500 cc World Champions in 3 and 1981 on Suzuki, the Italian and the American will soon join at the pinnacle of our sport Giacomo Agostini, Mick Doohan, Geoff Duke, Wayne Gardner, Mike Hailwood, Daijiro Kato, Eddie Lawson, Anton Mang, Angel Nieto, Wayne Rainey, Phil Read, Jim Redman, Kenny Roberts, Jarno Saarinen, Kevin Schwantz, Barry Sheene, Marco Simoncelli, Freddie Spencer, Casey Stoner, John Surtees, Carlo Ubbiali, Nicky Hayden, Franco Uncini and Alex Crivillé.
Born on June 26, 1954 in Ceparana, near the Mediterranean port of La Spezia, the exuberant “Lucky” made his debut in 1974 with an Aermacchi 250 at the Saline di Volterra-Volterra hill climb. In 1975 he drove a three-cylinder Laverda 1000 in endurance for Roberto Gallina, after a test at Mugello. He made a strong impression on this bike with his speed, particularly at the 24 Hours of Spa. The result was not there in Belgium when the machine was destroyed in the pits by a gigantic fire during a refueling. In 1976, Gallina entered Marco and Armando Toracca on Suzukis in the GP 500.
Lucchinelli competed in his first 500 Grand Prix at Le Mans, where he finished third, behind Barry Sheene and Johnny Cecotto, but ahead of Tepi Lansivuori and Giacomo Agostini. It was the first of his 19 podiums. He won a total of 6 victories, achieved 9 pole positions and 9 fastest laps in the race. His high point was the title of World Champion obtained in 1981. He then shone in the World Superbike Championship on Ducati, winning the inaugural race of the Championship at Donington in 1988 before becoming team manager for the Italian manufacturer.
Marco created Luchinelliexperience which still works. He also tried his hand at singing, and we would have really regretted letting you miss that
Kenny Roberts Junior (Kenneth Leroy Roberts Jr) was born on July 25, 1973 in Mountain View, California, the year his father won his first title in the United States. After starting in motocross, he started on the tarmac in 250 at Willow Springs in 1990. He started in GP in 1993 at Laguna Seca in 250 then raced in 1994 and 1995 for his father's team on Yamaha. He then moved to 500, still with dad, on Yamaha then Modenas KR3.
From 1999 he became a Suzuki official in the 500 and won the world title in 2000 ahead of Valentino Rossi and Max Biaggi. He then continued on Suzuki, moving to MotoGP in 2002, and ended his career at the end of 2007 on his father's KR212V. He won 8 Grands Prix, was on the podium 22 times, achieved 10 pole positions and 9 fastest laps in the race.
