Draft:Jose Cecotto

• Comment: Many sources are unreliable, and some are improperly sourced. Earth605^talk 12:42, 9 January 2026 (UTC)

• Comment: Don't use facebook as reference Endrabcwizart (talk) 20:15, 25 November 2025 (UTC)

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Jose Cecotto
This is a reproduction of the helmet of motorcycle rider Jose Cecotto.
Nationality	Venezuelan
Born	(1949-10-12) 12 October 1949 Los Teques, Venezuela
Motorcycle racing career statistics Grand Prix motorcycle racing Active years 1977 – 1979 First race 1977 350cc Venezuelan Grand Prix Last race 1979 250cc Czechoslovakian Grand Prix Team Yamaha

Giuseppe "Peppino" Cecotto Persello (born 12 october 1949) or Jose Cecotto, is a Venezuelan former professional Grand Prix motorcycle racer. He is the older brother of Johnny Cecotto, who also raced in motorcycling.

Motorcycle racing history

Career

Jose Cecotto participated in the 1977, 1978 and 1979 seasons of the Grand Prix Motorcycle World Championship, in the 250cc and 350cc classes.

1975

Cecotto participated with his brother (and with a pelvic injury) in the Hutchinson 100 Golden Jubile, on Sunday, August 3, 1975 at Brands Hatch, on a Yamaha 250 (number 126). José Cecotto achieved the fastest lap in 1 min 45 s 2 at an average speed of 90.68 mph (144,9 km/h), before falling and breaking his arm.

1976

He take part of the 750cc race of the 200 Miles of Venezuela on a Yamaha (number 69) and set a time of 1.52.81s at an average speed of 130.520 km/h which placed him 33rd on the grid. He did not finish, placed 40th.

1977

For 1977, he raced for the Venezuelan importer Venemotos (like his brother) on Yamahas.

At the first 350cc Grand Prix of the season, the 1977 Venezuelan motorcycle Grand Prix, he set a time of 1 minute 40 at the average speed of 140,860 km/h which place him behind Johnny Cecotto (with a time of 1 mintute 39) and Victor Pamolo (1,40), while he didn't start in 250cc class. He stayed in fifth position behind Johnny Cecotto, Victor Palomo, Patrick Fernandez and Franco Uncini before his gear pedal breaks, collide with Uncini and eliminating Walter Villa. (due to a broken carburetor collar in the Moto Journal n°308). The 11 april, he take part of the 350cc non-championship European race, the Adriatic Pearl Grand Prix (part of the Italian National Championship) at Misano (named then Circuito Internazionale Santamonica) and finished third on a Yamaha behind Mario Lega and his brother Johnny Cecotto. For the French Grand Prix, it seems that Cecotto crashed because he was contraried about his brother who doesn't seems to be concerned about his accident. It was during the Yugoslavian GP, after a disappointing season overall, that Jose Cecotto will realize his best (and only finish) in the World Motorbike Championship. After started from the 27th position and battling during a long moment in the top 10 before a breakdown forced him to retire early, the Venezuelan finished in 16th. However, he didn't start in 350 class because he thought the circuit was too dangerous; probably after his fall in the second heat of qualifications in the 250cc class (caused by Giovanni Ziggiotto) even if he qualified in 350. The end of the World Championship expedition will not experience any particular result. He finished third on a Yamaha behind János Drapál and Bohumil Staša at the 1977 Cena Slovenska Motocyklov (which take place at Piešťany Airport) in the 250cc race.Jose Cecotto also participated in the 46th Prix des Frontières at Chimay (Belgian Motorcycle Championship) in the 250cc class (the Yamaha Prize) with the number 6 and in the 350cc class with the number 4. In september, at the Italian Championship's race at Mugello, he drove for the first time the Lombardini GP350. He started from the 7th position but he was unable to start the bike. Then, a mecanician, in contradiction of the reglement, helped Jose to move forward, joined later by Johnny. A fight started between Johnny Cecotto and the officials while Jose Cecotto was given the black flag, after make 1 lap.

1978

For the year 1978, he raced for the italian brand Lombardini in the World Championship and after the Venezuelian GP, he raced for the Swiss importer Hostettler on Yamahas.

At the ouverture GP of the 1978 season, Jose Cecotto qualified 12th with a time of 1 minute 40.9 seconds(4th in other sources) with a Lombardini 350 and he battling around seventh and eighth position before the clutch quickdraw broke. The rest of the season was very similar to the precedent, the only difference was that Cecotto doesn't finish a World Championship race in 1978. He came back at Misano for the 1978 edition of the non-championship European race and he finished fifth on a Yamaha. Furthermore, he participate at the 350cc Raalte Race at the Luttenbergring the 11 june 1978 still on a Yamaha.

1979

For his only race and his last in the World Championship, the 1979 250cc Czechoslovak Grand Prix, Cecotto was qualified but he didn't finish the race and was just in the race entrants list in the 350cc race (number 46).

Minor races and national champion

Cecotto raced at the 1988 Classic race Silicanensis at Rijeka where he finished second on his Ducati 900SS.

Jose "Peppino" Cecotto also became the two times champion of the national (Venezuelan) Championship in the Superbike class in 1991 and 1992 with Ducati.

Racing record

System of points

Pos.	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11>
Points	15	12	10	8	6	5	4	3	2	1	0

Do Not Finish	Do Not Start/ Do Not Qualify	Disqualified|
DNF/NC	DNS/DNQ	DSQ

Formula 750

Year	Team	Machine	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Points	Rank
19761	Yamaha	TZ750	DAY -	VEN2 40	IMO -	JAR -	NIV -	NOG -	SIL -	ASS -	HOC -	0	NC

Notes:

1.^ - The 1976 750 FIM season was not included in the World Grand Prix motorcycle racing.

2.^ – The Venezuela 200 Miles was given non-championship status following a timekeeping error.

Position 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Points 15 12 10 8 6 5 4 3 2 1 Grand Prix motorcycle racing Source: (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap) Year Class Team Machine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Points Rank 1977 250cc Venemotos-Yamaha TZ250 VEN DNS GER - NAT - ESP DNQ FRA DNQ YUG 16 NED - BEL DNS SWE - FIN - CZE DNF GBR - 0 NC 350cc Venemotos-Yamaha TZ350 VEN DNF GER - NAT DNF ESP DNQ FRA DNQ YUG DNS NED - SWE - FIN DNQ CZE DNF GBR - 0 NC 1978 250cc Hostettler AG-Yamaha TZ250 VEN DNF ESP - FRA DNS NAT DNS NED - BEL - SWE - FIN - GBR DNS GER DNF CZE DNQ YUG - 0 NC 350cc Lombardini GP350 VEN DNF 0 NC Hostettler AG-Yamaha TZ350 AUT DNF FRA DNQ NAT DNQ NED DNQ SWE - FIN - GBR - GER DNF CZE DNQ YUG - 1979 250cc Yamaha TZ250 VEN - AUT - GER - NAT - ESP - YUG - NED - BEL - SWE - FIN - GBR - CZE DNF FRA - 0 NC 350cc Yamaha TZ350 VEN - AUT - GER - NAT - ESP - YUG - NED - BEL - SWE - FIN - GBR - CZE ? FRA - 0 NC

Books

• Carter, Chris (ed.). Motocourse 1976-1977. Hazleton Securities Ltd. ISBN 0-905138-02-3.