Carlo Ubbiali
When MotoGP began, one name was more prominent and dominated the 125cc and 250cc classes a bit more than others. Carlo Ubbiali was part of the first MotoGP season in 1949 and it took him just a year to start winning. From 1951 to 1960, Ubbiali dominated the lower classes by winning 9 titles in 10 years.
Along with the Italian racing team Mondial, Ubbiali won his first title in 1951 in the 125cc segment. In the very next season, the bike deteriorated and Ubbiali saw it as the reason for not retaining his title. So he promptly switched teams to turn to MV Agusta, the biggest name in those times, and the team to whom he lost in 1952. After switching to Augusta, Ubbiali never found another reason to leave and till his retirement in 1960, he stayed with the team although he wouldn't win his next title until 1955.
In 1955, Carlo won the 125cc title again and in the same season, he also took part in his first 250cc race. He took to it like a duck to water and soon, in 1956, won the 125cc championship as well as the 250cc championship. His dominance in the 125cc was incredible and he won all but one race in the season.
Ubbiali added another 125cc title in 1958 and it almost seemed like he could do no wrong. In 1959, as if to reiterate his greatness, Ubbiali dominated the 125cc class again and also won the 250cc world championship as well.
He repeated his dominance act in 1960 by winning both titles again and decided that it was time to retire while he was still at the top. Ubbiali could have easily had a larger number of titles to his name had it not been for Honda's emergence and challenge to MV Augusta. Also, the team's policy to class their riders as 500cc+350cc or 250cc+125cc based on their physical attributes meant that Carlo could never participate at the higher levels unless he switched teams.
Carlo Ubbiali was always disciplined in his approach to motorcycle racing. He was never flamboyant but stuck to the basics and was extremely effective in his undeterred style. He was at the peak when he left the sport and still, to this date, remains the most title winning rider in the history of the MotoGP World Championships.
Along with the Italian racing team Mondial, Ubbiali won his first title in 1951 in the 125cc segment. In the very next season, the bike deteriorated and Ubbiali saw it as the reason for not retaining his title. So he promptly switched teams to turn to MV Agusta, the biggest name in those times, and the team to whom he lost in 1952. After switching to Augusta, Ubbiali never found another reason to leave and till his retirement in 1960, he stayed with the team although he wouldn't win his next title until 1955.
In 1955, Carlo won the 125cc title again and in the same season, he also took part in his first 250cc race. He took to it like a duck to water and soon, in 1956, won the 125cc championship as well as the 250cc championship. His dominance in the 125cc was incredible and he won all but one race in the season.
Ubbiali added another 125cc title in 1958 and it almost seemed like he could do no wrong. In 1959, as if to reiterate his greatness, Ubbiali dominated the 125cc class again and also won the 250cc world championship as well.
He repeated his dominance act in 1960 by winning both titles again and decided that it was time to retire while he was still at the top. Ubbiali could have easily had a larger number of titles to his name had it not been for Honda's emergence and challenge to MV Augusta. Also, the team's policy to class their riders as 500cc+350cc or 250cc+125cc based on their physical attributes meant that Carlo could never participate at the higher levels unless he switched teams.
Carlo Ubbiali was always disciplined in his approach to motorcycle racing. He was never flamboyant but stuck to the basics and was extremely effective in his undeterred style. He was at the peak when he left the sport and still, to this date, remains the most title winning rider in the history of the MotoGP World Championships.
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