A story should be told from his very beginning but, this time, let me make an exception. I would like to tell my story beginning from what I consider the first important step of my agonistic tale: so, my memory goes back to the 15th October 2000, a day which has been remaining engraved on my memory forever because, thanks to the success I got at the Pacific GP, I became the 125cc World Champion.
   That day my childhood favourite dream came true: to win the World Title on a racing bike. After so many years of enormous sacrifices (not only mine but also of my family and of my girlfriend Manuela), I showed to the sceptics that even the devil Loca has the makings of the champion.
   The season 2000 was a long ride on the five continents racetracks, which ended with a triumph after a real battle between the Japanese Youichi Ui (the Derby’s rider, so much die-hard as fair), and I.
   The Championship began with a fourth place in South Afrika and, then, a victory at the Malaysian GP in Sepang, after a recovery culminated in an overtaking on the very last bend, which left Ui behind me. In Japan I tumbled, throwing away an almost sure victory, though if I eventually managed to improve, coming third at Jerez (Spain), fourth at Le Mans (France), and first at the Italian GP (Mugello).
    After my withdrawal at Barcelona, I re-started running up important results, which let points pile up…: I came sixth in Holland and fourth at the worldish GP. During the German GP I discredited the “second place taboo” and that happened right on the Sachsering Circuit, where I went up the World Podium for the first time (1998).
    The turning point came during the Brno three days when Aprilia believed in me to get the World Title. The success I got at the Czech GP gave me an extraordinary strenght: I knew I were on Ui’s level, despite of his leadership in the Classification.
    In Portugal (Estoril), I had to face some problem to get my bike ready but I eventually came second, while Ui was out, owing to a tumble. 15 days later I won in Valencia, getting 24 points’ advantage on Ui, which turned out to be only 8 when I had to stop in Brazil, because of the break of the connecting rod, while Ui came third.
   Then it came… the apotheosis! In Japan, after getting the pole, I outdistanced my opponents, forcing Ui to make a mistake, which let me win both the race and the World Title, the first of my carreer, begun in 1994 with my debut during the Italian GP.
  

Continue...