Franco Uncini

Franco Uncini (born 9 March 1955) is an Italian former Grand Prix motorcycle road racing World Champion in 1982 with Suzuki. He was inducted into the F.I.M. MotoGP Hall of Fame in 2016.[1][2]

Franco Uncini
Franco Uncini
NationalityItalian
Born (1955-03-09) March 9, 1955
Recanati, Province of Macerata
Motorcycle racing career statistics
Grand Prix motorcycle racing
Active years1976 - 1985
First race1976 350cc Nations Grand Prix
Last race1985 500cc San Marino Grand Prix
First win1977 250cc Nations Grand Prix
Last win1982 500cc British Grand Prix
Team(s)Suzuki
Championships500cc - 1982
Starts Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points
79 7 21 3 3 446

Career

Uncini was born at Recanati, province of Macerata. He made his debut as professional motorcycle road racer in the 750cc class with Laverda, moving later to Ducati, with whom he earned various titles as Italian champion.[3] His first year in the Grand Prix World Championship was with Yamaha in 1976, in both the 250cc and the 350cc classes. The following year he continued to race in both classes, this time with the Harley-Davidson team, winning two Grands Prix in 250cc (Grand Prix of Nations and Czechoslovakia) and finishing second in championship behind Mario Lega. However, his quarrelsome relationship with teammate Walter Villa forced him to move back to Yamaha.[3]

After some disappointing years with a privateer Yamaha team, in 1979 he bought a Suzuki and launched a private team of his own in the 500cc class. He was the top-ranking privateer both in 1979 and 1980, with 5th- and 4th-place finishes. Accidents hindered his 1981 season, but after Marco Lucchinelli left Suzuki to join Honda, Suzuki offered Uncini an official factory-sponsored race bike run by Roberto Gallina's team. Finally, with a competitive vehicle, Uncini won the World Championship in 1982, scoring five victories (GPs of Austria, Netherlands, Yugoslavia, Great Britain and GP of Nations). He was the last Italian rider to win the 500cc crown until Valentino Rossi won in 2001.

Roberts, Uncini, Sheene in TT Assen podium

In 1983, he was severely injured at TT-Assen (The Netherlands), when he fell off his bike and was struck in the head by competitor Wayne Gardner's bike.[3][4] He went into a coma, but eventually recovered. He retired from motorcycle competition after the 1985 season.[3]

Today, Uncini acts as Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme Safety Officer in MotoGP.[3]

Career statistics

Grand Prix motorcycle racing results [5]

Points system from 1969 to 1988:

Position 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Points 15 12 10 8 6 5 4 3 2 1

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Class Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Points Rank Wins
1976 250cc Yamaha FRA
-
NAT
-
IOM
-
NED
10
BEL
-
SWE
-
FIN
-
CZE
-
GER
-
ESP
-
6 21st 0
350cc Yamaha FRA
-
AUT
-
NAT
2
IOM
-
NED
6
FIN
-
CZE
-
GER
-
ESP
3
27 9th 0
1977 250cc Harley Davidson VEN
-
GER
3
NAT
1
ESP
13
FRA
-
YUG
-
NED
2
BEL
7
SWE
-
FIN
4
CZE
1
GBR
4
72 2nd 2
350cc Harley Davidson VEN
-
GER
-
NAT
6
ESP
-
FRA
-
YUG
-
NED
5
SWE
-
FIN
-
CZE
-
GBR
-
11 20th 0
1978 250cc Yamaha VEN
-
ESP
3
FRA
-
NAT
3
NED
4
BEL
2
SWE
-
FIN
-
GBR
-
GER
-
CZE
9
YUG
-
42 8th 0
350cc Yamaha VEN
-
AUT
2
FRA
-
NAT
5
NED
10
SWE
-
FIN
-
GBR
-
GER
-
CZE
-
YUG
-
19 12th 0
1979 500cc Suzuki VEN
4
AUT
6
GER
6
NAT
-
ESP
5
YUG
3
NED
6
BEL
-
SWE
-
FIN
-
GBR
7
FRA
4
51 5th 0
1980 500cc Suzuki NAT
2
ESP
7
FRA
-
NED
3
BEL
6
FIN
3
GBR
6
GER
7
50 4th 0
1981 500cc Suzuki AUT
7
GER
10
NAT
8
FRA
-
YUG
NC
NED
-
BEL
-
RSM
NC
GBR
16
FIN
NC
SWE
7
12 13th 0
1982 500cc Suzuki ARG
4
AUT
1
FRA
-
ESP
3
NAT
1
NED
1
BEL
3
YUG
1
GBR
1
SWE
-
RSM
-
GER
-
103 1st 5
1983 500cc Suzuki RSA
6
FRA
NC
NAT
4
GER
5
ESP
5
AUT
5
YUG
NC
NED
NC
BEL
-
GBR
-
SWE
-
RSM
-
31 9th 0
1984 500cc Suzuki RSA
NC
NAT
5
ESP
NC
AUT
11
GER
6
FRA
-
YUG
-
NED
-
BEL
-
GBR
11
SWE
NC
RSM
8
14 14th 0
1985 500cc Suzuki RSA
11
ESP
-
GER
NC
NAT
8
AUT
13
YUG
NC
NED
13
BEL
13
FRA
12
GBR
18
SWE
15
RSM
6
8 15th 0

References

  1. "MotoGP Legends". motogp.com. Retrieved 26 April 2017.
  2. "Uncini becomes a MotoGP Legend". motogp.com. Retrieved 26 April 2017.
  3. DeWitt, Norm (September–October 2012). "Franco Uncini – World Champion – Team Manager – Top Official". Classic Racer (157): 22–28. ISSN 1470-4463.
  4. Cathcart, Alan (1986). Wayne Gardner. Cycle World. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  5. "Rider Statistics - Franco Uncini". MotoGP.com. Retrieved 2008-08-16.


Preceded by
Marco Lucchinelli
500cc Motorcycle World Champion
1982
Succeeded by
Freddie Spencer
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