Tony Cairoli

Last updated
Tony Cairoli
Cairoli Loket 2011 2.jpg
Cairoli in 2011
NationalityItalian
Born23 September 1985 (1985-09-23) (age 38)
Patti, Sicily, Italy
Motocross career
Years active2002 – 2022
Teams
Grands Prix277
(69 MX2, 208 MXGP) [1]
Championships 9
(MX2 2005, 2007; MX1 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013; MXGP 2014, 2017)
Wins94
(24 MX2, 39 MX1, 31 MXGP)
GP debut2002, GP of Belgium, 125cc
First GP win2004, GP of Wallonia MX2

Antonio "Tony" Cairoli (born 23 September 1985) is an Italian retired 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.

Contents

Life and MXGP Career

Antonio was born in Patti, Sicily. He began his motocross Grand Prix career in 2002 riding a Yamaha. [3] He lives with his wife Jill Cox between Rome, Italy and Lommel, Belgium, where he is training. [4]

2004

In his debut MX2 season, Cairoli rode to a third-place finish in the championship with a maiden GP win at round 12.

2005

Tony won his first of two MX2 titles in 2005 with six wins and nine podiums.

2006

Cairoli ended 2006 second in the MX2 World Championship.

2007

Tony 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

Cairoli in 2008 at the GP of England Antonio Cairoli ITA FMI Yamaha FIM MX Mallory Park 2008 R6a.jpg
Cairoli in 2008 at the GP of England

Cairoli was unable to defend his MX2 championship, mainly due to missing five rounds because of injury.

2009

Cairoli claimed the 2009 FIM Motocross World Championship, on his last year at Yamaha [5] This was his first premier class title. He ended the season with four GP wins.

2010

Tony 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. [6]

2011

Tony Cairoli at the GP of Loket in 2011 Tony Cairoli Loket 2011.jpg
Tony Cairoli at the GP of Loket in 2011

Cairoli won his third consecutive MX1 title in 2011 with six Grand Prix victories.

2012

On 5 August 2012, in Czech Republic, he won his 50th GP in the MX1 World Championship. [7] Cairoli defended the MX1 title for the fourth time. He ended the season with 11 GP wins from the 15 rounds he raced.

2013

Cairoli at the 2013 Motocross des Nations DSC 7056 (10582301975).jpg
Cairoli at the 2013 Motocross des Nations

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

In 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

Cairoli at the MXGP of France in 2015 MXGP France - 2015 Cairoli 222.jpg
Cairoli at the MXGP of France in 2015

Cairoli's streak of six MXGP World Championships came to an end due to injury. He ended the season seventh.

2016

Cairoli in 2016 at the MXGP of Switzerland MXGP of Switzerland-2016- Cairoli 222.jpg
Cairoli in 2016 at the MXGP of Switzerland

Coming off an injury sustained in 2015, Cairoli battled to a second place championship finish.

2017

Cairoli at the GP of Valkenswaard, 2017 MXGP Valkenswaard-Cairoli 2.jpg
Cairoli at the GP of Valkenswaard, 2017

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

Cairoli announced his retirement from motocross on September 14, 2021.

2022

After 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. [8]

Achievements

YearMotocycle World Championship MdN Italian Ch. Supercross Títles
MXGPMX1MX2TitlesGP winsRaces winsRace1Race2Nation's OverallEuropean Ch.British Ch.
2001  ?1st Cadet1
2002 Honda1st Junior1
2003 Honda-
2004 Yamaha 3rd1118th26th15th-
2005 Yamaha 1stMX261239th36th13th1
2006 Yamaha 2nd31110th1st4th1st1st2
2007 Yamaha 24th1stMX211 [9] 23 [9] 37th14th4th1st1st1st4
2008 Yamaha 6th48-
2009 Yamaha 1stMX1491st38th6th1
2010 KTM 1stMX18152nd4th5th1
2011 KTM 1stMX16940th37th16th1
2012 KTM 1stMX111211st1st5th1
2013 KTM 1stMX19201st1st3rd1
2014 KTM 1stMXGP91540th19th6th1
2015 KTM 7th25----
2016 KTM 2nd352nd2nd5th-
2017 KTM 1stMXGP6911th7th7th1
2018 KTM 2nd-266th4th2nd-
2019 KTM 10th4716th-
2020 KTM 3rd3221st2nd1st-
Total titles25298516933022116
9 world titles

Post Racing Career

After 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

YearRnd
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 MX285553OUT5413731423-----4.8536%3rd
2005 MX2521672201OUT1311111510---4.8156%1st
2006 MX2783526221641321-----3.5360%2nd
2007 MX21111121112281OUT1-----1.7193%1st
2008 MX22417111021DNFOUTOUTOUTOUTOUT-----3.2267%6th
2009 MX1561213831123469-----3.6060%1st
2010 MX121124124211111DNF-----1.7186%1st
2011 MX191522213211211OUT-----2.3586%1st
2012 MX113218131DNF1111111----1.8093%1st
2013 MX1211122113111115273--2.0089%1st
2014 MXGP31151141315113133---2.2382%1st
2015 MXGP43321111313975OUTOUTOUTOUTOUTOUT--6.8950%7th
2016 MXGP5542621174647312142--4.2244%2nd
2017 MXGP14721421251112373415-3.4763%1st
2018 MXGP2213232622124227482OUT3.0074%2nd
2019 MXGP1112271811OUTOUTOUTOUTOUTOUTOUTOUTOUT--3.7867%10th
2020 MXGP34131434184269351512--4.8939%3rd
2021 MXGP1013225553OUT755DNS15315--4.8144%6th

Injuries

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References

  1. "Antonio Cairoli – MXGP". mxgp.com. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
  2. "Antonio Cairoli results at www.motocrossmx1.com". motocrossmx1.com. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  3. antonio Cairoli career profile
  4. "Antonio Cairoli: "Velocità, Fango e Gloria"" (in Italian). f1passion.it. Retrieved 4 October 2012.
  5. 2009 FIM MX1-GP final standings
  6. 2010 FIM MX1-GP final standings
  7. "Tony Cairoli stellare: vince il 50° GP" (in Italian). motociclismo.it. Retrieved 17 August 2012.
  8. "Antonio Cairoli Confirms 2022 Pro Motocross Appearance". Racer X. Retrieved 2022-04-24.
  9. 1 2 One Race and one GP in MX1
  10. "Rider Profile: Antonio Cairoli on Gatedrop.com". Gatedrop.com. Gatedrop. Retrieved 11 September 2017.
Sporting positions
Preceded by Motocross World Championship
MX2 Champion

2005
Succeeded by
Preceded by Motocross World Championship
MX2 Champion

2007
Succeeded by
Preceded by Motocross World Championship
MX1/MXGP Champion

20092014
Succeeded by
Preceded by Motocross World Championship
MXGP Champion

2017
Succeeded by