Rider: Loris Capirossi
Nationality: Italian
Team: Rizla Suzuki
Machine: Suzuki GSV-R (#65)
Born: April 4, 1973 in Castel San Pietro Terme, Bologna
In 1995 he moved into the 500cc Grand Prix World Championship with Pileri Honda. After struggling for a year he won a race in 1996 for Wayne Rainey's Yamaha team. Capirossi returned to 250cc championship to race for Aprilia in 1997. The 1998 season saw him win the 250cc series, but Capirossi was let go by Aprilia during the off-season after controversially ramming his own team-mate Tetsuya Harada during the final race in Argentina. He was taken up by Honda and ended third overall in the in 1999 championship, but once again showed his aggressive riding style when he was black flagged for dangerous riding at Mugello.
In 2000, Loris Capirossi returned to the 500cc world championship and stayed there through its evolution into the 800cc MotoGP two years later. In 2003 he jumped ship from Honda to Ducati. He took Ducati's first win at Barcelona and 4th overall, before a slightly disappointing 2004 on the GP4 bike that lacked grip in the corners. Most of the next year was spent adjusting the bike to riding on new Bridgestone tires, which would pay off in 2006 with Capirossi's best MotoGP result. The fact that Capirex did so well in '06, finishing third in the championship, is underscored by the fact that he was tied for the championship lead when he became entangled in the infamous first-turn incident at Catalunya. Mangled from the crash, which was caused by then teammate, Sete Gibernau, the lion-hearted Capirossi kept racing, albeit at less than 100%.
2007 was not as strong a season for Capirossi. Immediately following the conclusion of the 2007 USGP race at Laguna Seca, Ducati announced the signing of Marco Melandri and the extension of Casey Stoner's contract for the 2008 and 2009 seasons. Capirossi's position on the Marlboro Ducati team was left uncertain. On August 16, 2007 Capirossi announced that he was parting ways with long-time employer Ducati to campaign alongside Chris Vermeulen aboard the Rizla Suzuki GSV-R.
Now in his ninth consecutive year in the premier series, the 36-year-old Capirossi is the elder statesman on the Rizla Suzuki team. Capirossi is a likable rider, and many fans will be rooting for him. An example of the good-natured demeanor of the Italian ace is the change on his leathers and helmet from the familiar "Capirex" nickname to "Capi-T-rex." He may be getting on in years, but Capirossi ain't a dinosaur yet and extinction is a long way off. With a new era in MotoGP upon him, the veteran rider and former 250 and 125 GP champion will still be looking for his first-ever title in the premier class.
Career Highlights:
2008 - 10th MotoGP (Suzuki)
2007 - 7th MotoGP (Ducati)
2006 - 3rd MotoGP (Ducati)
2005 - 6th MotoGP (Ducati)
2004 - 9th MotoGP (Ducati)
2003 - 4th MotoGP (Ducati)
2002 - 8th MotoGP (Honda)
2001 - 3rd 500 GP (Honda)
2000 - 7th 500 GP (Honda)
1999 - 3rd 250 GP (Honda)
1998 - 1st 250 GP (Aprilia)
1997 - 6th 250 GP (Aprilia)
1996 - 10th 500 GP (Yamaha)
1995 - 6th 500 GP (Honda)
1994 - 3rd 250 GP (Honda)
1993 - 2st 250 GP (Honda)
1992 - 12th 250 GP (Honda)
1991 - 1st 150 GP (Honda)
1990 - 1st 150 GP (Honda)
