Manuel Herreros

Manuel Herreros Casas, also known as "Champi", (born on April 20, 1963 in Villarrobledo, Spain) is a former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. He was the 1989 F.I.M. 80cc world champion. He holds the distinction of being the last 80 cc world champion, as the class was discontinued after the 1989 season. He was Spanish national champion (Campeonato de España de Velocidad) in the 80 cc class in 1987.

Career

Herreros was a competitor in a total of 62 races in Grand Prix motorcycle racing between 1984 and 1991, and won the Grand Prix world champion title in the 80 cc class in 1989, without having won a race during the season. Herreros took the victory during the 1986 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season in the German motorcycle Grand Prix and during the 1987 season in the San Marino GP each in the 80 cc class. His only podium finish in the 125 cc occurred in the 1988 Nations motorcycle Grand Prix race at Imola.

Awards and recognition

Herreros retired from competition in 1991 and since then has been engaged in directing his race team. Throughout his career, he has received several awards in recognition of his civic and sporting achievements, such as Medalla al Mèrit Esportiu (1989), the Insígnia d'or de l'Ajuntament de Torrent (March 4, 2002), and the l'Homenatge de l'Associació de Veïns Nicolàs Andreu de Torrent (August 15, 2006). He is an honorary member of UNICEF.

Herreros was selected to participate in a "Lap Of Honor" with other famed riders (John McGuinness, Phillip McCallen, Freddie Spencer, Phil Read, Michael Dunlop, Giacomo Agostini and others) at the 2013 Isle of Man TT.