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My story
Gianluca Nannelli
Gianluca Nannelli was born in Florence on August 22, 1973. From an early age, 
he began to show an unbridled passion for the world of motorsports, which, however, was hindered by his family, who, for a long time, denied him the opportunity to ride a motorcycle.
In fact, it was only with the help of some friends that, at the age of 18, he began racing in the 125 National Motocross Championship, before moving on to the world of speed racing, his true passion, competing in the 125 Sport Production category aboard a Cagiva Mito.
My story
In 1995, at the age of 22, he began his true career as a professional rider. It was a difficult start, due to his lack of experience and his advanced age compared to his rivals. Gianluca Nannelli, "il Nanna," climbed aboard the Imperiale Moto team's Yamaha R6 and began to earn his first podiums and victories in the 600cc Sport Production national championship. He was recognized in the racing world for his spectacular and aggressive riding, earning him the nickname Nannaiuky, in honor of the great Japanese rider Noriuky Haga.
Debutta poi nelle competizioni internazionali partendo dal Campionato Europeo Velocità, categoria Supersport in sella alla Ducati 748 R del Team Rox Racing conquistando la top five nella classifica finale.
In 2002 he made his debut in the Supersport World Championship, again riding a Ducati 748 R for the Rox Racing team. In 2003, in parallel with his commitment to the CIV (Italian Speed Championship), which saw him become Italian champion in the Supersport category, he again took part as a full-time rider in the Supersport World Championship, this time riding a Yamaha YZF R6 managed by the Lorenzini by Leoni team.
Durante la stagione, il Nanna mette in mostra le sue capacità di guida funamboliche ma, a causa della sua eccessiva aggressività, perde punti importanti, che non gli permettono di conquistare posizioni di rilievo nella classifica finale del campionato mondiale. Al termine della stagione, dopo alcuni episodi altamente spettacolari, viene infatti denominato dal team con il soprannome di “Conann” – il guerriero.
In 2004, he moved to the Superbike World Championship aboard a Ducati 998 RS for the Pedercini team, which signed him two weeks before the start of the season.
On his debut at the Spanish track in Valencia, he finished sixth in the race after battling for the podium for a long time. Ducati subsequently partnered him with Gary MacCoy on a Ducati 999 RS for the Xerox Ducati-Nortel Networks by Caracchi team. Throughout the championship, he consistently ranked in the top ten, competing with the best in the category.
In 2005, he returned to the World Supersport Championship as a full-time rider, riding a Ducati 749 R for the Ducati SC Caracchi team. He achieved three podium finishes, including a victory at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola. Later that season, he was called to compete in the Italian Grand Prix at Monza in the Superbike World Championship, becoming the only rider in the modern era to compete in three world championship races in a single day.
He scored points in both Race 1 and Race 2, finishing in the top ten of the Superbike category in both races. In Supersport, he secured a podium finish, the first for the Ducati 749 R. Always extremely fast and aggressive, Nanna attracted the attention of Ducati, but a serious injury at Assen prevented him from having a chance at joining the factory team.
In 2006, he competed in the first two World Supersport races aboard a Yamaha YZF-R6 for the Kopron Edo Racing team, before moving on to compete in a few World Superbike races aboard a Honda CBR1000RR for the D.F.X. Treme team.
He then returned to Supersport for five races aboard a Ducati 749R for the Manila Grace SC team, always finishing in the top ten.
In 2007, he became a full-time rider for the Caracchi SC Ducati team in Supersport, achieving a podium finish at the Valencia circuit after a furious comeback that saw him finish fourteenth on the first lap.
But a serious injury at Silverstone forced him to interrupt a season that had seen him fighting for the championship. In 2008, he moved to ride the Honda CBR 600 RR for Hannspree Honda Althea.
In 2009, he began his final season in the Supersport World Championship, riding a Triumph Daytona 675 for the ParkinGO Triumph BE1 team.
During the championship, he managed to bring the English brand close to the podium several times.
In 2010, he participated in the CEV (Spanish Championship) Moto 2, racing the Grillini team's handcrafted Gapam motorcycle. In 2011, he participated in the CIV (Italian Championship) in the Superbike category, starting the season with the BMW MM Racing team and finishing aboard a Ducati with the Grandi Corse team.
He concluded his career in 2012, competing in the CIV Superbike category aboard the Ducati 1198 of the Grandi Corse team, taking the Italian bike to the podium several times and winning the Imola race.
2013 was a turning point. Thanks to his aptitude for working with young people and the skills he'd acquired over the years as a professional rider, Gianluca Nannelli decided to lay the foundation for a motorcycle school for children, which would later become the Nannelli Riders Academy.
In 2016, "il Nanna" also became the coach of the RMU VR46 riders competing in the Italian Speed Championship.
