Carlo Ubbiali
Nine-times World Champion CARLO UBBIALI passed away in Italy in June, aged 90.
Carlo was born in Bergamo, where his father ran an MV Agusta dealership, and had his first race in 1946. His nine championships, achieved in the 125cc and 250cc classes, still place him third on the all-time list of motorcycle World Champions behind Giacomo Agostini and
Angel Nieto, and level with Valentiono Rossi and Mike Hailwood.
His first title came in 1951 aboard a 125cc Mondial, but he really hit his straps after moving to the MV Agusta works team in 1953. He was dual 125/250 champion in 1956, 1959 and 1960. In 1956 he won every 250cc Grand Prix he contested and all but one in the 125 class.
Ubbiali retired from racing in 1960 after winning 39 of the 74 Grands Prix in which he started from 1949 to 1960. Although he frequently expressed a desire to contest the 350cc and 500cc classes, MV refused, preferring to keep him in the smaller categories.
After retiring, Ubbiali sponsored a youngster from his home town of Bergamo, Giacomo Agostini, and continued to appear in demonstration events when well into his eighties.