The news came out a few weeks ago but we have waited until now to get more information about what is a shocking and pressing announcement.
(PH: LapConcepts)
For three years from 2018, the FMI (Italian Motorcycle Federation) will not release any more start permissions for road racing. A news that puts in serious difficulties Italian riders who wish to compete in pure road races, which they need a special “start permission” for, as well as a licence and sometimes a very good racing CV and some results throughout the year.
The news has been in the air for a few months, with some riders struggling to obtain this start permission even for last year’s races. Then, on the 22th of December, the FMI finally released an official statement:
“FMI informs that, following the new insurance policy stipulated with Unipol, participations in pure road races abroad, even if they are codified in the International FMI and FIM calendars, are excluded from accident and CR coverage:
– Tandragee 100
– Cookstown 100
– Frohburger ADAC Dreieckrennen
– Isle of Man Mountain Course
– Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix
– Road Racing 300 Zatáček Gustava Havla Hořice
– Imatra International Road Racing Championship (IRRC)
And any other pure road race abroad even if not listed.
FMI will not release any authorization to take part in these events to the riders who will send request. Riders wishing to compete in pure road races abroad will have to obtain a start permission from the local organizer; FMI will not be responsible of any consequences of their participation at these events“.
Even if it looks like an insurance problem with the new company Unipol, who will be FMI partner for three years (2018-2019-2020), there is something more behind this difficult matter and we requested the Italian Federation to provide further details. FMI kindly replied with a note from the Press Office:
“The FMI came to this decision in order to protect the safety of its riders. This according also to the new Unipol policy, that from 2018 is improved in terms of safety. We are trying to work on this level for years and, even if we are aware that the danger can not be fully avoided, we believe that the participation at events where safety standards are anachronistic if not completely absent must be avoided. We respect the historic value and the appeal of these competitions, but the fatalities are now too many. 255 just at the TT throughout its history (3 only in 2017) are a dreadful evidence. We must remember that the aim of every sport Federation is to honour the values of growth and respect of the individual”.
An ethical and economical problem shared also by Spain since 1970 and the death of Santiago Herrero at the Isle of Man TT. Italy actually had a few precedents, the most resounding one concerning Giorgio Cantalupo to which the start permission for the 1999 Isle of Man TT was denied.
Three years before, at the Bangkok Meeting in 1996, the International Federation suddenly adopted a position against the TT. This without concerning too much the ACU, which, thanks to a governor’s mandate, could safely keep running the TT. Therefore, for the first time the Federation decided to remove the “Protection Data” from an International event: that’s why now we can have MotoGP or WSBK rounds on the same dates as the TT.
What is going to happen now to Italian riders willing to ride road races abroad? Simple, more or less. They can ask for a licence + start permission from another Country, i.e. Slovenia, Croatia (which are also cheaper), Belgium (as ex Sidecar TT driver Franco Martinel did to avoid the age limit of 70 years old imposed by FMI), more unlikely now San Marino. Of course there will be the huge regret of not being able to represent their own Country abroad, let alone the feeling of being “discriminated”.
A few Italian riders are already working to find a start permission abroad: the fastest Italian rider at the TT Stefano Bonetti will be on the Isle of Man at all costs, still backed by Milan-based Paton, despite the loss (on the paper) of a pure “Italian rider-Italian bike” duo; the same goes for Francesco Curinga, who will be at the Manx GP once again in 2018, and Lorenzo Tiveron, who is representing Italy at the Ulster GP for years. On the contrary, Alex Polita declares he won’t be riding for any Federation other than the Italian one: “In my career I have honoured the Italian flag in every track in the World and I will keep doing this without searching for other ways to reach my future aims. I hope something will change from Italian Federation. I’m proudly Italian”.
Furthermore, what is going to happen with Italian and European Hillclimbing Championships? Absolutely nothing. FMI assures that Hillclimbing will not be concerned: “They are National and European Championships, well different from the other road races which have no titling” adds the FMI Press Office.
Start permissions will be denied for Parade Laps as well, like the famous ones during the Classic TT.
A harsh decision, somehow understandable, but that in fact denies the freedom of choice being also against its own “mission”, which says: “The Federation promotes and spreads the passion for two wheels in the sport, in the spare time and in everyday life, in order to create satisfaction and new opportunities”…
***Thanks to Pier Giuseppe Ortalda (TT Supporters Italy) for his precious consultation***
more people have been killed climbing Everest