125cc World Championship 2001 season review.

In a year that saw the championship lead change almost as many times as there were races, it is clear to see why the 125cc class is heralded the most open in the MotoGP series. After sixteen races of close fought battles, San Marino's Manuel Poggiali claimed the title. It was the eighteen-year-olds first ever World Championship and the first to be won by his team, Gilera.

Youichi Ui was runner-up for the second year in succession, despite winning more races than his competitors throughout the season. The Japanese rider was unlucky not to win the title himself, but such is the fate of a rider in the 125cc class.

The season kicked off in Japan with an incident packed race. Gino Borsoi made an excellent start from sixth place, leading during the early stages of the race. He was joined at the front by Ui, Masao Azuma, Stefano Perugini, Poggiali, Nobby Ueda and Lucio Cecchinello, and for the remainder of the race the lead chopped and changed continuously between the top seven riders.

In a sensational final lap, Azuma took the chequered flag after an intense battle with Ui and Poggiali until the line.

Ui won his first race of the season in South Africa where he led from start to finish. The Japanese rider helped produce some daring racing on a track known to be difficult for overtaking. Poggiali managed a great pass on Elias and never looked back from second spot. Ueda took third position.

On to Europe, where Azuma scored his second victory of the season, in a thrilling 125cc race in Spain, which left the rest of his challengers falling away, most often into the gravel. Azuma reclaimed his position at the top of the Championship.

Manuel Poggiali's first ever MotoGP win came at Le Mans, France. In a thrilling end to an outstanding race, any one of three riders could have taken victory on the final corner. It was the young San Marino who seized the opportunity and opened his challenge on the title with the win.

"I'm absolutely thrilled about my first win," said Poggiali. "To be honest I knew I had a chance before the race because my bike has been excellent this weekend, and I thought as a team we had the edge over the others."

Italy saw a return to wet racing. Nobby Ueda proved to be the most efficient 125cc rider in the rain with a stunning performance at a drenched Mugello circuit. After the initial down pour, an effort to re-start the race failed, and it wasn't until the third attempt that racing could resume. Ueda comfortable held onto the top spot to take his first win of the season. A second place for Borsoi put him at the top of the Championship standings.

Next up was the Grand Prix of Catalunya, where Cecchinello took only his second GP win, and ninth podium from 107 starts. The thirty one-year-old Venetian made a poor start which relegated him to twelfth position, but a series of fast laps and some excellent riding took him into the leading pack with Elias, Ueda and Perugini. His experience won out in the end. Poggiali went top of the tables after finishing in third position.

Toni Elias, the eighteen-year-old from Catalunya, took his first MotoGP win in soggy conditions in Assen. He became the youngest Spaniard to win a Grand Prix, and heralds the future for a country with a proud racing background. The race itself saw a total of sixteen crashes, including two for Poggiali, which eventually took him out of the race. Despite this he continued to lead the World Championship.

Ui repeated his win of last year at the Cinzano British Grand Prix at Donington Park, rekindling his challenge for the title. However podium finishers Elias and Poggiali were strong reminders of the tough competition Ui faced.

Germany brought with it a seventh new winner of the season. Simone Sanna took the honours after battling with nine other riders for the entire twenty seven laps. Ui had an unfortunate race: After having made a good start he exited the track on the second lap and crossed the gravel. He returned to the race but was only able to finish in nineteenth place.

Elias proved his great passion to win by claiming victory at Brno, Czech Republic. The Spaniard took pole position in a circuit record time, but was constantly moving up and down the order in a close running front group. Too much corner speed into the penultimate bend caused challenger Sanna to dump his Aprilia on the tarmac. This gave Elias a clear path to the finish line. Poggiali lost his lead in the championship to Elias after crashing out on lap twelve.

Poggiali emerged victorious at both the Grand Prix' of Portugal and Valencia, after gruelling last lap charges for the chequered flag. A hairs breadth separated the leading parties on both occasions, which all made for exciting racing. Elias remained ahead in the standings having scored a succession of podium finishes.

Back to Japan in October for the Pacific Grand Prix. The roller coaster 125cc championship took another turn as Ui claimed the win at his home race. Elias had been in with a chance until his attempts to keep with Ui early in the race, caused him to lose control and slide off the track into the gravel. Poggiali's second place put him top of the championship once again and Ui's win left him just twenty one points behind Elias.

More wins followed for Ui as he took victories in Australia, Malaysia and Rio, The glory was all his as he dominated in the final few races of the season, finishing leagues ahead of his nearest competitors. This was not enough though. San Marino rider Poggiali was leading Ui by thirty-three points in the championship and by finishing second at both Phillip Island and Sepang, ensured the advantage remained his entering the final Grand Prix of the season.

Poggiali needed to score just three points to become World Champion, which is precisely what he did. Despite all Ui's effort and the battle he fought with Sanna for the last win of 2001, he had no control over the race Poggiali had. A 'moment' almost ended Poggiali's hopes until he regained control of his Gilera. The mistake left him in ninth and at the tail of a chasing pack. However pure determination dictated the final result, with Poggiali climbing up to fifth and therefore scoring the points needed for the title.

As Poggiali celebrated his achievement he wore the obligatory "2001 World Champion" T-shirt and showed his appreciation to the Gilera squad. Ui, once again, demonstrated he was gracious in defeat and wore a T-shirt saying "2001 runner-up" as he stood on the podium for the final time of the season.