SERGIO GADEA #33
Date of birth: 30/12/84 PUZOL (Valencia)
Age:24
First race:2001 Bancaja Aprilia 125GP
First Grand Prix:2003 Spanish GP, 125cc
First victory: Grand Prix of France 2007, 125 cc
Last victory: Grand Prix of Qatar 2008, 125 cc
First pole: Grand Prix of Valencia 2005, 125 cc
First fastest lap: Grand Prix of Czech Republic 2005, 125 cc
First podium: Grand Prix of France 2005, 125 cc
Victories: 2
Podiums:10
Poles: 2
Fastest laps: 5
Best general result: World Championship 2006 125 cc, 5th
Total Grand Prix appearances: 86, 125cc

CAREER SO FAR
2001: Bancaja 125GP series, 9th
2002: Bancaja 125GP series, 2nd
125cc Spanish Championship, 11th
2003: Bancaja 125GP series, 2nd
125cc Spanish Championship, 2nd
2004: 125cc World Championship, 19th
2005: 125cc World Championship, 12th
2006: 125cc World Championship - 4th(Aprilia)
2007: 125cc World Championship - 7th (Aprilia)
2008: 125cc World Championship - 12th (Aprilia)

BIOGRAPHY

Valencian youngster Sergio Gadea, 22, only began racing seven years ago but his consistency and results carried him straight to the World Championship in 2004 as part of Team Aspar riding an Aprilia. His affection for motorsport is certainly no coincidence and actually runs in the family, with his grandfather Pablo Gadea having competed in the Spanish Championship back in the 50s and 60s, racing the same bike he rode to work and using the number 33 - the same number used by young Sergio throughout his short career so far.

His first motorcycle, a minibike, was given to him by his other grandfather when he was only nine years of age. Having ridden it only a couple of times he decided to try other things but his passion for racing grew over time and in 2001 he convinced his father to allow him to compete in a promotional series run by Bancaja. His initial plan was to compete in the 50cc category but because of his age (16) he was sent straight into the 125cc class.

Things went well for the teenager and he finished the series in a creditable ninth position - an impressive result considering that it was his first true taste of competitive racing. In the following season he stepped up to the Spanish Championship, racing alongside the likes of Hector Barbera, Julito Simon and Jordi Carchano on a standard Honda and with a small team. He finished that season in eleventh place but clinched the runner-up spot in the 'Formula de Campeones' series.

In 2003 he continued to compete in two `series', this time on an Aprilia, finishing runner-up in both the Bancaja and Spanish Championship, which was won by his new team-mate for this season Alvaro Bautista. Gadea also made his Grand Prix debut that season, competing in the three Spanish rounds of the World Championship, finishing 25th on his first appearance at Jerez. At Barcelona he stalled on the start line but managed to recover to sixteenth place, only to crash in a collision with Masao Azuma on the penultimate lap. Sergio showed his fighting spirit by picking the bike up and crossing the line in 23rd place. In his home Grand Prix at Valencia he took 20th place, just over a minute behind the race winner, despite suffering serious suspension problems with his Aprilia.

The 2004 season saw Sergio step up as a full-time World Championship rider and make constant progress until he was ready to fight with the best riders in the category towards the end of the year. He took his best result at Valencia, clinching fifth place after leading the race for several laps. The fruit of his hard work was born in 2005, when he took his first ever podium at the French GP and set pole position for his home Grand Prix, leading the way for 60% of the race only to crash out with seven laps remaining. Gadea would finish the season in twelfth place.

The 2006 season confirmed Sergio as a great rider, getting the fifth general position at the end of the World Championship. That´s why he will be one of 125 cc icons in the following seasons, highlighted as one of the candidates to the title. In 2007 riding an Aprilia RSA Sergio had many problems throughout the year even though he obtained his first victory in the Grand Prix of France (Le Mans).

Sergio did not defraud at the beginning of his confirmation season -2008 -. At desert´s night, Sergio signed an epic victory in extremis, with his right shoulder dislocated. From there a succession of incidents with his motorcycle, made him lose the confidence and sign one discreet season. In any case, Bancaja rider is conscious that shelving his bad luck, he will return to the big drum favorites in 2009.

Away from racing his major passion is skiing, a sport he has enjoyed since the age of three but has since had to stop due to the risk of injury, and jetskis. Despite not being a big football fan, Sergio says he is a supporter of Valencia C.F. and lists his favourite riders as Rossi and Gibernau. His favourite circuits are Valencia and Jerez. The step up to the World Championship has meant a major change in lifestyle for the youngster although he says that the chance to travel and work in something he loves compensates for the sacrifices he has to make.