'Podge' 125cc World Champ!!!!

f1manoz · 4 Nov 2001, 07:20 (Ref:169539)

Brilliant season from Manuel to wrap up his first world championship at only 18.

He's ridden well all season, and took a deserved championship. Shame that Ui once again took more wins that anyone, but he must improve on consistency to win the championship.

On the plus side for the 125cc category, Poggiali will be staying on at Gilera so at least the number 1 will be carried by a rider next year.

**ghinzani** · 4 Nov 2001, 08:52 (Ref:169556)

Indeed a brilliant season of consistency - but why stay in 125s? surely if Ui gets him next year it wont do him any favors....

**gomick** · 4 Nov 2001, 23:09 (Ref:169894)

probably more important for gilera to carry a #1 on there bike for 12 months

congrats to manuel though, thoroughly deserved title win

f2001 · 5 Nov 2001, 18:08 (Ref:170307)

Ui deserved the title more, but his mid season was really ****e !

**ghinzani** · 16 Apr 2005, 08:25 (Ref:1279469)

Seriously tho, what the hell is he doing abck in 125s???? Its like Liuzzi going down to F3!!

**Dani Filth** · 16 Apr 2005, 09:21 (Ref:1279484)

no ride for him in MotoGP . and i have no ideea what happend with him in 250 last year .
won one race . and that's all .

Alex Hodgkinson · 16 Apr 2005, 09:46 (Ref:1279498)

Well bike racing's not like car racing, is it?

From what I've seen and the people I've talked to the general feeling is to stay where you're comfortable.

Only like 40% of the grid in lower classes want to move to the fastest 1000cc 4strokes.

There's not a big feeling that 125cc is "the bottom of the ladder & you must rise up the ladder." The 125cc class is a series within it's own right and the fact that it tours with 250cc and motogp is incidental.

Basically people won't move "up" if they don't want to - they enjoy it in the 125's and 250's!

Just look at Angel Nieto, he hardly raced anything other than 50cc and 125cc because he didn't want to. What's so rong with that?

Agostini frequently raced in 125, 250, 350, 500 and 750cc+ bikes.

Finally, Joey Dunlop. He LOVED his 125cc racing, as well as superbikes.

My point is that if people want to stay in "the lower ranks" let them, it's their racing career!

**Dani Filth** · 16 Apr 2005, 09:52 (Ref:1279502)

but i don't think this was the case with Poggi . he took what was available ..

Hazza · 16 Apr 2005, 13:25 (Ref:1279595)

What's UI upto nowadays? I havn't seen him since the appearence on the Harris bike.

And yeah, for sure, there used to be Professional 125 racers who used to duke it up the top of the class, and I think thats a really good thing. N\Only know DORNA in their infinate wisdom imposed the age limit...And people like Biaggi and Waldamann stayed for a fair while in 250ccs doing what they did best...

Schummy · 17 Apr 2005, 06:50 (Ref:1280016)

I agreed with those views about categories in FIM GPs, but, sadly, I think it was more that way until 80s. Nowadays they are turned 125cc in a sort of junior formula.

Sadly the main riders in small bikes tend to go to bigger bikes and so we don't have established top riders in 125 and only temporarily in 250 (and of course 50cc/80cc is completely gone). When the last estabilized top rider ran 125?

FIM GPs are great to watch, in fact my favourite motorsport event, but I'm worried it gets too MotoGP centered. It is absolutely wrong if FIM/Dorna follows the F1/F3000 route!

If they "destroy" the classic appeal of FIM GPs it would be comparable to FIA's sins when they destroyed two times sport-prototype racing in 1971 and in 80s banning Group C.

Money and big companies are difficult tigers to tame!

asha · 17 Apr 2005, 06:57 (Ref:1280021)

i love the smaller catagories (more then motogp). But as far as Podge is concerned I think that the 125 ride was the ride that was going to pay him what he was getting paid.
It seems that aprilia do cut riders pay when they stop performing. 'you want the bike, ride it for free'

asha · 17 Apr 2005, 07:19 (Ref:1280036)

LOL
I just went and visited http://www.manuelpoggiali.com
and the gossip on the forum is that last year he has had big problems with family, friends and the Team. It also goes on to say that:

Quote:

Two days ago I read a article. And in the article stands that Manuel is an autistic!! I don't know what the word means in english, if you don't understand it tell it. Since one year doctors are watching at him and they said to the management that he have autistic sides in his character!!!

seems also that Podge lost his number '54' to Pasini, but he gave it over and now will run '75'. Nice guy that Pasini character.

Hazza · 17 Apr 2005, 12:26 (Ref:1280338)

As far as I know the last established top rider was the dude who ran Casey Stoner 2 years ago in the 250s. Casey ran 250s and he ran 125s and won races. I think he's just the team owner know. I'll have a looksee.

429CJ · 17 Apr 2005, 14:52 (Ref:1280424)

Lucio Cecchinello is the man here. The boss of the LCR Carrera Team.

**ghinzani** · 21 Apr 2005, 07:58 (Ref:1283590)

Well hes dragging himself back up the results board. Is that Gilera the same sort of bike to the Derbi Ui rode a few seasons back? Hes another one turfed out by the 28years rule.

So has anyone else heard Poggi may be autistic? and how would that hinder his progress, apart from in interviews maybe, I cant see how that would slow him up.

**gomick** · 24 Apr 2005, 23:11 (Ref:1286390)

gilera & derbi are the same bike, just badged differently. "the podge" is riding for the same team that he won his 125cc world title with i do believe

i hope he does well because people have quickly forgotten that he is a 2 - time world champion all because of 1 ordinary season (with a gp win)

**ghinzani** · 25 Apr 2005, 08:11 (Ref:1286595)

Agreed - winning 250s in your first season isnt bad form either is it. I hope he gets it back together and gets back in a good 250 ride and thence on to Moto GP. He has time on his side for sure.

asha · 3 May 2005, 07:59 (Ref:1291819)

Quote:

Originally Posted by asha

seems also that Podge lost his number '54' to Pasini, but he gave it over and now will run '75'. Nice guy that Pasini character.

Told you that Pasini was a nice guy, now look at him!

**ghinzani** · 29 Aug 2008, 21:56 (Ref:2277750)

The great man has retired according to Toby & Julian. Sad news, but his hearts not been in it for a while. Good luck in the future Podge, in whatever you do and thanks for all the great races over the years.

chunder · 30 Aug 2008, 10:47 (Ref:2277984)

Only really great for 5 years, rubbish after that!!

But during that time was amazing

Bit like Haru Aoki!!

**gomick** · 30 Aug 2008, 22:56 (Ref:2278403)

well lets remember the negatives then chunder....

was a great smaller class rider & world champion

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