Sebastián Porto

Infobox Former Grand Prix motorcycle rider
Name = Sebastián Porto
Nationality = flagicon|Argentina Argentine
Years = 1994 - 2006
Teams = Aprilia, Yamaha, Honda
Races = 162
Championships = 0
Wins = 7
Podiums = 19
Poles = 12
Fastest laps = 8
First race = 1994 125cc Argentine Grand Prix
First win = 2002 250cc Brazilian Grand Prix
Last win = 2005 250cc Dutch TT
Last race = 2006 250cc Italian Grand Prix

Sebastián Porto (born September 12, 1978 in Rafaela, Santa Fe Province as Sebastián Porco) is a fomer Argentine professional Grand Prix motorcycle road racer.

"Sebas" started his racing career at age 11, competing in the mini-motorcycle local circuit. His first international competition was the 125cc "Continental Circus" race of 1994, and only two years later he won the 250cc European Championship.

The bulk of his racing career was in the 250cc World Championship, starting in 1996 with Aprilia. In 1999 he moved to Yamaha and finished in 9th place in his first two years at the team and in 5th place in the 2002 championship, winning the Brazilian Grand Prix in Rio de Janeiro.

He moved to the Repsol Aprilia team in 2004 and was championship runner-up, winning five Grands Prix and taking ten podium positions in total. In the 2005 season he claimed the Dutch TT at Assen and also finished second in the Australian Grand Prix, before the Repsol team moved to Honda bikes for 2006.

Rather than the expected switch to MotoGP after the 2006 season, he surprised everyone with the news of his retirement from motorcycle competition, claiming he had a hard time adjusting to the 250cc Honda bike, and that he was no longer enjoying his work.

Being the most visible exponent of motorcycling in Argentina, he has received all 12 Argentine Olimpia Awards for that sport between 1994 and 2005.

Titles and achievements

*1992 - Argentine Promotional 100cc Champion
*1994 - Argentine 250cc Champion
*1995 - Spanish 250cc Champion (Open Ducados)
*1996 - European 250cc Champion
*1999 - 9th place in the 250cc World Championship
*2000 - Michel Metraux Trophy for best rider on a non-works bike
*2000 - 9th place in the 250cc World Championship
*2002 - Brazilian Grand Prix 250cc winner
*2002 - 5th place in the 250cc World Championship
*2004 - Five Grand Prix wins (Czech Republic, Australia, Qatar, Netherlands, Italy) and ten total podium finishes
*2004 - 2nd place in the 250cc World Championship
*2005 - Dutch TT 250cc winner

Teams by year

*1996-1998 - Aprilia
*1999-2002 - Yamaha
*2003 - Honda
*2004-2005 - Aprilia
*2006 - Honda

External links

* [http://www.sebastianporto.com.ar Official site] es icon
* [http://www.crash.net/feature_view~t~Q-A--Sebastian-Porto-~cid~6~id~6272.htm Interview]
* [http://espndeportes.espn.go.com/perfiles/sebastianporto.html ESPN profiles] es icon
* [http://www.ole.clarin.com/jsp/v4/pagina.jsp?pagId=1216505&fecha=20060616 On his retirement] es icon