Moto2: Fenati loses 2018 and 2019 rides over ‘disgraceful’ actions

Romano Fenati has lost both his current Moto2 ride with the Marinelli Snipers team and his 2019 ride with the Forward Racing squad, after yesterday’s high-profile clash with Stefano Manzi at the San Marino Grand Prix. The Italian’s future in the series is now very uncertain, as any new deal will see him still forced to serve his two-race ban for yesterday’s attack on Manzi.

Clashing in the middleweight race at Misano, Fenati was pushed off the track by then-2019 teammate Manzi, who was docked six grid places at the next race for the stunt. But, seeking retaliation for the move, Fenati then applied his rival’s front brake while riding alongside him on the start-finish straight only minutes later, with Manzi lucky to avert a crash.

FIM MotoGP Stewards

Black flag Romano Fenati for irresponsible riding #Moto2 #SanMarinoGP pic.twitter.com/sTqv6nhZer

— MotoGP™ (@MotoGP) September 9, 2018

Speaking in a statement posted this morning, the Marinelli Snipers team said: “Now we can communicate that the Marinelli Snipers Team shall terminate the contract with the rider Romano Fenati, from now on, for his unsporting, dangerous and damaging conduct for the image of all. With extreme regret, we have to note that his irresponsible act endangered the life of another rider and can’t be apologised for in any way. The rider, from this moment, will not participate in any more races with the Marinelli Snipers team.”

And despite Fenati signing a deal at Silverstone with Manzi’s Forward Racing team, they too confirmed this morning that that contract would be considered void, after what team boss Giovanni Cuzari called ‘disgraceful’ behaviour.

“After the disgraceful episode between Romano Fenati and Stefano Manzi, it is impossible for the team to maintain its planned collaboration with the rider from Ascoli for the 2019 season. Fenati’s behaviour is incompatible with the sporting values of the Forward Racing Team and of MV Agusta. For this reason, though we bitterly regret it, we are forced to cancel our project with Fenati. Our sport is already extremely dangerous, and any act which increases the risks involved for the riders is intolerable. We cannot accept behaviour of this type from one of our future riders.”