View source for Carlo Ubbiali

{{Short description|Italian motorcycle racer (1929–2020)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Infobox motorcycle rider
|image            = Carlo Ubbiali 1960.jpg
|caption          = Ubbiali in 1960
|name             = Carlo Ubbiali
|nationality      = Italian
|birth_date       = {{birth date|1929|9|22|df=yes}}
|death_date       = {{Death date and age|2020|6|2|1929|9|22|df=yes}}
|birth_place      = [[Bergamo]], Italy
|death_place      = Bergamo, Italy
|GP Active years  = [[1949 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1949]]–[[1960 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1960]]
|GP Teams         = [[Mondial (motorcycle manufacturer)|Mondial]], [[MV Agusta]]
|GP Race Starts   = 71
|GP Championships = 125cc – [[1951 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1951]], [[1955 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1955]], [[1956 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1956]], [[1958 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1958]]–[[1960 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1960]]{{-}}250cc – [[1956 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1956]], [[1959 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1959]], [[1960 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1960]]
|GP Race Wins     = 39
|GP Podiums       = 68
|GP Total Points  = 403
|GP Poles         = N/A
|GP Fastest laps  = 30
|GP First race    = [[1949 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1949]] 125cc [[1949 Swiss motorcycle Grand Prix|Swiss Grand Prix]]
|GP First win     = [[1950 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1950]] 125cc [[Ulster Grand Prix]]
|GP Last win      = [[1960 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1960]] 125cc [[Italian motorcycle Grand Prix|Nations Grand Prix]]
|GP Last race     = [[1960 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1960]] 125cc [[Italian motorcycle Grand Prix|Nations Grand Prix]]
}}
'''Carlo Ubbiali''' (22 September 1929{{spnd}}2 June 2020) was an [[Italians|Italian]] professional [[motorcycle]] [[road racing|road racer]]. He competed in the [[Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme|FIM]] [[Grand Prix motorcycle racing]] world championships from {{MGP|1949}} to {{MGP|1960}}, most prominently as a member of the [[MV Agusta]] factory racing team.<ref name="Carlo Ubbiali career statistics">{{cite web |url=https://www.motogp.com/en/riders/carlo-ubbiali/f8f693b0-e633-4b9c-90d0-a6b9125f6ac2?tab=overview |title=Carlo Ubbiali career statistics |publisher=motogp.com |access-date=25 March 2025}}</ref> In the 1950s, he was a dominant force in the smaller classes of [[Grand Prix motorcycle racing]], winning six 125cc and three 250cc world titles.<ref name="50 Years Of Moto Grand Prix">''50 Years Of Moto Grand Prix'' (1st edition). Hazelton Publishing Ltd, 1999. {{ISBN|1-874557-83-7}}</ref> In 2001, the [[Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme|F.I.M.]] inducted Ubbiali into the [[MotoGP Hall of Fame]].<ref name="Carlo Ubbiali at MotoGP Legends">{{cite web |url=https://www.motogp.com/en/riders/carlo-ubbiali/f8f693b0-e633-4b9c-90d0-a6b9125f6ac2 |title=Carlo Ubbiali at MotoGP Legends |publisher=motogp.com |access-date=6 December 2023 }}</ref><ref name="Carlo Ubbiali at Italy On This Day">{{cite web |url=https://www.italyonthisday.com/2017/09/carlo-ubbiali-motorcycle-world-champion.html |title=Carlo Ubbiali at Italy On This Day |publisher=italyonthisday.com |access-date=6 December 2023 }}</ref>

==Career==
Ubbiali was born in [[Bergamo]], [[Lombardy]]. In 1949, the first year of Grand Prix motorcycle racing, he finished in fourth place in the 125cc class riding an [[MV Agusta]].<ref name="Carlo Ubbiali career statistics"/> That year, he also won a gold medal in the [[International Six Days Enduro|International Six Days Trial]].<ref name="50 Years Of Moto Grand Prix"/> He switched to [[Mondial (motorcycle manufacturer)|Mondial]] for the [[1950 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1950 season]], and the following year won his first [[List of Grand Prix motorcycle racing World Champions by year|world championship]] for Mondial in [[1951 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1951]].<ref name="Carlo Ubbiali career statistics"/>

