Carlos Lavado


Carlos Alberto Lavado Jones is a Venezuelan former professional Grand Prix motorcycle racer. He competed in the FIM motorcycle Grand Prix world championships from 1978 to 1992. Lavado is notable for winning two 250cc road racing world championships in 1983 and 1986. He joins Johnny Cecotto as the only two Venezuelans to win Grand Prix World Championships.

Motorcycle racing career

Born in Caracas, Venezuela, Lavado made his international racing debut in the 1978 Venezuelan Grand Prix, finishing second in the 250cc class. The following season, he won the 350cc class at the 1979 Venezuelan Grand Prix.
In 1980, he began competing full-time on the Grand Prix circuit. He went on to win the 250cc World Championship in 1983 and repeated the feat in 1986, both times on Yamaha TZ250s. At the 1983 Dutch TT, Lavado and Iván Palazzese finished in first and second place marking the first time that Venezuelan riders had claimed the top two places in a world championship Grand Prix race.
In fifteen seasons of Grand Prix competition, he participated in 137 races, 125 of them in the 250cc division. He had 36 podium finishes and 17 victories in the 250cc class and 6 podium finishes with 2 victories in the 350cc division. After he retired from competition, he continued his involvement in Grand Prix racing serving as advisor to Venezuelan motorcycle racers Robertino Pietri and Gabriel Ramos.

Motorcycle Grand Prix Results

Points system from 1969 to 1987:
Position12345678910
Points1512108654321

Points system from 1988 to 1992:
Position123456789101112131415
Points201715131110987654321


YearClassTeam123456789101112131415PointsRankWins
1978250ccYamahaVEN
2		ESP
-		FRA
-		NAT
-		NED
-		BEL
-		SWE
-		FIN
-		GBR
-		GER
-		CZE
-		YUG
-		1217th0
1979350ccYamahaVEN
1		AUT
-		GER
-		NAT
-		ESP
-		YUG
-		NED
-		FIN
-		GBR
-		CZE
-		FRA
-		1514th1
1980250ccYamahaNAT
-		ESP
9		FRA
7		YUG
4		NED
1		BEL
-		FIN
-		GBR
-		CZE
-		GER
-		296th1
1980350ccYamahaNAT
-		FRA
-		NED
5		GBR
-		CZE
9		GER
-		813th0
1981250ccYamahaARG
-		GER
2		NAT
-		FRA
3		ESP
3		NED
2		BEL
2		RSM
-		GBR
-		FIN
-		SWE
-		CZE
-		564th0
1981350ccYamahaARG
3		AUT
5		GER
-		NAT
8		YUG
3		NED
2		GBR
-		CZE
-		415th0
1982250ccYamahaFRA
-		ESP
1		NAT
-		NED
-		BEL
-		YUG
-		GBR
8		SWE
-		FIN
5		CZE
1		RSM
-		GER
-		395th2
1982350ccYamahaARG
1		AUT
-		FRA
-		NAT
2		NED
-		GBR
4		FIN
-		CZE
10		GER
-		365th1
1983250ccYamahaRSA
7		FRA
Ret		NAT
1		GER
1		ESP
7		AUT
7		YUG
1		NED
1		BEL
3		GBR
4		SWE
3		1001st4
1984250ccYamahaRSA
9		NAT
15		ESP
3		AUT
5		GER
5		FRA
2		YUG
Ret		NED
1		BEL
Ret		GBR
3		SWE
7		RSM
2		773rd1
1985250ccYamahaRSA
4		ESP
1		GER
Ret		NAT
2		AUT
9		YUG
2		NED
Ret		BEL
2		FRA
5		GBR
Ret		SWE
2		RSM
1		943rd2
1986250ccYamahaESP
1		NAT
2		GER
1		AUT
1		YUG
Ret		NED
1		BEL
Ret		FRA
1		GBR
2		SWE
1		RSM
Ret		1141st6
1987250ccYamahaJPN
-		ESP
10		GER
6		NAT
6		AUT
8		YUG
1		NED
10		FRA
Ret		GBR
Ret		SWE
4		CZE
-		RSM
-		POR
Ret		BRA
5		ARG
9		4610th1
1988250ccYamahaJPN
13		USA
Ret		ESP
Ret		EXP
Ret		NAT
7		GER
Ret		AUT
Ret		NED
Ret		BEL
5		YUG
-		FRA
-		GBR
8		SWE
Ret		CZE
9		BRA
2		5511th0
1989250ccApriliaJPN
-		AUS
-		USA
-		ESP
-		NAT
-		GER
-		AUT
-		YUG
-		NED
10		BEL
15		FRA
18		GBR
8		SWE
Ret		CZE
9		BRA
7		3117th0
1990250ccApriliaJPN
Ret		USA
15		ESP
Ret		NAT
11		GER
12		AUT
Ret		YUG
9		NED
9		BEL
4		FRA
Ret		GBR
-		SWE
-		CZE
-		HUN
-		AUS
-		3715th0
1991250ccYamahaJPN
25		AUS
10		USA
12		ESP
11		ITA
14		GER
15		AUT
DNS		EURNED
9		FRA
16		GBR
17		RSM
7		CZE
DNQ		VDMMAL3414th0
1992250ccGileraJPN
Ret		AUS
14		MAL
Ret		ESP
Ret		ITA
12		EUR
Ret		GER
13		NED
9		HUN
9		FRA
20		GBR
13		BRA
14		RSA
15		2919th0