Pramac Ducati, motoGP aces' last team
Pramac Ducati hasn't been a serious threat for front row runners in motoGP nowadays. Factory Teams, LCR, and Gresini, regularly outfast this Italy-based team. Although so, they have something that people know them better from other teams. It’s the team that many motoGP aces spent their last season in the premiere class from year to year...So who waved goodbye to their career at Pramac ??
Tetsuya Harada
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| Harada-san riding his Pramac 2-stroke Honda in 2002 season, his first and last |
The Japanese rider known for his reputation in 250cc in the 1990s. His competitors, including Olivier Jacque, fellow countryman Shinya Nakano, Loris Capirossi, Max Biaggi and Marco Melandri had raced with him in the past. Harada-san was the champion in 1993 in the ¼ litre class. In the year 2002, he moved to the motoGP class, which was also the first year under the name motoGP, previously run as 500cc. Rode a 2-stroke 500cc Honda, Harada made his first season in the class the last, as he retired later that season and becomes the first on the list.
Alex Barros
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| ring any bells to you?? |
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| Alex with Pons Honda |
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| Alex riding Pramac Ducati in 2007 |
Ask your uncle or brother, who is Alex Barros?? He’ll say “He is, or was, a great rider in mid 90s to early 2000s, bro.” and he’s right. In his glorious years, he had joyful times with West Pons Team, became title contender, but failed to clinch the title. Then he moved to Repsol Honda. In 2006 he switched to WSBK with Klaffi Honda and finally returned to motoGP with Pramac Ducati. The Brazilian, known with his start number, 4, raced with the Italian side till he hung up his helmet in 2007.
Alex Hoffman
Few people know about the German rider. Hoffman, or by some nicknamed him “The Hoff” rode with Kawasaki for seasons until he switched to Pramac until mid 2008 season. He resigned in mid season due to personal reasons, turned out to be loss of motivation to race.
Loris Capirossi
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| with his 250cc Aprilia as world champion |
Who doesn’t know Loris “Capirex” Capirossi?? If you don’t, well you might not be serious, right ? Loris was one of the best riders in his era. 2-times 250cc World Champion, it’s obvious if he was, isn’t it?. Loris moved into 500cc then he joined West Pons Honda and became title contender in 2001, but unluckily defeated by Valentino Rossi in Australia. With Alex Barros, he made them both an intimidating duet in the 500cc class and in the early motoGP era.
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| Capirex at 2011 Qatar GP |
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| but I bet you remember him the most in Ducati colours |
Uniquely, both had the same fate, Loris retired from racing with Pramac Ducati in 2011 as his Brazilian competitor did 4 years earlier. Previously, the Italian rider with the start number 65 spent couple seasons with Ducati (2006-07), and Suzuki (2008-10).
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| with his last ride in motoGP for Valencian GP, also the last appearance for the number 58 |
Ben Spies
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| Ben "The Elbowz" Spies |
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| He won the WSBK title in his maiden season, what an achievement !! |
I bet you still remember Ben Spies. Ben “The Elbowz” Spies has a place on this list. From entering the competition as a wildcard rider, he competed full season in motoGP in 2010 with Yamaha Factory Team. Back in the previous year, 2009, Ben dominated WSBK Championship with Yamaha team, riding a YZF-R1. It was so special that it was his debut season. In motoGP, during 3 seasons with Yamaha, Ben won the 2012 TT Assen and secured podium spots, but injury problems made it hard for him to get back to his great form.
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| Ben with Pramac, a nice yet short story |
In 2013 he was replaced by Valentino Rossi and signed with Pramac Ducati. Unfortunately, he only raced for 3 races until he was hit by injury blow and now The Elbowz had to call it a day at the end of season. So, another rider wrapped up his career with the Ducati satellite team.
source :cbr1000.it, digilander.iol.it, motorsport.com, http://juvsonnet.zip.net, http://static.derapate.it, londonbikers.co.uk, insella.it, asphaltandrubber.com, segundoanfiteatro.es, sj-project.com, cyclenews.com, http://s1.cdn.autoevolution.com/images/news/ben-spies-becomes-world-superbike-champion-at-algarve-12409_1.jpg, motogp.com
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