Loris Capirossi to be inducted as MotoGP Legend at Misano
Italian rider Loris Capirossi will be inducted as a MotoGP Legend during a ceremony at the Misano round, recognising his on-track achievements and
Loris Capirossi will be inducted as a MotoGP Legend during a special ceremony on Saturday at this weekend's Misano round.
The honour recognises his on-track successes and his incredible contributions to the sport.
Capirossi won the 125cc world title as a rookie in 1990 and defended it in 1991. He then moved up to the 250cc and 500cc classes. Despite winning a 500cc grand prix in 1996, he returned to 250cc and claimed his third world title in 1998 after a controversial showdown with Aprilia team-mate Tetsuya Harada. That final-round race also promoted a young Valentino Rossi to second in the championship standings.
Capirossi returned to the premier class in 2000 with Pons Honda, winning in his first season and finishing third in the final 500cc world championship behind Kenny Roberts Jr and Valentino Rossi. In 2002, he competed in the new MotoGP era on a two-stroke, delivering gritty performances against four-strokes. His efforts earned him a factory ride with Ducati for 2003. He delivered the Desmosedici's first MotoGP victory at Catalunya that year. He later fought for the 2006 title and took a seventh and final Ducati win at Motegi in 2007, the same day team-mate Casey Stoner secured the world championship.
Capirossi switched to Suzuki for 2008, claiming his final podium at Brno that season.He is noted as the only rider other than Stoner to win on an 800cc Ducati. He returned to a Desmosedici with Pramac for his final MotoGP campaign in 2011. His last grand prix was at Valencia in 2011, where he rode with the #58 in tribute to Marco Simoncelli, rather than his usual #65.
Now 53, Capirossi has served as MotoGP's Safety Advisor for more than a decade.
MotoGP Legend status recognises the wider contribution a rider has made to the sport. A separate MotoGP Hall of Fame was launched in 2025 for riders who have won 500cc/MotoGP World Championships and/or 25 or more premier-class grands prix.
Italians already inducted as MotoGP Legends include Giacomo Agostini, Valentino Rossi, Andrea Dovizioso, Marco Simoncelli, Max Biaggi, Franco Uncini, Marco Lucchinelli, Umberto Masetti and Carlo Ubbiali.
The source for this report is crash.net.
