Infamous racer Romano Fenati will compete with Sterilgarda Max Racing in the 2020 Moto3 World Championship, a team owned by multiple MotoGP race winner and two-time WorldSBK Champion Max Biaggi.
It’s the latest step on the trail of redemption for the once highly touted-turned-disgraced racer after being thrust into the global limelight 2018 when he was severely punished for squeezing the brake lever of a rival as they raced at 120mph during a Moto2 World Championship race at Misano.
After having his FIM licence suspended, Fenati – who had committed a string of other misdemeanours on track prior to this more serious incident – has kept his head down, returning to action this season in Moto3.
Winning his first race since the ban was lifted at Austria, Fenati will now take another big step on the aforementioned redemption path after landing a 2020 Moto3 seat with Max Biaggi’s Moto3 outfit ‘Max Racing’.
Currently in the midst of its first season of Moto3 competition, Max Racing is currently leading the rider standings with Aaron Canet.
Why was Romano Fenati banned from racing?
Fenati was suspended when footage emerged of him leaning over and pulling the brakes of fellow Italian Stefano Manzi’s bike as they jostled side-by-side at more than 120mph.
An extreme reaction to an incident moments before when Fenati felt Manzi had been aggressive when overtaking, the video quickly went viral and attracted worldwide condemnation both inside and outside the sport.
Prior to the Manzi incident, Fenati had a 2019 Moto2 deal with MV Agusta in the bag but was quickly dropped as his reputation unravelled.
With an Italian prosecutor even going as far as to motion for an ‘attempted murder’ charge being brought against him – which was dropped - Fenati has attempted to atone for his actions but it has been a slow process.
Why is Andrea Iannone involved in Romano Fenati’s career revival?
Once tipped for a fast route into MotoGP after taken on as a protégé by Valentino Rossi, Fenati was dropped by his VR46 junior set up in 2016, citing ‘behavioural issues’. Indeed, foolish moments – including leaning over and turning a rival’s bike off as they waited to do a practice start – have cost Fenati more than one high-profile contract.
Nevertheless, he is getting (yet) another chance to put his evident talent first, with a little help from Andrea Iannone and his brother, Angelo.
Angelo Iannone has just taken Fenati on as his manager, with this Max Racing deal surely a product of this.
It is perhaps ironic that Fenati – given his reputation – is now working with a man known as Andrea ‘the Maniac’ Iannone and ‘Mad Max Biaggi’…
