Manuel Poggiali

[oliverdupuy]

I see on Poggi's site that he is taking a year out in 2007 after he got sacked by the factory KTM squad and has no other decent options.

What a shame. And what the hell has gone wrong? This was the guy who was being groomed as the next Rossi. This was the Dani Pedrosa before Pedrosa himself. He did what no one could do (before Pedrosa!) and won the 250cc title at his first attempt. Going into 2004, he was the hottest property in motorcycle racing outside the main class.

But he had an awful title defence, despite tha Aprillia being half decent in the hands of Sebas Porto, then ended up back in 125s and with KTM in 250s. He was blown away by Aoyama at KTM this season.

Career over at 23. What a shame, what a wasted talent. Wonder what went wrong with him. Surely you don't just go from world beater to also ran like that?

Oli

PS Something else I've always wondered about Poggi, is his number. When he won the 125s in 2001, he ran the no.1 plate in 2002, yet when he won the 250s, he carried on using his traditional number (like Rossi) the next season. Surely people either do one or the other? Maybe Rossi had just started a new trend or something....!


125cc World Champ 2001


250cc World Champ 2003


2004


2005


2006

[patnicholls]

See also:

http://archive.motorsportforums.com/...hreadid=127785

From the old forum.

[harsha]

maybe a trip to SBK won't do him much harm....

also maybe the focus isn't there with him,there are a lot of drivers/riders who just don't have the same level of focus they had earlier

[patnicholls]

He is an odd guy, hopefully a year off will help him get his confidence and focus back, because at his best he was/is brilliant. Just a shame he hasn't been there for a while.