Niccolo CANEPA 88

Niccolo CANEPA

	88
	Place of birth: Genova
	Date of birth: 14/May/1988

MotoGP rookie Niccolo Canepa is Ducati’s homegrown representative in the premier class for 2009, continuing the factory’s tradition of running at least one Italian rider in the category. The debutant is not merely making up the numbers, however, as he has proved to be a speedy competitor with the Desmosedici during his time as a test rider.

Coming from a racing family, with his father a former rider, Canepa began his career on the national minibike scene at the age of eleven, taking numerous victories. Three years later, on the day following his fourteenth birthday, he became the youngest participant to date to ride in the Coppa Italia 600 Superstock series, with the bigger bikes becoming his speciality over the next two years. During this time he competed in several Supersport races in the international series.

In 2006 the Genoa-born rider finished second in the European Superstock Championship with the Ducati Xerox Junior Team, despite missing the final races of the campaign through injury. This was followed by a title victory in the eleven-round FIM Superstock 1000 Superstock Cup.

Canepa’s relationship with Ducati continued into 2007, when he took over from Shinichi Ito as the factory’s test rider. In addition, he competed as a wildcard on a superbike to keep in race shape.

The Alice Team garage is his new home for the 2009 campaign, joining Mika Kallio as both undertake their first MotoGP campaign.