Women and Isle of Man. A very fascinating duo, especially when you talk about records. The “Italian Queen of the Mountain” is Francesca Romana Giordano, as she set the lap record for the fastest Italian female rider back in 1996.
Francesca Giordano at the 1992 TT (photo by John Watterson)
Born in Rome and student at London University, Francesca was passionate about bikes, sailing boats and ping pong, with a genuine beauty that could have easily brought her success as actress, as happened to her sister Domiziana. Francesca had different plans, though.
Her debut in motorcycle racing was in 1989 and from then on she found herself competing in the Italian Female Championship, Sport Production and three times on the Isle of Man. The first outing at the Tourist Trophy was in 1992, ended with a missed qualification due to a seized engine during practice; she was back in 1993, finishing 29th in the 400 Supersport Race with Gloucester Kawasaki; and then the glorious 1996 edition, with a 53th place in the 400 Lightweight TT with Bill Smith Motors Yamaha (a race won by the great Joey Dunlop) and a 68th place in the Junior TT with a 600 Yamaha (this time won by Philip McCallen); during that last race Francesca set the fastest lap for a female Italian rider on the Isle of Man in 92.54 mph, a record that lasts still today.
I am speaking with Francesca while she is in Portugal in a very rare moment of relax during her busy sailor schedule. And together we recall that road racer’s life, after no less than 20 years.
Francesca, how did you start with road racing?
I heard about the Isle of Man from my former boyfriend for the first time; he always spoke about the TT and I was getting curious. In 1989 I started racing myself on Italian Female Championship but he wasn’t too keen about it and finally we split. In 1991 I read an article on the Italian magazine Motosprint written by journalist and TT racer Roberto Patrignani, which said that the Mike Hailwood Foundation was looking for foreign riders to support at the Isle of Man TT. In excitement, I called Patrignani and he told me to attend an event in Tivoli to talk about it. The day came and I went there alone with my car from Rome and there I met Geoff Duke. The following January I was invited on the Isle of Man and they borrowed me a bike to learn the track; it was so cold that I travelled around the Island like the Michelin man! Then Geoff himself took me around the Course by car giving me tips and teaching me the way round; we also had tea with his wife and mum, it was wonderful!
Francesca and Geoff Duke (photo by John Watterson)
How was an Italian female racer welcomed at the TT at that time?
In a very good way. First of all, I attended Univerity in London so I hadn’t any problem with the language. The environment was also fantastic, we were all together in the paddock with big names like Steve Hislop and Joey Dunlop. And everybody seemed to know me, people called me by name when I went to buy the newspaper in the morning. And the other racers took me for a tea to Gwen Crellin’s house, the famous “Lady in white”; I sent her Christmas cards for years!
How did you train phisically for the TT and how did you learn such a long track?
I trained 3 times a week at that time, so phisically I was ok. Learning the track was more difficult: I watched two videos every night before going to sleep, one of Steve Hislop and one of Nick Jefferies. In January I usually went on the Island and with a car lended by my sponsor Corkills I tried to do as many laps as I could. I wanted to know exactly which gear to put in every place, I was the kind of racer that gives a lot of importance to the gears; in other words, I didn’t leave anything to chance. Practice were very important too, and they were at 5 in the morning at that time; we had technical inspections at 4am, so I woke up at 3.30. It was pretty hard for me, because my brain usually starts to work after midday! I kept saying to myself “what are you doing here at 5 in the morning?!”
Francesca Giordano at Ballaugh Bridge, 400cc Yamaha, 1996 TT (photo by John Watterson)
Did you faced particular problems in your TTs?
Yes, in the first edition in 1992 I rode a 125cc Aprilia Sport Production and it seized up during practice, so I didn’t qualified for the races. I came back to the Isle of Man in 1993 with a 400cc Kawasaki and a 600cc, but I raced only with the first one; my manager and team mate Allan Warner’s 600 blew up and he used mine for the race. I also had a small crash that year and they took me to Nobles Hospital for precaution. In 1996 I arrived on the Isle of Man sure to find a 600cc Yamaha and a Team, as agreed, but I found just the bike: no team, no mechanics! Luckily a fellow rider helped me out and I managed to race.
In 1996 you set the fastest ever lap on the Isle of Man for an Italian female rider, a record that stands still today.
Oh do I have a record? I didn’t know that. Sounds good! I don’t follow motorcycle racing very much anymore.
Why did you retire?
Mainly it was for a lack of sponsors. I raced thanks to sponsors, I had bikes for free, even if in the end I sometimes found out some bills to pay, despite different agreements! When I left motorcycle racing I committed myself to my other love, sailing boats, and I didn’t follow races anymore. But racing on the Isle of Man is something that remains into you forever; if someone gave me a bike to race, I think I would go immediately! I have a craving for it just even talking about it now with you!
Francesca and Steve Hislop at the Creg-ny-Baa (photo by John Watterson)
I would like to see you race again Francesca! Beyond the TT, in 1996 you raced also at the Ulster GP and Skerries 100.
Skerries was good, I did good lap times. Even if it poured down during practice, I could barely see the lights of the bike in front of me. At the Ulster GP I broke the gear lever during the first race, so it was all over; it was a pity because I did a very good start. By the way, the environment was great, but I really couldn’t understand why practice were in the afternoon only, at the Ulster GP. But then I understood: they were all drunk during the night and had an hangover in the morning!
You did some road races in the Italian Hillclimb too.
Yes, it happened by chance and I found a nice environment. I have been member of “Florence Motor Club” for 2-3 years and one day they gave me a bike for an Italian Hillclimb round. I thought all the Club was attending the meeting, but then they just loaded the bike on my trailer, they gave me a map and disappeared. I had to go alone! By the way, it was a nice experience, I met other riders, they helped me with my tent and my bike. The race went well and I managed to do other rounds.
Which is the rider that inspired you the most in your career?
I started my racing career in Sport Production with Loris Capirossi, Max Biaggi, Valentino Rossi and Fausto Gresini. Valentino and Capirossi were special people, I have great memories of them. In road racing, Steve Hislop was a legend for me, as were Joey and Robert Dunlop. But with Steve…People took pictures of us together and I remember that one day after a photo shooting I told him “ok Stevie, can we kiss now?”. But he was engaged!
