all of which seriously damaged his championship hopes. He crashed at Mosport and broke his wrist, and then crashed in a big way in Austria of that year, breaking both femurs, a shoulder and re-breaking his wrist. It was a long climb back from that crash.

In time, things came around. In 1992, he doubled at Austria the scene of his big fall, won race two at Assen (Doug Polen won race one) and left his competitors with a strong memory at the end of the season by winning the final race of the year at New Zealand. He was back, calmer than before and faster. The new Falappa.

Giancarlo matured over time and his wild man days were slowly left in his dust trail. It all came together in1993 when he won both rounds at Brands Hatch and topped everyone in the first race at Hockenhiem. He doubled again at Misano that year, won the second race in Austria and also the second race at Monza. He led the world championship that season and finished the season in fifth place.

1994 looked to be the season that Falappa could put together both the race wins and the consistency. Early in the season, he won race two at Misano and was second in the world championship to our Scott Russell. Giancarlo’s then team-mate, Carl Fogarty, was fourth. After Misano came Albacete in Spain, and that’s when it all came apart for Ducati’s Giancarlo Falappa.

Falappa was testing a new swing arm on the 916 Ducati at Albacete when something