Fenati set for Marinelli Snipers Moto3 return?

Banned Romano Fenati is tipped to make a comeback in the Moto3 world championship next season with former squad Marinelli Snipers despite being sacked by the team and having his racing licence being withdrawn.

Fenati created headlines when he grabbed Stefano Manzi’s brakes while fighting on track during the Moto2 race at Misano last September which led to the Italian being instantly black-flagged and disqualified.

The Italian rider was sacked by the Marinelli Snipers Team while also losing his deal for 2019 with the Forward Racing MV Agusta set-up – ironically Manzi had been racing for the Forward squad during their clash – and following an FIM summons his racing licence was suspended for the remainder of 2018.

The series of events led to Fenati announcing he will quit racing and also faced potential Italian criminal court proceedings for ‘private violence’ in the Misano race.

But reports have emerged linking the 22-year-old to a controversial comeback, this time returning to Moto3 where he competed between 2012-2017 and ended his final year as title runner-up to Joan Mir, with his former squad Marinelli Snipers Team.

The Italian team has already announced Tony Arbolino and Makar Yurchenko as its 2019 Moto3 rider-up but it looks like Kazak rider Yurchenko will be dropped at the expense of Fenati.

As speculation continues to swirl as paddock rumours at the Malaysian MotoGP round also pointed towards Fenati regaining his 2019 deal with Forward Racing MV Agusta in Moto2.

Fenati remains banned from any racing activities until the end of 2018 and therefore would miss post-season testing.

The Italian rider has claimed 10 Moto3 race wins in his career, taking victory in his second-ever race in the lightweight class at Jerez. Fenati made the move up to Moto2 this year with Marinelli Snipers and claimed two points finishes before being kicked out after the Misano race.