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Motorbike rider banned for 'disgraceful' act set to return

The controversial motorbike rider banned for trying to pull a rival’s brake lever at 217km /h is set to return to the sport in 2019.

Italian Romano Fenati will be effectively “starting from zero” when he reunites with the Marinelli Snipers team that sacked him over the “disgraceful gesture.”

Fenati sent shockwaves through the sport when he attempted to grab a rival’s brake lever during a Moto2 race in September in a moment of anger.

He was quickly axed from Marinelli Snipers’ Moto2 squad and his 2019 contract with MV Agusta in the same series was also terminated.

Having seen his license terminated for the remainder of 2018, the Italian is now set for a return to Moto3 in 2019.

Fenati’s disgraceful act sent shockwaves through the sport. Pic: MotoGP
Fenati’s disgraceful act sent shockwaves through the sport. Pic: MotoGP

Marinelli Snipers tech chief Mirko Cecchini explained the decision to demote the Italian into the sport’s lower tier.

“It’s like he would like to start from zero,” Cecchini said.

“This is a new life for him, and OK, he did a mistake, a big mistake, but I think that the media have made it bigger than what he was deserving.”

Fenati originally spent six seasons in Moto3, taking a podium finish on his grand prix level debut in 2012 and winning his second race.

His career then took a number of twists, including an acrimonious split with Rossi’s VR46 team.

The Italian also finished runner-up to 2019 Suzuki MotoGP recruit Joan Mir in the ’17 Moto3 title race.