Alex de Angelis
Alex de Angelis
Place of birth: Rimini
Date of birth: 26/Feb/1984
Weight: 68Kg.
Height: 178cm.
Arriving on the Grand Prix scene at 16 years of age, after starring in the Italian and European Championships, Alex de Angelis demonstrated his quality throughout the course of his first season in the 125cc class in 2000 and was named Rookie of the Year.
A combination of errors and mechanical problems, however, meant that he was unable to seriously challenge the top riders in 2001, but his undoubted potential was not lost on Lucio Cecchinello, who signed him for up for 2002. A lack of consistency prevented De Angelis from mounting a serious title challenge but after finishing second in the single cylinder category in 2003 he moved up to 250cc the following year.
Fifth in his first year on quarter-litre class machinery was a solid effort but he was unable to improve on that classification the following season in 2005 as he concluded the year in seventh.
Although 2006 saw De Angelis pick up his first Grand Prix victory at the final race of the year in Valencia and finish third in the general standings with 11 podiums to his name, he still had a reputation for hot-headed riding and taking too many risks as the 2007 campaign got underway.
A move towards consistency was made in his final year in 250cc, with top four finishes in the opening 10 rounds and only one DNF over the course of the year, as he attempted to break into the top two spots occupied by rivals Jorge Lorenzo and Andrea Dovizioso.
Unfortunately for De Angelis, the switch to MotoGP in 2008 led to a regression to the crashing ways of old, although flashes of brilliance were shown in fourth place finishes at Mugello and Sachsenring. Fausto Gresini, still confident of polishing the rough diamond into a top rider, kept the young talent on for a second season on satellite Honda machinery and De Angelis repaid him with his first MotoGP podium, second in Indianapolis, and eighth place in the final standings.
The vast improvement was not enough to retain a ride in the premier class, but it earned De Angelis a seat with Scot Racing in Moto2 for 2010, alongside Niccolò Canepa.
Career
(http://www.motogp.com/en/riders/profiles/Alex+De+Angelis
