Luca Cadalora

Luca Cadalora
Luca Cadalora on the Yamaha YZR500
Nationality	Italian
Motorcycle racing career statistics Grand Prix motorcycle racing Active years 1984 - 2000 First race 1984 125cc Nations Grand Prix Last race 2000 500cc Czech Grand Prix First win 1986 125cc West German Grand Prix Last win 1996 500cc German Grand Prix Team(s) MBA, Garelli, Yamaha, Honda, MuZ, Modenas Championships 125cc – 1986 250cc – 1991, 1992 Starts Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points 195 34 72 29 30 1932

Luca Cadalora (born May 17, 1963) is an Italian former Grand Prix motorcycle road racing world champion.

Cadalora was born in Modena, Emilia Romagna.

He began his professional motorcycle racing career in 1984, riding an MBA in the 125cc world championship. In 1986, he won the 125cc World Championship while riding for the Garelli factory racing team. His success earned him a promotion to the 250cc class with Giacomo Agostini's Marlboro Yamaha factory racing team in 1986. In 1991, Cadalora switched to the Rothmans Honda factory racing team and won the 250cc World Championship aboard an Erv Kanemoto-tuned Honda NSR250. He successfully defended his title with Honda in 1992, claiming his third world championship.

In 1993 he rose to the blue riband 500cc division as Wayne Rainey's team mate in the Kenny Roberts-Yamaha team. In three seasons on the Roberts Yamaha, he displayed flashes of brilliance, finishing as high as second to Mick Doohan in 1994. Cadalora rejoined Kanemoto for the 1996 season racing a Honda NSR500. Despite lacking any major sponsors, he still managed to finish the season in third place aboard the Kanemoto-Honda.