishing in second place with 193 points.

 

1994 started well for Capirossi. After ten rounds he had taken four wins and four podiums, giving him the lead in the title race. Max Biaggi then put together a late charge and Capirossi struggled with results, dropping to a final position of third place on 199 points.

 

In 1995 Capirossi moved up to the 500cc class. It was a new experience for Loris, although a successful one. He finished in 6th place overall with 108 points.

 

For 1996 Loris left Honda after having ridden one for seven years and switched to Yamaha, again in the 500cc class. Disappointing results, including only finishing in the top six five times meant that he only scored 98 points, giving him 10th place overall.

 

Capirossi decided to return to the 250cc class in 1997, on an Aprilia. It was another up and down season and he scored 116 points, resulting in 6th place overall.

 

Capirossi remained on the Aprilia in 1998 and was rewarded with stronger results. He had twelve top five finishing, including podium places in nine of those. He scored 224 points by the end of the season and took the 250cc World Championship title.

 

In 1999 Capirossi switched back to Honda. He took several podiums whilst trying to defend his title. The 1999 season was dominated by Valentino Rossi and Loris managed 3rd place overall with 209 points.

 

In 2000, after three years away, Capirossi returned to the 500 series. He rode a year old NSR but still managed eight front row starts. He had a number of top six results and his best was when he won at home, in Mugello, beating Rossi and Biaggi. Other podiums were in Australia, South Africa and the Netherlands. With 154 points he finished the season in 7th place overall.

 

Still handicapped with his year old machinery in 2001, Capirossi started from the front row thirteen times, including four pole positions. Nine times he was on the podium but never better than second place. He was consistent throughout the season and finished with 210 points giving him 3rd place in the title race.

 

For 2002 Capirossi was riding the outdated NSR500 but, with the evolution of 500cc into MotoGP, he couldn't compete against the new 990c four-stroke bikes. The best qualifier among the 500cc ranks, saw him on the front row seven times. A major crash at Assen resulted in him missing two races but with all this he managed 109 points and he finished the season in 8th position.

 

Capirossi joined Ducati in 2003, who were based just thirty minutes from his birth place. He finished the opening race in third place to give Ducati a podium on their debut in MotoGP. He gave them their first win at Barcelona and finished the season in 4th place overall.

 

Unfortunately, their second season in 2004 was less encouraging but Capirossi was a consistent points scorer, and was in the top six five times. The best of these results was 3rd place in Australia. It all meant a disappointing 9th place at the end of the year.

 

Continuing with Ducati in 2005 he achieved 2nd place in Brno and wins in the next two races, with three poles in a row. Things were looking up for Loris but in Australia he was involved in a big crash in the practice race, which resulted in him missing the next two races. He scored 157 points through-out the season, finishing in 6th place overall.

 

The beginning of the 2006 season saw Capirossi starting the season aboard the Ducati MotoGP machine again. In Barcelona he was involved in a horrendous pile up on the first lap, which knocked him out. He was off the pace for several rounds whilst he recovered from his injuries but, in finishing the season strongly, was able to climb to a final position of 3rd place, behind Nicky Hayden and Valentino Rossi.

 

For 2007 Capirossi was once again aboard the Ducati, this time alongside new team mate Casey Stoner. It was the young Australian, in only his second season in MotoGP, who snatched the limelight as he blitzed his was to the World title casting something of a shadow over Capirossi, who finished seventh. Despite a win at Motegi and a couple of second places Ducati announced that they would be replacing the long serving Italian with Melandri for 2008.

 

Capirossi was quick to sign on for Rizla Suzuki for 2008, taking the seat vacated by John Hopkins, alongside Chris Vermeulen. Although many people assumed that Capirossi was looking for one last pay day before retirement, the 35-year old proved as eager as ever during pre-season testing. Once into the season he got to grips with the Suzuki well, grabbed a podium finish at Brno and finished the season just two places and ten points behind Vermeulen.

2009 sees the Rizla Suzuki team remain unchanged with Vermeulen lining up alongside Capirossi.

 

2008: 10th place - MotoGP World Championship
2007: 7th place - MotoGP World Championship
2006: 3rd place - MotoGP World Championship
2005: 6th place - MotoGP World Championship
2004: 9th place - MotoGP World Championship
2003: 4th place - MotoGP World Championship
2002: 8th place - MotoGP World Championship
2001: 3rd place - 500cc Grand Prix Championship
2000: 7th place - 500cc Grand Prix Championship
1999: 3rd place - 250cc Grand Prix Championship
1998: 1st place - 250cc Grand Prix Championship
1997: 6th place - 250cc Grand Prix Championship
1996: 10th place - 500cc Grand Prix Championship
1995: 6th place - 500cc Grand Prix Championship
1994: 3rd place - 250cc Grand Prix Championship
1993: 2nd place - 250cc Grand Prix Championship
1992: 12th place - 250cc Grand Prix Championship
1991: 1st place - 125cc Grand Prix Championship
1990: 1st place - 125cc Grand Prix Championship
1989: 4th place - 125cc European Championship
1988: 9th place - 125cc European Championship