Andrea Ballerini has endured something of a stop-start World Championship career after making his debut back in 1995 at Eastern Creek with Aprilia. After two consecutive seasons in the 125 class yielded just two top ten finishes, the Italian switched to the European Championship in´97. He returned to Grand Prix in´98, but 18th place in the opening round at Suzuka proved to be his best result of the season. Ballerini finally showed signs of true promise in 2001, when he finished the season as 125cc European Champion and qualified on the front row in both of his two GP appearances, taking 11th place at Mugello after starting from 4th and leading a wet race in Rio before crashing out having qualified in 2nd. In 2002, he scored points on seven races and took 18th overall but only entered a single race the next year, in Australia. This single appearance proved to be a golden opportunity as he won the race held at rain soaked Phillip Island. After a crash-strewn 2004 season, ‘Ballero' is set for a new challenge in the 250 class.