Sete Gibernau 2003 2005 250cc World Champion
Spanish former Grand Prix road racer and 9-time race winner
Manuel "Sete" Gibernau Bultó (born 15 December 1972) is a Spanish former professional Grand Prix motorcycle road racer who is a 9-time 500cc/MotoGP race winner and a twice overall runner-up in the 500cc/MotoGP World Championship. His racing career spans three different eras of motorcycle racing, beginning with the two-stroke-dominated period prior to the 2002 season, and the four-stroke MotoGP era. He returned to racing in 2019 to compete in the electric-powered MotoE World Cup.
Quick Facts
- Class
- 500cc/MotoGP
- Championships won
- None (twice overall runner-up in 500cc/MotoGP)
- Factory team
- Honda; Ducati (not Aprilia)
Lore & Background
Gibernau is the grandson of Francisco Xavier "Paco" Bultó, the founder of the Spanish Bultaco motorcycle company. He began his competitive career in observed trials competitions. After trying many different bike categories, he turned to road racing in 1990. In 1991 he won the Spanish Juniores 125cc Championship and in 1992 he competed in the Spanish 125cc Gilera Cup championship. He participated in his first Grand Prix race at the 1992 500cc Spanish Grand Prix as a wildcard rider for the Wayne Rainey Yamaha team, finishing 27th.
Reader's Guide
Gibernau's full-time Grand Prix career began in 1996 in the 250cc class. He moved up to the 500cc class in 1997 with the official Team Rainey Yamaha team. In 1998 he joined Honda, riding a privateer NSR500V, and scored his first podium (third place) at the Madrid Grand Prix. In 1999 he remained with Repsol Honda, initially on the NSR500V, then took over the factory NSR500 after Mick Doohan's injury, achieving multiple podiums including a second-place finish at the inaugural South African Grand Prix.
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