15 Facts About Marco Lucchinelli

Marco Lucchinelli was born on 26 June 1954 and is an Italian former professional motorcycle racer and television sports presenter.

Marco Lucchinelli competed in Grand Prix motorcycle racing between 1975 and 1986.

Marco Lucchinelli was 1981 FIM Road Racing World Champion as a member of the Gallina-Suzuki racing team.

In 2017, Lucchinelli was inducted into the MotoGP Legends Hall of Fame by FIM.

Marco Lucchinelli began his road racing career in 1975 on a Laverda in endurance racing.

Marco Lucchinelli's riding impressed the Yamaha factory enough to earn him a sponsored bike in the Italian National Championship as well as a ride in the 1975 Nations Grand Prix in the 350 class.

Marco Lucchinelli earned the nickname Crazy Horse for his wild riding style that attracted many fans.

Marco Lucchinelli returned to Suzuki for the 1978 season and in 1980, he won his first 500cc Grand Prix at the German Grand Prix at the Nurburgring.

Marco Lucchinelli began the year with a victory over Kenny Roberts in the prestigious Imola 200 non-championship race in Italy.

Marco Lucchinelli then took 5 Grand Prix victories aboard the Roberto Gallina backed Suzuki, battling Randy Mamola to the final race of the season before winning the 500cc World Championship.

In 1982, Marco Lucchinelli accepted a job offer from Honda to race their new three-cylinder NS500 alongside Freddie Spencer and Takazumi Katayama.

Marco Lucchinelli would have a lackluster season in which Franco Uncini would win the championship for the Roberto Gallina-Suzuki team for which Lucchinelli had won the title the previous year.

Marco Lucchinelli tried his hand at auto racing, competing in the Italian round of the 1986 Formula 3000 season in a Lola-Ford.

Marco Lucchinelli raced a Ducati 851 to a popular win at the 1987 Daytona Battle of the Twins race.

Marco Lucchinelli spent some time in jail, during which he successfully fought against drug addiction.