After losing his crown to [[Cecil Sandford]] in [[1952 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1952]], he re-signed with [[MV 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.<ref name="Carlo Ubbiali career statistics"/> Ubbiali was also a five-time winner at the prestigious [[Isle of Man TT]] races.<ref>''Daily Express'' page 7 Tuesday 14 June 1960</ref><ref name="Carlo Ubbiali Isle of Man TT results">{{cite web |url=http://www.iomtt.com/TT-Database/Events/Races.aspx?meet_code=ALL&ride_id=1373 |title=Carlo Ubbiali Isle of Man TT results |publisher=iomtt.com |access-date=28 December 2010 }}</ref> 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.<ref name="50 Years Of Moto Grand Prix"/>

Ubbiali retired at the age of 30 while still in his prime. Until the motorcycle racing career of [[Giacomo Agostini]], he was considered Italy's greatest motorcycle racer.<ref name="50 Years Of Moto Grand Prix"/> His nine World Championships tie him with [[Mike Hailwood]] and [[Valentino Rossi]] for third place on the championship win list behind only Giacomo Agostini and [[Ángel Nieto]]. 

In 2001, the [[Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme|F.I.M.]] inducted Ubbiali into the [[MotoGP Hall of Fame]].<ref name="Carlo Ubbiali at MotoGP Legends"/><ref name="Carlo Ubbiali at Italy On This Day"/> In 2019, Ubbiali received the Coni Golden Collar award.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.webbikeworld.com/carlo-ubbiali-a-motorcycling-legend-dies-at-90-years-old/ |title=Carlo Ubbiali, A Motorcycling Legend, Dies At 90 Years Old |last=Thiel |first=Wade |website=WebBikeWorld.com |date=2 June 2020}}</ref>

Ubbiali died on 2 June 2020.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/938328/1/ninetime-gp-world-champion-carlo-ubbiali-has-died |title=Nine-time GP World Champion Carlo Ubbiali has died |publisher=crash.net |access-date=25 March 2025}}</ref> By the time of his death, he was the last surviving rider from the first season of Grand Prix motorcycle racing.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.wheels24.co.za/BikesQuads/BikingNews/ex-world-motorcycling-champion-carlo-ubbiali-dies-aged-90-20200602 |title=Ex-world motorcycling champion Carlo Ubbiali dies aged 90 |website=wheels24.co.za |date=2 June 2020}}</ref>

== Motorcycle Grand Prix results ==
1949 points system:
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"
|-
| '''Position'''
| width=20| 1
| width=20| 2
| width=20| 3
| width=20| 4
| width=20| 5
| width=60| <small>Fastest lap</small>
|-
| '''Points'''
| 10
| 8
| 7
| 6
| 5
| 1
|}
Points system from 1950 to 1968:
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"
|-
| '''Position'''
| width=20| 1
| width=20| 2
| width=20| 3
| width=20| 4
| width=20| 5
| width=20| 6
|-
| '''Points'''
| 8
| 6
| 4
| 3
| 2
| 1
|}

([[Template:Motorsport driver results legend|key]]) (Races in ''italics'' indicate fastest lap)

