Lucio Cecchinello (born on November 21, 1969 in Venice, Italy), is a former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer and currently a Moto GP team manager for Team LCR, with Randy de Puniet as his rider.

Racing career

Lucio began to cultivate his passion for racing motorcycles after working as a motorcycle mechanic for teams in national and international racing. He started to race motorcycles in 1989, when he was a rider in the Italian Sport Production Championship, riding an Honda 125NSR. In his third race at Monza, he obtained his first victory. Other victories and pole positions gave him self-confidence, and in 1990, he finished second behind Max Biaggi.

In 1991 Lucio made his debut in the European Championship riding for the Team Italia (where he was a mechanic 3 years before) and he obtained the 10th final position. Riding for the Team Italia again in 1992, Lucio was Vice European Champion. In 1993 he joined the 125 World Championship, riding for the Gazzaniga Team. In 1994 the GIVI team offered him the opportunity to ride a private Honda RS125 and gained his first world championship points. In 1995 the Pileri team gave him the opportunity race a Honda RS125 in the European Championship, during which he won 8 of the 11 races and won the European 125cc championship.

1996 was a turning point for Cecchinello. He organized his own small team for the 125cc World Championship, earning several good results in the top ten. It was the same in 1997 and in 1998. After 4 Grands Prix, Cecchinello obtained his first Grand Prix victory in the Madrid Grand Prix at Jarama.

In 2001, Cecchinello took another victory at the Catalan Grand Prix and ended the season in fourth place. 2002 would be his best year when he claimed three victories, and again finished fourth in the final standings. In his final year of competition, he accomplished a dream by winning his home Grand Prix at the 2003 Italian Grand Prix.

Career statistics

Season	Category	Starts	1st	2nd	3rd	Total	Poles	Bike	Points	Position
2003	125cc	16	2	1	-	3	-	Aprilia	112	9
2002	125cc	16	3	2	-	5	-	Aprilia	180	4
2001	125cc	16	1	2	1	4	1	Aprilia	156	4
2000	125cc	16	-	-	-	-	-	Honda	91	11
1999	125cc	16	-	2	2	4	3	Honda	108	9
1998	125cc	13	1	-	2	3	-	Honda	130	5
1997	125cc	15	-	-	-	-	-	Honda	73	14
1996	125cc	15	-	-	-	-	-	Honda	59	15
1994	125cc	14	-	-	-	-	-	Honda	5	30
1993	125cc	12	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-

Team LCR

Lucio began setting up his own team in 1996. The team started as one-bike team for Lucio, racing in 125cc class with Honda bike. The team soon expanded into two-bike team since 1998. In 2001, the team switched into Aprilia machinery.

The expansion continues in 2002, with the team running extra bikes in 250cc, giving debuts to future MotoGP champion Casey Stoner. Lucio retired after 2003 season, but the team continues to battle for the championship with Stoner and French rider Randy de Puniet as their main rider.

In 2006, the team moved to MotoGP class with Honda machinery. The team employ Casey Stoner in one-rider privateer team. The team successfully reached their first podium and first pole with Stoner in their debut season. However, Stoner left at the end of the season to join Ducati factory team. Veteran Spanish rider Carlos Checa was recruited to ride for them in 2007. Since 2008, the team sole rider was Randy de Puniet, who was with the team's 250cc campaign in 2003 and 2004.

References

External links

• lcr.mc Official website of Team LCR