Antonio "Tony" Cairoli (born 23 September 1985) is an Italian professional motocross racer. He competed in the Motocross World Championships from 2002 to 2021. Cairoli is notable for winning nine FIM Motocross World Championships.[2] He was also a member of the winning Italian team at the 2021 Motocross des Nations. He retired from fulltime racing in 2021 but had a comeback at the 2024 MXGP of Arnhem (Netherlands) racing for Ducati celebrating their debut of being an official MXGP racing team.[3]
| Tony Cairoli | |
|---|---|
 Cairoli in 2011 | |
| Nationality | Italian |
| Born | 23 September 1985 (age 39) Patti, Sicily, Italy |
| Motocross career | |
| Years active | 2002 – 2022 |
| Teams | |
| Grands Prix | 277 (69 MX2, 208 MXGP)[1] |
| Championships | 9 (MX2 2005, 2007; MX1 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013; MXGP 2014, 2017) |
| Wins | 94 (24 MX2, 39 MX1, 31 MXGP) |
| GP debut | 2002, GP of Belgium, 125cc |
| First GP win | 2004, GP of Wallonia MX2 |
Life and MXGP Career
editAntonio was born in Patti, Sicily. He began his motocross Grand Prix career in 2002 riding a Yamaha.[4] He and his wife Jill Cox split their time between Rome, Italy and Lommel, Belgium, where he is training.[5]
2004
editIn his debut MX2 season, Cairoli rode to a third-place finish in the championship with a maiden GP win at round 12.
2005
editTony won his first of two MX2 titles in 2005 with six wins and nine podiums.
2006
editCairoli ended 2006 second in the MX2 World Championship.
2007
editTony dominated the MX2 field in 2007, securing 10 wins from 15 Grand Prix's (missed round 14) as well as 13 out of 14 podium finishes. This led him to his second MX2 World Motocross Championship.
2008
edit
Cairoli was unable to defend his MX2 championship, mainly due to missing five rounds because of injury.
2009
editCairoli claimed the 2009 FIM Motocross World Championship, on his last year at Yamaha[6] This was his first premier class title. He ended the season with four GP wins.
2010
editTony successfully defended his MX1 world championship in 2010. Riding for the Red Bull Factory KTM team, as well as being the first since Stefan Everts in 2006 to defend the MX1 championship. He added another eight GP wins to his record. [7]
2011
edit
Cairoli won his third consecutive MX1 title in 2011 with six Grand Prix victories.
2012
editOn 5 August 2012, in Czech Republic, he won his 50th GP in the MX1 World Championship.[8] Cairoli defended the MX1 title for the fourth time. He ended the season with 11 GP wins from the 15 rounds he raced.
2013
edit
In the 2013 MX1 season, Tony Cairoli continued his dominance in the Motocross World Championship. Riding for the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team, Cairoli displayed exceptional skill and consistency. He secured multiple victories throughout the season and defended the MX1 World Championship title for the fifth time, further solidifying his status as one of the premier riders in motocross.
2014
editIn the 2014 MXGP season, Tony Cairoli continued his remarkable performance in the premier class of the Motocross World Championship. He showcased consistent excellence, securing multiple victories and podium finishes. Despite facing tough competition, Cairoli's skill and determination prevailed, and he successfully defended his title, winning the MXGP World Championship for another consecutive year.
2015
edit
Cairoli's streak of six MXGP World Championships came to an end due to injury. He ended the season seventh.
2016
edit
Coming off an injury sustained in 2015, Cairoli battled to a second place championship finish.
2017
edit
At the age of 32, 2017 was the year in which Cairoli was able to clinch his ninth MXGP World Championship, with six Grand Prix wins.
2021
editCairoli announced his retirement from motocross on September 14, 2021.
