Giuseppe Marzotto
{{Short description|Italian speedway rider (born 1944)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2024}}
{{Refimprove|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox Speedway rider
| image =
| name = Giuseppe Marzotto
| nationality = Italian
| birth_date = 30 January 1944
| death_date =
| birth_place = Arzignano, Italy
| death_place =
| nickname = Charlie Brown
| career1 = Great Britain
| years2 = 1976
| career2 = Wolverhampton Wolves
| indivyear1 = 1975–1978, 1983
| indivhonour1 = Italian Champion
| indivyear2 = 1981
| indivhonour2 = Argentine Champion
}}
Giuseppe Marzotto (born 30 January 1944, in Arzignano) is a former Italian international motorcycle speedway rider.
Career
Marzotto began competing in scooter gymkhanas at the age of 16, riding under the pseudonym "Charlie Brown" because his parents were opposed to him entering in such events. He won the Trofeo Nazionale Gincane four times from 1966–1969. When he was 19 he took up motocross and rode until 1974 before deciding to focus on speedway.{{cn|date=August 2024}}
His first speedway meeting was at Lonigo in 1968. In 1974, he finished runner-up in the Italian Speedway Championship and the following year won the title.
In 1976, he joined the Wolverhampton Wolves{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002192/19760313/291/0024 |title=Wolves waiting on Holmquist |work=Sports Argus |date=13 March 1976 |via=British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription |access-date=23 August 2024}} and rode in 11 meetings in the British League. His nicknamne of Charlie Brown was quickly adopted by the British press.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000560/19760326/264/0030 |title=Move over, here comes Charlie Brown |work=Daily Mirror |date=26 March 1976 |via=British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription |access-date=23 August 2024}}
In 1977, he rode in three meetings for the MSC Olching Club, replacing Josef Angermüller after he died in a speedway accident. He also rode for the Italian team Moto Club La Favorita.{{cn|date=August 2024}}
During his career he won the Italian Championship five times{{cite web |url=http://www.historyspeedway.nstrefa.pl/indmwloch.php|title=Individual Italian Championship|website=Historia Sportu Zuzlowego|access-date=23 August 2024}}{{cite web|url=http://speedwayfansite.com/champs/itaim.html|title=Indywidualne Mistrzostwa Austrii|website=Speedway Fansite|access-date=23 August 2024}} and represented Italy in team and best pairs events. He also rode in Argentina and New Zealand. He helped Armando Castagna when he first began riding speedway, giving him advice and technical support. In 1981, he won the Argentine Championship.{{cite web |url=http://www.historyspeedway.nstrefa.pl/indma.php |title=HISTORICAL RESULTS 1930-2022 Argentinian Individual Speedway Championship |website=Historia Sportu Zuzlowego |access-date=21 January 2023}}
In the late 1970s, he began to develop his own speedway motor.{{cn|date=August 2024}} The first version was produced in 1979. The engine has become known as the GM (his initials). The first major success was achieved in 1983 when Egon Muller won the 1983 Speedway World Championship. Since then the GM has won more than 40 world speedway and longtrack championships. He retired in 1985.{{cn|date=August 2024}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.gmengines.net gmengines.net]
- [http://www.cybermotorcycle.com/archives/speedwaybikes/gmindex.htm The GM story]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Marzotto, Giuseppe}}
Category:Italian speedway riders
Category:Sportspeople from Vicenza
Category:Wolverhampton Wolves riders
Category:Italian expatriate speedway riders in England
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