Speed Dating: November 9 - 15

Speed Dating: November 9 – 15

November 9

Former Grand Prix rider Alfonso “Sito” Pons (ES) was born on this date in 1959. Pons won back-to-back 250cc World Championships for Honda in 1988 and 1989. Today, Pons owns the Pepe World Aprilia Team, which competed in the 250cc World Championships this year with Hector Barbera and Axel Pons, Sito’s son. Barbera finished the season as championship runner-up, while Axel placed 26th in the standings. Next year will bring a new challenge for Pons, as his team has secured a provisional entry in the Moto2 championship.

Alfonso “Sito” Pons - Andrew Northcott photo

November 10

Former Grand Prix rider and current Road Racer X columnist Randy Mamola (US) was born on this date in 1959. Mamola first entered the 500cc World Championship with Yamaha in 1979. He tallied thirteen victories in his 500cc career, retiring from the championship in 1992. Mamola has continued his involvement in the sport as a television commentator for Eurosport and as a columnist for RRX and the Italian publication Masterbike. Off the track, Mamola is a co-founder of the Riders For Health charity (www.riders.org), which works to provide transportation solutions for medical workers in rural Africa.

Rany Mamola - Andrew Northcott photo

November 11

Happy birthday to Aaron Gobert (AU), who turns 29 on this date. The Australian has competed in the United States since 2001, winning the AMA Superstock championship in 2004 with Graves Motorsports Yamaha. Gobert began the 2009 season as a privateer Honda rider in the AMA American Superbike Championship, but moved to the Daytona SportBike class to fill the Factory Aprilia Millennium Technologies seat vacated by Ben Thompson.

Aaron Gobert - Riles/Nelson photo

November 14

Former British Superbike Championship rider Dean Ellison (UK) was born on this date in 1977. Ellison began competing in the series on a privateer Honda in 2000. Despite some early success, Ellison never found a steady ride in the series, moving from team to team in BSB and taking on occasional races in the World Endurance Championship and in World Supersport. Despite efforts to start his own BSB team, Ellison could not secure the funds to race in 2009.