2022
editAfter his retirement from full-time professional racing, Cairoli announced he would be visiting the United States to race the AMA Motocross Championship for select rounds which included Fox Raceway, Hangtown, Thunder Valley, High Point & Budds Creek. His best result was a fifth at Thunder Valley.[9]
2024
editCelebrating his comeback and Ducati's debut at the motocross world championship, Cairoli raced at the MXGP of Arnhem (Qualifying: 7th, Race 1: 15th).[10]
Achievements
edit| Year | Motocycle | World Championship | MdN | Italian Ch. | Supercross | Títles | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MXGP | MX1 | MX2 | Titles | GP wins | Races wins | Race1 | Race2 | Nation's Overall | European Ch. | British Ch. | ||||
| 2001 | ? | 1st Cadet | 1 | |||||||||||
| 2002 | Honda | 1st Junior | 1 | |||||||||||
| 2003 | Honda | - | ||||||||||||
| 2004 | Yamaha | 3rd | – | 1 | 1 | 18th | 26th | 15th | - | |||||
| 2005 | Yamaha | 1st | MX2 | 6 | 12 | 39th | 36th | 13th | 1 | |||||
| 2006 | Yamaha | 2nd | – | 3 | 11 | 10th | 1st | 4th | 1st | 1st | 2 | |||
| 2007 | Yamaha | 24th | 1st | MX2 | 11[11] | 23[11] | 37th | 14th | 4th | 1st | 1st | 1st | 4 | |
| 2008 | Yamaha | 6th | – | 4 | 8 | – | – | – | - | |||||
| 2009 | Yamaha | 1st | MX1 | 4 | 9 | 1st | 38th | 6th | 1 | |||||
| 2010 | KTM | 1st | MX1 | 8 | 15 | 2nd | 4th | 5th | 1 | |||||
| 2011 | KTM | 1st | MX1 | 6 | 9 | 40th | 37th | 16th | 1 | |||||
| 2012 | KTM | 1st | MX1 | 11 | 21 | 1st | 1st | 5th | 1 | |||||
| 2013 | KTM | 1st | MX1 | 9 | 20 | 1st | 1st | 3rd | 1 | |||||
| 2014 | KTM | 1st | MXGP | 9 | 15 | 40th | 19th | 6th | 1 | |||||
| 2015 | KTM | 7th | – | 2 | 5 | - | - | - | - | |||||
| 2016 | KTM | 2nd | – | 3 | 5 | 2nd | 2nd | 5th | - | |||||
| 2017 | KTM | 1st | MXGP | 6 | 9 | 11th | 7th | 7th | 1 | |||||
| 2018 | KTM | 2nd | - | 2 | 6 | 6th | 4th | 2nd | - | |||||
| 2019 | KTM | 10th | 4 | 7 | 16th | - | ||||||||
| 2020 | KTM | 3rd | 3 | 2 | 21st | 2nd | 1st | - | ||||||
| Total titles | 2 | 5 | 2 | 9 | 85 | 169 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 16 | |
| 9 world titles | ||||||||||||||
Post Racing Career
editAfter his full time racing career ended, Cairoli took up the role of team manager of the Red Bull KTM Factory team and oversaw their efforts in both MX2 and MXGP.
Cairoli left KTM in 2023. He later revealed he had joined the new Ducati motocross program. In his role, Cairoli will report directly to Ducati Corse director Paolo Ciabatti and assist in the development of Ducati's motocross bikes and the efforts of both MXGP and AMA riders under the Ducati banner, with the first Ducati motocross motorcycles being ready to race in 2025.