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:95%"
! Year
! Class
! Team
! 1
! 2
! 3
! 4
! 5
! 6
! 7
! Points
! Rank
! Wins
|-
! [[1949 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1949]]
! 125cc
! [[MV Agusta]]
|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| [[1949 Swiss motorcycle Grand Prix|SUI]]<br /><small>4</small>
|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| [[1949 Dutch TT|NED]]<br /><small>3</small>
| [[1949 Nations motorcycle Grand Prix|NAT]]<br /><small>-</small>
|
|
|
|
| 13
! 4th
| 0
|-
! [[1950 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1950]]
! 125cc
! [[Mondial (motorcycle manufacturer)|Mondial]]
| [[1950 Dutch TT|NED]]<br /><small>-</small>
|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| ''[[1950 Ulster Grand Prix|ULS]]''<br /><small>1</small>
|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| ''[[1950 Nations motorcycle Grand Prix|NAT]]''<br /><small>2</small>
|
| 
|
|
| 14
|style="background:#dfdfdf;"| '''2nd'''
| 1
|-
! [[1951 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1951]]
! 125cc
! [[Mondial (motorcycle manufacturer)|Mondial]]
|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| ''[[1951 Spanish motorcycle Grand Prix|ESP]]''<br /><small>2</small>
|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| [[1951 Isle of Man TT|IOM]]<br /><small>2</small>
| [[Dutch TT|NED]]<br /><small>-</small>
| [[Ulster Grand Prix|ULS]]<br /><small>-</small>
|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| ''[[Italian motorcycle Grand Prix|NAT]]''<br /><small>1</small>
|
|
| 20
|style="background:#ffffbf;"| '''1st'''
| 1
|-
! [[1952 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1952]]
! 125cc
! [[Mondial (motorcycle manufacturer)|Mondial]]
|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| [[1952 Isle of Man TT|IOM]]<br /><small>2</small>
|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| [[1952 Dutch TT|NED]]<br /><small>2</small>
|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| [[1952 German motorcycle Grand Prix|GER]]<br /><small>2</small>
| [[1952 Ulster Grand Prix|ULS]]<br /><small>-</small>
|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| [[1952 Nations motorcycle Grand Prix|NAT]]<br /><small>2</small> 
| [[1952 Spanish motorcycle Grand Prix|ESP]]<br /><small>-</small>
| 
| 24
|style="background:#dfdfdf;"| '''2nd'''
| 0
|-
! [[1953 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1953]]
! 125cc
! [[MV Agusta]]
|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| [[1953 Isle of Man TT|IOM]]<br /><small>NC</small>
|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| [[Dutch TT|NED]]<br /><small>2</small>
|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| [[German motorcycle Grand Prix|GER]]<br /><small>1</small>
| [[Ulster Grand Prix|ULS]]<br /><small>-</small>
|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| [[Italian motorcycle Grand Prix|NAT]]<br /><small>3</small>
| [[Spanish motorcycle Grand Prix|ESP]]<br /><small>-</small>
| 
| 18
|style="background:#ffdf9f;"| '''3rd'''
| 1
|-
! [[1954 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1954]]
! 125cc
! [[MV Agusta]]
|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| [[1954 Isle of Man TT|IOM]]<br /><small>2</small>
| [[Ulster Grand Prix|ULS]]<br /><small>-</small>
|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| [[Dutch TT|NED]]<br /><small>3</small>
|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| [[German motorcycle Grand Prix|GER]]<br /><small>3</small>
|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| ''[[Italian motorcycle Grand Prix|NAT]]''<br /><small>3</small>
| [[Spanish motorcycle Grand Prix|ESP]]<br /><small>-</small>
|
| 18
|style="background:#dfdfdf;"| '''2nd'''
| 0
|-
! rowspan=2| [[1955 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1955]]
! 125cc
! [[MV Agusta]]
|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| [[1955 Spanish motorcycle Grand Prix|ESP]]<br /><small>3</small>
|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| [[1955 French motorcycle Grand Prix|FRA]]<br /><small>1</small>
|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| ''[[1955 Isle of Man TT|IOM]]''<br /><small>1</small>
|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| ''[[1955 German motorcycle Grand Prix|GER]]''<br /><small>1</small>
