Antonio "Tony" Cairoli (born 23 September 1985) is an Italian 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. He retired from fulltime racing in 2021 but had a comeback at the 2024 MXGP of Arnhem (Netherlands) racing for Ducati celebrating their debut of being an official MXGP racing team.[3]

Tony Cairoli
Cairoli in 2011
NationalityItalian
Born23 September 1985 (1985-09-23) (age 39)
Patti, Sicily, Italy
Motocross career
Years active2002 – 2022
Teams
Grands Prix277
(69 MX2, 208 MXGP)[1]
Championships9
(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

Life and MXGP Career

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Antonio was born in Patti, Sicily. He began his motocross Grand Prix career in 2002 riding a Yamaha.[4] He lives with his wife Jill Cox between Rome, Italy and Lommel, Belgium, where he is training.[5]

2004

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

2005

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

2006

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Cairoli ended 2006 second in the MX2 World Championship.

2007

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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

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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

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Cairoli claimed the 2009 FIM Motocross World Championship, on his last year at Yamaha[6] This was his first premier class title. He ended the season with four GP wins.

2010

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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. [7]

2011

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Tony Cairoli at the GP of Loket in 2011

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

2012

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On 5 August 2012, in Czech Republic, he won his 50th GP in the MX1 World Championship.[8] Cairoli defended the MX1 title for the fourth time. He ended the season with 11 GP wins from the 15 rounds he raced.

2013

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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

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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

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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

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Cairoli in 2016 at the MXGP of Switzerland

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

2017

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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

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

2022

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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.[9]

2024

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Celebrating his comeback and Ducati's debut at the motocross world championship, Cairoli raced at the MXGP of Arnhem (Qualifying: 7th, Race 1: 15th).[10]

Achievements

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Year Motocycle World Championship MdN Italian Ch. Supercross Títles
MXGP MX1 MX2 Titles GP wins Races wins Race1 Race2 Nation's Overall European Ch. British Ch.
2001 ? 1st Cadet 1
2002 Honda 1st Junior 1
2003 Honda -
2004 Yamaha 3rd 1 1 18th 26th 15th -
2005 Yamaha 1st MX2 6 12 39th 36th 13th 1
2006 Yamaha 2nd 3 11 10th 1st 4th 1st 1st 2
2007 Yamaha 24th 1st MX2 11[11] 23[11] 37th 14th 4th 1st 1st 1st 4
2008 Yamaha 6th 4 8 -
2009 Yamaha 1st MX1 4 9 1st 38th 6th 1
2010 KTM 1st MX1 8 15 2nd 4th 5th 1
2011 KTM 1st MX1 6 9 40th 37th 16th 1
2012 KTM 1st MX1 11 21 1st 1st 5th 1
2013 KTM 1st MX1 9 20 1st 1st 3rd 1
2014 KTM 1st MXGP 9 15 40th 19th 6th 1
2015 KTM 7th 2 5 - - - -
2016 KTM 2nd 3 5 2nd 2nd 5th -
2017 KTM 1st MXGP 6 9 11th 7th 7th 1
2018 KTM 2nd - 2 6 6th 4th 2nd -
2019 KTM 10th 4 7 16th -
2020 KTM 3rd 3 2 21st 2nd 1st -
Total titles 2 5 2 9 85 169 3 3 0 2 2 1 16
9 world titles

Post Racing Career

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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

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Year Rnd
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 MX2 8 5 5 5 3 OUT 5 4 13 7 3 1 4 2 3 - - - - - 4.85 36% 3rd
2005 MX2 5 2 1 6 7 2 20 1 OUT 1 3 1 1 1 11 5 10 - - - 4.81 56% 1st
2006 MX2 7 8 3 5 2 6 2 2 1 6 4 1 3 2 1 - - - - - 3.53 60% 2nd
2007 MX2 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 2 2 8 1 OUT 1 - - - - - 1.71 93% 1st
2008 MX2 2 4 1 7 1 1 10 2 1 DNF OUT OUT OUT OUT OUT - - - - - 3.22 67% 6th
2009 MX1 5 6 1 2 1 3 8 3 1 1 2 3 4 6 9 - - - - - 3.60 60% 1st
2010 MX1 2 1 1 2 4 1 2 4 2 1 1 1 1 1 DNF - - - - - 1.71 86% 1st
2011 MX1 9 1 5 2 2 2 1 3 2 1 1 2 1 1 OUT - - - - - 2.35 86% 1st
2012 MX1 1 3 2 1 8 1 3 1 DNF 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 - - - - 1.80 93% 1st
2013 MX1 2 1 1 1 2 2 1 1 3 1 1 1 1 1 5 2 7 3 - - 2.00 89% 1st
2014 MXGP 3 1 1 5 1 1 4 1 3 1 5 1 1 3 1 3 3 - - - 2.23 82% 1st
2015 MXGP 4 3 3 2 11 1 1 3 13 9 7 5 OUT OUT OUT OUT OUT OUT - - 6.89 50% 7th
2016 MXGP 5 5 4 2 6 2 1 1 7 4 6 4 7 3 1 2 14 2 - - 4.22 44% 2nd
2017 MXGP 1 4 7 2 1 4 2 1 2 5 1 1 1 2 3 7 3 4 15 - 3.47 63% 1st
2018 MXGP 2 2 1 3 2 3 2 6 2 2 1 2 4 2 2 7 4 8 2 OUT 3.00 74% 2nd
2019 MXGP 1 1 1 2 2 7 1 8 11 OUT OUT OUT OUT OUT OUT OUT OUT OUT - - 3.78 67% 10th
2020 MXGP 3 4 13 1 4 3 4 1 8 4 2 6 9 3 5 1 5 12 - - 4.89 39% 3rd
2021 MXGP 10 1 3 2 2 5 5 5 3 OUT 7 5 5 DNS 1 5 3 15 - - 4.81 44% 6th

Injuries

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  • 2008 – Torn Acl (Knee, MXGP of South Africa)
  • 2014 – Knee injury (at MXON Kegums, Latvia)
  • 2015 – Fractured elbow (MXGP of Maggiora, Italy)
  • 2016 – two broken ribs, wrist injury[12]
  • 2019 - Shoulder injury

References

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  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. ^ https://www.mxgp.com/news/historical-moment-ducati-and-antonio-cairoli-get-ready-race-arnhem [bare URL]
  4. ^ antonio Cairoli career profile
  5. ^ "Antonio Cairoli: "Velocità, Fango e Gloria"" (in Italian). f1passion.it. Retrieved 4 October 2012.
  6. ^ 2009 FIM MX1-GP final standings
  7. ^ 2010 FIM MX1-GP final standings
  8. ^ "Tony Cairoli stellare: vince il 50° GP" (in Italian). motociclismo.it. Retrieved 17 August 2012.
  9. ^ "Antonio Cairoli Confirms 2022 Pro Motocross Appearance". Racer X. Retrieved 2022-04-24.
  10. ^ https://mxgpresults.com/mxgp/2024/netherlands [bare URL]
  11. ^ a b One Race and one GP in MX1
  12. ^ "Rider Profile: Antonio Cairoli on Gatedrop.com". Gatedrop.com. Gatedrop. Retrieved 11 September 2017.
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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