Marco Gentile

Marco Gentile (21 August 1959 - 18 November 1989) was a Swiss Grand Prix motorcycle racer who competed in the 500 cc World Championship throughout the 1980s. Known for his long association with the innovative Fior engineering project, Gentile raced in the premier class from 1984 until his death in 1989, achieving his best season in 1989 with a 17th-place finish in the championship. He was regarded as a determined privateer competitor during an era dominated by major factory teams.

Career

Early career After graduating from a technical institute with a diploma in automotive mechanics, Gentile began motorcycle racing in 1980, entering the Swiss junior championship and winning his first race of the season.

He became Swiss vice-champion in the 250cc class in 1982, and the following year, he competed in the European Championship in the 250 cc category.

In 1984, he moved to the 500cc class, finishing the European Championship in thirty-first place, and made his World Championship debut at the Spanish Grand Prix, retiring after five laps.

Progressing through the domestic 250cc and 500cc categories. His performances at the national level led to opportunities in the European Championship, where he gained experience before entering Grand Prix competition.

500 cc World Championship

Fior (1984-1989)

1984 Gentile made his first appearances in the premier class aboard machinery developed by the French engineer Claude Fior. The Fior project, known for its unconventional front-end suspension and innovative chassis design, operated as a privateer effort competing against factory-supported teams.

1985 Gentile continued to work with the Fior team while also competing in the European 500 cc Championship, which he won that year. He also participated in select rounds of the 500cc World Championship. During the French Grand Prix he met engineer Claude Fior, whose innovative 500 cc machines would become central to Gentile's racing career.

1986 In , Gentile extended his collaboration with Fior, riding the French technician's experimental 500 cc machine in several World Championship rounds. His best result of the season was an eleventh-place finish at the Swedish Grand Prix, narrowly missing the points zone.

1987 In , Gentile started 15 races with Fior and scored his first World Championship point, finishing the season twenty-fourth overall. His best result was a tenth place at the San Marino Grand Prix, which marked the first-ever championship point for both Gentile and the Fior project.

1988 In , Gentile made 15 race starts for Fior Marlboro, scoring eight championship points and finishing twenty-third in the standings.

1989 In , Gentile and Fior achieved their strongest season together, scoring points in most of the Grands Prix. Their best finish was a fourth place at the Nations Grand Prix, a race boycotted by most factory teams. Gentile ended the season seventeenth in the championship, tied on points with factory Cagiva rider Randy Mamola. At the end of the season, Gentile and Fior began developing a new 250 cc Grand Prix prototype powered by a Rotax engine for the 1990 campaign. While testing a kart at the Nogaro circuit, Gentile lost control and collided with a guard rail, dying instantly.

Career summary Across his 500 cc Grand Prix career, Gentile made a total of 42 race starts and scored 42 championship points between 1984 and 1989. Throughout his time in the world championship, he remained closely associated with the Fior engineering project, becoming the rider who most extensively developed and raced Claude Fior's unconventional 500 cc machines.

Gentile's progression reflected both his growing experience and the technical evolution of the Fior project: from early non-scoring seasons to his first championship.

Death On 18 November 1989, Gentile was taking part in private testing with a homemade go-kart equipped with a Yamaha TZ 350 engine at the Circuit de Nogaro in France. During the session, he lost control of the kart and collided with a guard rail, suffering fatal injuries. He died at the scene. Gentile had been preparing for the upcoming season with the Fior team at the time of the accident, and his death brought an abrupt end to a career closely linked with the experimental engineering work of Claude Fior.

Career statistics

Grand Prix results 500 cc Year Class Bike JPN AUS ESP NATIONS GER NED BEL YUG FRA GBR SWE AUT CZE RSM HUN BRA Pos Pts 1984 500 cc Yamaha Ret - - - - - - - Ret - 15 - - - - - NC 0 1985 500 cc Yamaha / Honda - - 14 - - - - - Ret - - - - - - - NC 0 1986 500 cc Fior-Honda 19 Ret Ret Ret 15 11 Ret 12 Ret 11 Ret NE - - - - NC 0 1987 500 cc Fior-Honda Ret 12 Ret Ret Ret 23 13 11 14 21 Ret 10 Ret 12 11 - 24th 1 1988 500 cc Fior Ret Ret Ret Ret 14 17 Ret 15 30 Ret 17 20 19 11 Ret - 24th 8 1989 500 cc Fior 20 13 12 12 4 Ret 14 Ret 14 12 Ret 13 NP - - - - 17th 33 Total 42