|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| [[1955 Dutch TT|NED]]<br /><small>1</small>
|
|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| ''[[1955 Nations motorcycle Grand Prix|NAT]]''<br /><small>1</small>
| 32
|style="background:#ffffbf;"| '''1st'''
| 5
|-
! 250cc
! [[MV Agusta]]
|
|
| [[1955 Isle of Man TT|IOM]]<br /><small>-</small>
| [[1955 German motorcycle Grand Prix|GER]]<br /><small>-</small>
| [[1955 Dutch TT|NED]]<br /><small>-</small>
| [[1955 Ulster Grand Prix|ULS]]<br /><small>-</small>
|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| [[1955 Nations motorcycle Grand Prix|NAT]]<br /><small>1</small>
| 8
! 7th
| 1
|-
! rowspan=2| [[1956 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1956]]
! 125cc
! [[MV Agusta]]
|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| ''[[1956 Isle of Man TT|IOM]]''<br /><small>1</small>
|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| ''[[1956 Dutch TT|NED]]''<br /><small>1</small>
|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| [[1956 Belgian motorcycle Grand Prix|BEL]]<br /><small>1</small>
|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| [[1956 German motorcycle Grand Prix|GER]]<br /><small>2</small>
|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| ''[[1956 Ulster Grand Prix|ULS]]''<br /><small>1</small>
|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| [[1956 Nations motorcycle Grand Prix|NAT]]<br /><small>1</small>
|
| 32
|style="background:#ffffbf;"| '''1st'''
| 5
|-
! 250cc
! [[MV Agusta]]
|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| [[1956 Isle of Man TT|IOM]]<br /><small>1</small>
|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| ''[[1956 Dutch TT|NED]]''<br /><small>1</small>
|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| [[1956 Belgian motorcycle Grand Prix|BEL]]<br /><small>1</small>
|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| ''[[1956 German motorcycle Grand Prix|GER]]''<br /><small>1</small>
| [[1956 Ulster Grand Prix|ULS]]<br /><small>-</small>
|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| ''[[1956 Nations motorcycle Grand Prix|NAT]]''<br /><small>1</small>
|
| 32
|style="background:#ffffbf;"| '''1st'''
| 5
|-
! rowspan=2| [[1957 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1957]]
! 125cc
! [[MV Agusta]]
|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| [[German motorcycle Grand Prix|GER]]<br /><small>1</small>
|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| [[1957 Isle of Man TT|IOM]]<br /><small>2</small>
| [[Dutch TT|NED]]<br /><small>-</small>
| [[Belgian motorcycle Grand Prix|BEL]]<br /><small>-</small>
| [[Ulster Grand Prix|ULS]]<br /><small>-</small>
|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| ''[[Italian motorcycle Grand Prix|NAT]]''<br /><small>1</small>
|
| 22
|style="background:#ffdf9f;"| '''3rd'''
| 2
|-
! 250cc
! [[MV Agusta]]
|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| ''[[German motorcycle Grand Prix|GER]]''<br /><small>1</small>
|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| [[1957 Isle of Man TT|IOM]]<br /><small>NC</small>
| [[Dutch TT|NED]]<br /><small>-</small>
| [[Belgian motorcycle Grand Prix|BEL]]<br /><small>-</small>
| [[Ulster Grand Prix|ULS]]<br /><small>-</small>
| [[Italian motorcycle Grand Prix|NAT]]<br /><small>-</small>
|
| 8
! 5th
| 1
|-
! rowspan=2| [[1958 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1958]]
! 125cc
! [[MV Agusta]]
|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| ''[[1958 Isle of Man TT|IOM]]''<br /><small>1</small>
|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| [[Dutch TT|NED]]<br /><small>1</small>
|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| [[Belgian motorcycle Grand Prix|BEL]]<br /><small>5</small>
|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| ''[[German motorcycle Grand Prix|GER]]''<br /><small>1</small>
|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| [[Swedish motorcycle Grand Prix|SWE]]<br /><small>3</small>
|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| [[Ulster Grand Prix|ULS]]<br /><small>1</small>
| [[Italian motorcycle Grand Prix|NAT]]<br /><small>-</small>
| 32
|style="background:#ffffbf;"| '''1st'''
| 4
|-
! 250cc
! [[MV Agusta]]
|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| [[1958 Isle of Man TT|IOM]]<br /><small>2</small>
