Everyone knows that former 500cc World champion Marco Lucchinelli had a big drug problem in the past and also spent five years in prison for possession and drug trafficking, and now his son Cristiano has been arrested on the same charges after the Guardia di Finanza found 2 kg of cocaine hidden in his suitcase.

The 32-year old Lucchinelli was already being investigated by the police in connection with international drug trafficking ring from South America to Italy and was stopped after being followed leaving the airport of Malpensa and heading to the city of Ravenna.

The arrest was kept secret for a few days and the news leaked out after he had already been appeared in court for a preliminary hearing and is now being held on custody as a precautionary measure due to the amount of drugs found in his possession and the risk of repeating the felony act.

This isn’t the first time that Cristiano has been in trouble with the law. In July of 2003 in the city of Imola the police stopped him after high speed chase where they found cocaine and two thousand euros in the car.

Source | ilrestodelcarlino via motoblog.it

We knew that Marco Lucchinelli won the Battle of the Twins in 1987 on a Ducati 851 at Daytona, but what we didn’t know until we saw this rare video, that he also took part in the 1985 BOTT race and that he battled against four time Daytona winner Gene Church who was riding a Harley Davidson.

Enjoy the video and if you were impressed by Church’s Harley Davidson dubbed ‘Lucifer’s Hammer’ you’ll find a excellent post on the history of this racing bike with some awesome pics on Visual Gratification.

Remember the Dainese Legendary Tour? You had to buy € 250 worth of Dainese and/or AGV products and you could win a trip to Italy to tour the Italian Dolomite Mountains with Marco Lucchinelli, Max Biaggi and Giacomo Agostini.

Dainese has put online this highlight video of the 2009 tour, so we can turn green with envy about what we missed out on; magnificent motorcycles, legendary riding companions, breathtaking scenery (except for snow in September) great Italian food, heady wine, what more can anyone ask for.

Source | motoblog

If you’re a hardcore fan of the GOAT, this bit of fluff news from Spain will make you proud, and if you’re not it will only make you shudder and think Oh God, more yellow muppets.

The drummer Ignacio Oller of Spanish rock group Sorry Mamma has written a song dedicated to 9 times World Champion Valentino Rossi called “Fanclub.”

“Far be it that I should make money with this song,” Oller told Spanish daily AS “My goal is to convey the happiness when he races, which continues even after the races when his fans get on the track. The song is in English because English is a much more musical language. I hope that Valentino can hear this song one day.”

Oller wrote the song to pay homage to Rossi and his numerous victories and his post race gags and the happiness that the Italian puts into racing. The lyrics talk about Rossi’s pass at the Corkscrew at Laguna Seca in 2008 and his last corner pass at the Barcelona GP this year on Jorge Lorenzo.

You can hear the song at AS or over at motoblog, but we’ve got the lyrics after the jump with another song dedicated to Rossi written by former 500cc World Champion Marco Lucchinelli called Vale è di Più.

Continue reading: Spanish Group Writes Song For Valentino Rossi

Many of you may think that James Toseland is eclectic and versatile because besides being a 2 times WSBK Champion, he’s also a talented pianist and singer, but he wasn’t the first rider who is multifaceted. Marco “Lucky” Lucchinelli was also the 1981 500cc World champion, but he’also a singer and cut several singles in the early 80’s and partecipated in the Italian San Remo Song Festival with the song Stella Fortuna.

Lucchinelli is the host of a show called Lucky Box on MotoTV, but he still enjoys singing and performing with his band today.

Continue reading: Marco Lucchinelli - Rider and Singer

So here we are again with Vallelunga news for Saturday, September 20th. Saturday is the fun day at the racetrack. Why? Because the Vallelunga circuit has a rich plan for you: tt will bring you music and games.

It will all start after the free practise and qualifying practice. At 17.00 Black Been and leader Spa will bring to every Superbike fan, reporter and rider the opportunity to test the new SBK08 videogame! It’s the first time this great SBK videogame will be presented to the public. Winners will receive SBK giveaways: videogame, gadgets and a subscription to “Riders” magazine. So visit the paddock and look for the Ps3 sign and have some fun! People who like music must go and enjoy the “Marco Lucchinelli Rock Concert” at 17.30 in the paddock.

And to finish our daily news, our Saturday plan:

10.00-10.45 World Supersport Free Practice
11.00-12.00 World Superbike Qualifying Practice
12.20-13.20 Pit Walk
13.45-14.30 World Supersport Qualifying Practice
14.45-15.45 World Superbike Free Practice
16.00 World SBK Superpole

With thanks to Cristina Columpsi from Omnia Media srl for our daily updates.

Today we give you an introduction to female rider Chiara Valentini from Italy. She wrote to Twowheelsblog:

Hi, I am Chiara Valentini, 33 years old. I started to race in 2004 for the Italian Women’s cup. In 2005, I raced together with Paola Cazzola and we were the first women in the official female Ducati team, called Y2K and we rode with a Ducati 999S : I finished the Italian Championship in third position. Then in 2006, I won the European Women’s Championship in the 600 class with the Ducati 749R. In the same year, unfortunately I had a crash at the last race of the Championship and I broke my shoulder. It was at Vallelunga. I finished the Championship as second.

Because of the crash I was not able to race in 2007. Only this year I started again and I am racing in the Ducati Desmo Challenge in the Protwins class. I am not only racing: I also report for the motorcycle television MotoTV on Sky together with Giacomo Agostini and Marco Lucchinelli, and I coach for the Italian Motorcycle Federation.
If you want, you can find all my news, information and photo gallery on my website.
Best regards to all!
Chiara.

Thank you Chiara, all the best from Twowheels!

Marco Lucchinelli is a former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. In 1981 he won the FIM 500cc World Championship.

From MotoTV comes this series of clips of Marco on his way to the Isle of Man to participate in the Tourist Trophy 2008. You can see the roads, the places, the people and bikes he met along the way. The videos aren’t lacking, including a meeting with Giacomo “Ago” Agostini, the all-time leader in victories in motorcycle Grand Prix history.

Continue reading: Marco Lucchinelli at the Tourist Trophy 2008