MXGP Career Results
edit| Year | Rnd 1 |
Rnd 2 |
Rnd 3 |
Rnd 4 |
Rnd 5 |
Rnd 6 |
Rnd 7 |
Rnd 8 |
Rnd 9 |
Rnd 10 |
Rnd 11 |
Rnd 12 |
Rnd 13 |
Rnd 14 |
Rnd 15 |
Rnd 16 |
Rnd 17 |
Rnd 18 |
Rnd 19 |
Rnd 20 |
Average Finish |
Podium Percent |
Place |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 MX2 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 3 | OUT | 5 | 4 | 13 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 3 | - | - | - | - | - | 4.85 | 36% | 3rd |
| 2005 MX2 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 2 | 20 | 1 | OUT | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 5 | 10 | - | - | - | 4.81 | 56% | 1st |
| 2006 MX2 | 7 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | 3.53 | 60% | 2nd |
| 2007 MX2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 1 | OUT | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | 1.71 | 93% | 1st |
| 2008 MX2 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 2 | 1 | DNF | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | - | - | - | - | - | 3.22 | 67% | 6th |
| 2009 MX1 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 9 | - | - | - | - | - | 3.60 | 60% | 1st |
| 2010 MX1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | DNF | - | - | - | - | - | 1.71 | 86% | 1st |
| 2011 MX1 | 9 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | OUT | - | - | - | - | - | 2.35 | 86% | 1st |
| 2012 MX1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 1 | DNF | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | - | - | - | - | 1.80 | 93% | 1st |
| 2013 MX1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 3 | - | - | 2.00 | 89% | 1st |
| 2014 MXGP | 3 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | - | - | - | 2.23 | 82% | 1st |
| 2015 MXGP | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 13 | 9 | 7 | 5 | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | - | - | 6.89 | 50% | 7th |
| 2016 MXGP | 5 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 14 | 2 | - | - | 4.22 | 44% | 2nd |
| 2017 MXGP | 1 | 4 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 15 | - | 3.47 | 63% | 1st |
| 2018 MXGP | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 4 | 8 | 2 | OUT | 3.00 | 74% | 2nd |
| 2019 MXGP | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 8 | 11 | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | - | - | 3.78 | 67% | 10th |
| 2020 MXGP | 3 | 4 | 13 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 9 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 12 | - | - | 4.89 | 39% | 3rd |
| 2021 MXGP | 10 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 3 | OUT | 7 | 5 | 5 | DNS | 1 | 5 | 3 | 15 | - | - | 4.81 | 44% | 6th |
Injuries
edit- 2008 – Torn Acl (Knee, MXGP of South Africa)
- 2014 – Knee injury (at MXON Kegums, Latvia)
- 2015 – Fractured elbow (MXGP of Maggiora, Italy)
- 2016 – two broken ribs, wrist injury[12]
- 2019 - Shoulder injury
References
edit- ^ "Antonio Cairoli – MXGP". mxgp.com. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
- ^ "Antonio Cairoli results at www.motocrossmx1.com". motocrossmx1.com. Archived from the original on 23 July 2010. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
- ^ https://www.mxgp.com/news/historical-moment-ducati-and-antonio-cairoli-get-ready-race-arnhem [bare URL]
- ^ antonio Cairoli career profile
- ^ "Antonio Cairoli: "Velocità, Fango e Gloria"" (in Italian). f1passion.it. Retrieved 4 October 2012.
- ^ 2009 FIM MX1-GP final standings
- ^ 2010 FIM MX1-GP final standings
- ^ "Tony Cairoli stellare: vince il 50° GP" (in Italian). motociclismo.it. Retrieved 17 August 2012.
- ^ "Antonio Cairoli Confirms 2022 Pro Motocross Appearance". Racer X. Retrieved 2022-04-24.
- ^ https://mxgpresults.com/mxgp/2024/netherlands [bare URL]
- ^ a b One Race and one GP in MX1
- ^ "Rider Profile: Antonio Cairoli on Gatedrop.com". Gatedrop.com. Gatedrop. Retrieved 11 September 2017.
External links
edit- Tony Cairoli at MX1 web site
- Tony Cairoli at KTM web site
- Tony Cairoli at Red Bull web site
- Tony Cairoli, at Gatedrop.com, 11-9-2017
- Tony Cairoli at eWRC-results.com
- Tony Cairoli at the CONI honored athlete website (in Italian)
- Official website
