After beginning his career on the world stage in the 350 World Championship in 1975, Marco Lucchinelli burst into the premier class the following year with two podiums in his first two appearances. Fourth in the Championship as a rookie, Lucchinelli’s debut with Suzuki laid solid foundations for his ambitions of taking the World Championship. 1976 ended with a second place in Germany, before the Italian was back on the rostrum in Finland in 1977 and again at Mugello the following season.  1979 was a more difficult season, but a raft of top ten finishes prefaced a real push for the title in 1980. Lucchinelli’s success with Suzuki saw new heights that year, as the partnership took a podium finish five times – including a victory to conclude the season in Germany. The Italian was third in the title standings behind Kenny Roberts and Randy Mamola, and the momentum was in motion for 1981. 1981 saw the order of that top three the previous season reversed. Lucchinelli took five stunning wins and seven podiums on his Suzuki, as well as setting five fastest laps and seven pole positions as he marched towards the title. Edging Randy Mamola by 11 points, the Italian was crowned 1981 World Champion to take his place in MotoGP™ history. Lucchinelli took a further two podiums in the 500 World Championship, then riding for Honda, before his switch to WorldSBK for the series’ inaugural season in 1988. Debuting on the podium in Race 1 at Donington Park in the first ever meeting, Lucchinelli then won the second race that weekend to make another bit of history as he joined the exclusive club of riders to have won in both Grand Prix racing and WorldSBK – in fact founding that club as the first rider to achieve the feat.