One of the most spectacular and aggressive riders on the GP scene in recent years, Mattia Pasini comes from the part of Italy’s Adriatic coast that has been a hotbed of minimoto action since the late 1980s. Pasini, like Valentino Rossi and many others, made his way into the racing world aboard minimoto machinery.

He rode his first race aged nine and was making rapid progress through the minimoto ranks when his career was nearly cut short by a motocross accident in 1998. Pasini was back on track in 2001, though he still has some lingering fitness issues from the accident. However, the injuries hadn’t slowed him down and after several successful years on the Italian and European 125 scenes Pasini began his first 125 GP season in 2004.

He won his first GP the following year and might well have taken the 2007 world title if he hadn’t suffered regular mechanical problems. In 2008 he made a stunning entry to the 250 class, winning first time out in Qatar. Last year he was expected to do great things in Moto2 but suffered team problems and was without a ride for more than half the season.