Official: Fenati’s MV Agusta-Forward Racing move ‘terminated’

Romano Fenati’s future in grand prix racing is in serious doubt after it was confirmed that MV Agusta and Forward Racing, his proposed team in Moto2 for 2019, has “terminated” its agreement with the 22-year old.

Just one day on from his disqualification from his home grand prix for grabbing Stefano Manzi’s front brake lever at racing speed, Fenati’s world has quickly fallen apart. It was confirmed on Monday morning Marinelli Snipers Team cancelled his contract for the remainder of 2018.

And now he is without a ride for next season, with Giovanni Castiglioni, the President of MV Agusta, stating “a rider who can act like this can never represent the values of our company, and our brand.”

“The serious misconduct by Romano Fenati towards Stefano Manzi during the Moto2 during the Gran Premio di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini which took place at the Circuito Marco Simoncelli di Misano Adriatico will have repercussions for the future, beyond the black flag shown to Fenati, and the two-race ban imposed by Race Direction,” read a joint statement from MV Agusta and Forward Racing, who had announced the signing of the ten-time grand prix winner at the British Grand Prix.

“MV Agusta will not be represented by Fenati in 2019, the year which will see the return of the Varese factory to the highest level of motorcycle racing, and the Moto2 World Championship. The agreement between MV Agusta Reparto Corse Forward Racing Team and Romano Fenati has been terminated.”

Castiglioni’s statement read, "In all my years of watching sport, I have never seen behaviour as dangerous as this. A rider who can act like this can never represent the values of our company, and our brand. For this reason, we do not want him to be the rider with which MV Agusta makes its return to the world championship."

Meanwhile Giovanni Cuzari, Team Owner of Forward Racing, said, "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 involves for the riders is intolerable. We cannot accept behaviour of this type from one of our future riders."

Fenati issued a public apology, which appeared on his personal website at lunchtime on Monday, in which he described the incident as a “disgraceful gesture. I was not a man!”