Draft:Manuel Lucchese
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|  |
| Manuel Lucchese | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Italian |
| Born | 20 July 1988 Zevio, Italy |
Manuel Lucchese (born 20 July 1988) is an Italian professional rally raid rider, co-driver, and technical designer. He is a former FIM Baja World Cup Champion (2012) and the 2024 FIA Middle East Baja Cup Overall Champion in the co-driver category.
Specializing in cross-country rallies, he is well known for his long-standing participation in the Dakar Rally. In 2008, he set a record as the youngest ever stage winner of a World Rally Raid Championship round at the age of 19.[1]
Racing career
[edit]Lucchese began competing in 1995 in minicross, turning professional at 16 in enduro and rally raid. In 2007, he won his first European Rally Championship. In 2010, he was awarded the Bronze Medal for Athletic Valor by the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI).[2]
His international breakthrough came in 2012 when he won the FIM Baja World Cup in the Over 450cc category riding a Husaberg.[3] That same year, he became the youngest Italian rider to start the Dakar Rally at age 23.
Lucchese was a pioneer in using crowdfunding to finance his racing career. In 2012, he successfully raised funds through online communities and forums to compete in the World Championship and the Dakar, a strategy that allowed him to remain an independent privateer while providing high visibility to his technical partners.[4]
Dakar Rally highlights
[edit]In the 2016 Dakar Rally, riding a production Yamaha WR450F, Lucchese finished 3rd in the "Malle Moto" category (now Original by Motul), where riders compete without any outside mechanical assistance.[5][6]
In 2025, after nearly a decade away from two-wheel competition, he returned to the Dakar in the Original by Motul category. His return was noted for a unique "Personal Branding" project involving hair system testing under extreme desert conditions, which garnered significant media attention for its unconventional commercial approach.[7][8]
The American magazine Cycle World praised his ingenuity and determination as a privateer, describing him as a racer who "always finds a way" to compete against all odds.[9]
Co-driving career (SSV)
[edit]Since 2022, Lucchese has competed as a navigator in the FIA Middle East Baja Cup:
Injury and 2026 season
[edit]In December 2025, during final training preparations, Lucchese suffered a severe accident resulting in spinal fractures. Due to the required recovery time, he was forced to withdraw from the 2026 Dakar Rally. He has expressed his intention to return to the competition for the 2028 edition.[12][13]
Management and Design
[edit]In 2022, he served as the Team Manager for the Yamaha Ténéré World Raid Team, overseeing riders such as Alessandro Botturi and Pol Tarrés in events like the Africa Eco Race.[14]
As a technical designer and founder of Rebel X Sports, he develops rally navigation kits and technical components for professional racing teams, collaborating with companies such as Athena and its electronic division, GET. He also works as a technical tester and media presenter for Italian motorcycle magazines such as InMoto, Motosprint, and inSella.
Achievements
[edit]Motorcycles and Quads
[edit]- FIM Baja World Cup: Junior World Champion (2012)
- FIM Rally Raid World Championship: Quad Rookie of the Year (2011)
- Dakar Rally: 3rd place Malle Moto category (2016)
SSV (Navigator)
[edit]- FIA Middle East Baja Cup: Overall Co-driver Champion (2024)
- Qatar International Baja: 1st place T4 category (2023)
References
[edit]- ↑ Manuel Lucchese profile - Moto.it
- ↑ CONI Awards - Manuel Lucchese
- ↑ Interview with Manuel Lucchese, 2012 Baja World Champion - Moto.it
- ↑ Manuel Lucchese: Dakar Project and Crowdfunding - MyKTM
- ↑ Manuel Lucchese Leaps Onto Dakar Stage Podium - Bikeland
- ↑ Dakar 2016, Manuel Lucchese among the leaders without assistance - inSella
- ↑ A hair-brained scheme - dakar.com
- ↑ Eurosport - Discovering Manuel Lucchese at the Dakar
- ↑ "This Dakar Rally Racer Always Finds A Way". cycleworld.com. January 31, 2013.
- ↑ FIA World and Middle East Baja Cup - Qatar Baja
- ↑ FIA CROSS COUNTRY BAJAS MIDDLE EAST CUP - Official Classifications 2024
- ↑ Spinal injury for Lucchese: will miss Dakar 2026 - Motosprint
- ↑ Manuel Lucchese hoping for Dakar Rally return in 2028 - 131offroad
- ↑ Yamaha Racing - Manuel Lucchese Team Manager
Category:1988 births Category:Living people Category:Italian motorcycle racers
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