|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| [[Dutch TT|NED]]<br /><small>2</small>
| [[Belgian motorcycle Grand Prix|BEL]]<br /><small>-</small>
| [[German motorcycle Grand Prix|GER]]<br /><small>-</small>
| [[Swedish motorcycle Grand Prix|SWE]]<br /><small>-</small>
| [[Ulster Grand Prix|ULS]]<br /><small>-</small>
|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| [[Italian motorcycle Grand Prix|NAT]]<br /><small>3</small>
| 16
|style="background:#ffdf9f;"| '''3rd'''
| 0
|-
! rowspan=2| [[1959 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1959]]
! 125cc
! [[MV Agusta]] 
|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| [[1959 Isle of Man TT|IOM]]<br /><small>5</small>
|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| ''[[German motorcycle Grand Prix|GER]]''<br /><small>1</small>
|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| ''[[Dutch TT|NED]]''<br /><small>1</small>
|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| [[Belgian motorcycle Grand Prix|BEL]]<br /><small>1</small>
|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| ''[[Swedish motorcycle Grand Prix|SWE]]''<br /><small>2</small>
| [[Ulster Grand Prix|ULS]]<br /><small>-</small>
|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| ''[[Italian motorcycle Grand Prix|NAT]]''<br /><small>2</small>
| 30
|style="background:#ffffbf;"| '''1st'''
| 3
|-
! 250cc
! [[MV Agusta]]
|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| [[1959 Isle of Man TT|IOM]]<br /><small>2</small>
|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| [[German motorcycle Grand Prix|GER]]<br /><small>1</small>
|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| ''[[Dutch TT|NED]]''<br /><small>2</small>
| [[Belgian motorcycle Grand Prix|BEL]]<br /><small>-</small>
|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| [[Swedish motorcycle Grand Prix|SWE]]<br /><small>2</small> 
| [[Ulster Grand Prix|ULS]]<br /><small>-</small>
|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| ''[[Italian motorcycle Grand Prix|NAT]]''<br /><small>1</small>
| 28
|style="background:#ffffbf;"| '''1st'''
| 2
|-
! rowspan=2| [[1960 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1960]]
! 125cc
! [[MV Agusta]] 
|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| ''[[1960 Isle of Man TT|IOM]]''<br /><small>1</small>
|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| ''[[1960 Dutch TT|NED]]''<br /><small>1</small>
|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| [[1960 Belgian motorcycle Grand Prix|BEL]]<br /><small>3</small>
|
|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| [[1960 Ulster Grand Prix|ULS]]<br /><small>1</small>
|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| [[1960 Nations motorcycle Grand Prix|NAT]]<br /><small>1</small>
|
| 24
|style="background:#ffffbf;"| '''1st'''
| 4
|-
! 250cc
! [[MV Agusta]]
|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| ''[[1960 Isle of Man TT|IOM]]''<br /><small>2</small>
|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| [[1960 Dutch TT|NED]]<br /><small>1</small>
|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| ''[[1960 Belgian motorcycle Grand Prix|BEL]]''<br /><small>1</small> 
|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| [[1960 German motorcycle Grand Prix|GER]]<br /><small>2</small>
|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| ''[[1960 Ulster Grand Prix|ULS]]''<br /><small>1</small>
|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| ''[[1960 Nations motorcycle Grand Prix|NAT]]''<br /><small>1</small>
|
| 32
|style="background:#ffffbf;"| '''1st'''
| 4
|-
|}
<ref name="Carlo Ubbiali career statistics"/><ref name="Carlo Ubbiali Isle of Man TT results"/>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [http://www.iomtt.com/History/Overseas-Riders.aspx Carlo Ubbiali profile at iomtt.com]
* {{CONI honored athlete}}

{{250 cc Motorcycle World Champions}}
{{125 cc Motorcycle World Champions}}
{{MotoGP Legends}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ubbiali, Carlo}}
[[Category:Italian motorcycle racers]]
[[Category:250cc World Championship riders]]
[[Category:125cc World Championship riders]]
[[Category:Isle of Man TT riders]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Bergamo]]
[[Category:1929 births]]
[[Category:2020 deaths]]
[[Category:250cc World Riders' Champions]]
[[Category:125cc World Riders' Champions]]