Randy de Puniet - 2006 Rider Profile

Randy de Puniet has been involved with motorcycles since he was old enough to walk. At three-years-of-age the young Frenchman first threw his leg over a motorcycle, with his race debut coming just three years later at the tender age of six years.

After winning back-to-back titles in the French National 125cc Championship in 1997 and 1998, de Puniet made his Grand Prix debut as a wild card entry at the 1998 Grand Prix.

His performance in his first World Championship race was enough to secure the young Frenchman a full time ride in the championship the following year.

In 2001 de Puniet moved up to the quarter-litre class aboard a customer specification Aprilia 250cc machine. Two podiums on a non-factory bike the following season were enough to convince Aprilia to give Randy a factory bike for 2003, and he repaid them with his debut Grand Prix win in that season's Catalunya Grand Prix.

Having secured 5 wins, 22 podiums and 9 pole positions during his time in the 250cc World Championship, de Puniet will step up in 2006 to the Premier MotoGP class with Kawasaki, where he'll ride a Ninja ZX-RR alongside Shinya Nakano.

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