Loris Capirossi will set a new record in this upcoming race in Qatar, when he becomes the first rider in history to make 300 GP appearances in his 21st year of professional racing.
The 37-year-old Italian is the oldest rider on the grid and already holds the record for the most Grand Prix starts of any rider in the history of motorcycle racing, surpassing the 276 race starts held by former rider Alex Barros.
Capirossi would have had 300 race starts in 2009 if the Balatonring round wasn’t cancelled.
Loris Capirossi about his long career:“The Qatar GP will see a big milestone in my career as I start my 300th race! I never thought I would get to this many, but I have been lucky in my career and I have always given 100% and kept myself fit so that I have been able to stay at the top.
I never really think about how many races I have been in, but this number is very special and I guess it will probably never happen for another rider.
Anyway, once the race has started my attitude will be the same as it was in 1990 – full gas and full attack!” About the upcoming season:“The race for the team is also important because we have to continue with the improvements and good direction that we found at the Qatar test last month.
I know we have some work to do, but we are very close now and all the guys in the team and back in Japan have worked really hard.
I hope we can challenge the fast guys more consistently this year.
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