| Carlo Ubbiali | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 Ubbiali in 1960 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nationality | Italian | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | (1929-09-22)22 September 1929 Bergamo, Italy | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 2 June 2020(2020-06-02) (aged 90) Bergamo, Italy | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Carlo Ubbiali (22 September 1929 – 2 June 2020) was anItalian professionalmotorcycleroad racer. He competed in theFIMGrand Prix motorcycle racing world championships from1949 to1960, most prominently as a member of theMV Agusta factory racing team.[1] In the 1950s, he was a dominant force in the smaller classes ofGrand Prix motorcycle racing, winning six 125cc and three 250cc world titles.[2] In 2001, theF.I.M. inducted Ubbiali into theMotoGP Hall of Fame.[3][4]
Ubbiali was born inBergamo,Lombardy. In 1949, the first year of Grand Prix motorcycle racing, he finished in fourth place in the 125cc class riding anMV Agusta.[1] That year, he also won a gold medal in theInternational Six Days Trial.[2] He switched toMondial for the1950 season, and the following year won his firstworld championship for Mondial in1951.[1]
After losing his crown toCecil Sandford in1952, he re-signed withMV Agusta. He went on to become their top rider, winning six 125cc titles and three 250cc crowns and scoring double championships in 1956, 1959, and 1960.[1] Ubbiali was also a five-time winner at the prestigiousIsle of Man TT races.[5][6] He rarely made a mistake while competing, as evidenced by the fact that he never suffered a serious crash during his 12-year Grand Prix career.[2]
Ubbiali retired at the age of 30 while still in his prime. Until the motorcycle racing career ofGiacomo Agostini, he was considered Italy's greatest motorcycle racer.[2] His nine World Championships tie him withMike Hailwood andValentino Rossi for third place on the championship win list behind only Giacomo Agostini andÁngel Nieto.
In 2001, theF.I.M. inducted Ubbiali into theMotoGP Hall of Fame.[3][4] In 2019, Ubbiali received the Coni Golden Collar award.[7]
Ubbiali died on 2 June 2020.[8] By the time of his death, he was the last surviving rider from the first season of Grand Prix motorcycle racing.[9]
1949 points system:
| Position | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Fastest lap |
| Points | 10 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1 |
Points system from 1950 to 1968:
| Position | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| Points | 8 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
(key) (Races initalics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Class | Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Points | Rank | Wins |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1949 | 125cc | MV Agusta | SUI 4 | NED 3 | NAT - | 13 | 4th | 0 | ||||
| 1950 | 125cc | Mondial | NED - | ULS 1 | NAT 2 | 14 | 2nd | 1 | ||||
| 1951 | 125cc | Mondial | ESP 2 | IOM 2 | NED - | ULS - | NAT 1 | 20 | 1st | 1 | ||
| 1952 | 125cc | Mondial | IOM 2 | NED 2 | GER 2 | ULS - | NAT 2 | ESP - | 24 | 2nd | 0 | |
| 1953 | 125cc | MV Agusta | IOM NC | NED 2 | GER 1 | ULS - | NAT 3 | ESP - | 18 | 3rd | 1 | |
| 1954 | 125cc | MV Agusta | IOM 2 | ULS - | NED 3 | GER 3 | NAT 3 | ESP - | 18 | 2nd | 0 | |
| 1955 | 125cc | MV Agusta | ESP 3 | FRA 1 | IOM 1 | GER 1 | NED 1 | NAT 1 | 32 | 1st | 5 | |
| 250cc | MV Agusta | IOM - | GER - | NED - | ULS - | NAT 1 | 8 | 7th | 1 | |||
| 1956 | 125cc | MV Agusta | IOM 1 | NED 1 | BEL 1 | GER 2 | ULS 1 | NAT 1 | 32 | 1st | 5 | |
| 250cc | MV Agusta | IOM 1 | NED 1 | BEL 1 | GER 1 | ULS - | NAT 1 | 32 | 1st | 5 | ||
| 1957 | 125cc | MV Agusta | GER 1 | IOM 2 | NED - | BEL - | ULS - | NAT 1 | 22 | 3rd | 2 | |
| 250cc | MV Agusta | GER 1 | IOM NC | NED - | BEL - | ULS - | NAT - | 8 | 5th | 1 | ||
| 1958 | 125cc | MV Agusta | IOM 1 | NED 1 | BEL 5 | GER 1 | SWE 3 | ULS 1 | NAT - | 32 | 1st | 4 |
| 250cc | MV Agusta | IOM 2 | NED 2 | BEL - | GER - | SWE - | ULS - | NAT 3 | 16 | 3rd | 0 | |
| 1959 | 125cc | MV Agusta | IOM 5 | GER 1 | NED 1 | BEL 1 | SWE 2 | ULS - | NAT 2 | 30 | 1st | 3 |
| 250cc | MV Agusta | IOM 2 | GER 1 | NED 2 | BEL - | SWE 2 | ULS - | NAT 1 | 28 | 1st | 2 | |
| 1960 | 125cc | MV Agusta | IOM 1 | NED 1 | BEL 3 | ULS 1 | NAT 1 | 24 | 1st | 4 | ||
| 250cc | MV Agusta | IOM 2 | NED 1 | BEL 1 | GER 2 | ULS 1 | NAT 1 | 32 | 1st | 4 |
