IAfter the fantastic return of MV Agusta and Paton at the Centenary TT, 2008 will be Ducati’s year. This glorious Italian brand will celebrate two important anniversaries: 50 years since its first appearance at the TT when five 125 Desmos fought on the Clypse Course in 1958 and, of course 30 years since the fantastic comeback of Mike Hailwood on a Ducati 860 NCR when he took the honours in the 1987 F1 TT. The fastest Italian TT exponent, Stefano Bonetti will be returning in 2008 to compete in all solo classes doing so
on a brand new Yamaha R6 in the Junior Races and a Suzuki GSX-R 1000 in the three remaining classes.

 Last year’s Italian newcomer, Angelo Conti is busy preparing for his first return to the road racing capital of
the world; he has a Honda CBR 600RR and is searching for a competitive machine for the larger capacity classes. However, the big news from Italy is the potential entry of Alessio Corradi, a 30 year old from Parma. Alessio is one of the fastest pilots in the World Supersport Championships during recent years with many finishes in the top ten, including three podiums - two second places and one third - and one fastest lap.

Also having ridden in World Superbike with success, he will have a new Triumph Daytona 675 for the two Junior Races at his disposal There is certainly a school of thought where, unless they are top-line competitors with much experience, newcomers to road racing on the IoM should take the MGP route. It is very much anticipated that Simona Zaccardi, Danny Garbin and Robertto Airoldi, will return for the Manx GP of 2008, after good performances last year. However, it is likely that the entry from Italy will be supplemented with the arrival of Andrea Cherubini, Fausto Duci, Lorenzo Rizzardini and Pietrangelo De Luca.

Andrea Cherubini,a 37 year old store manager, from Carugate (Milan), made his racing debut in 2000 with a 6th place in the Sport Production Race; the following year he achieved 5th position in the Naked Bikes’ Championship, winning the title the year after. In 2003 he moved into the Italian Honda Hornet Cup, finishing
third that year and then again in 2004; however, in 2005 Andrea won the Cup, retaining it the following two seasons. Two pilots with NW200 experience also intend making their MGP debuts this year - Fausto Duci and Lorenzo Rizzardini.

Twenty-eight year old Duci a truck driver from Bergamo, after several years of amateur racing on short circuits took the decision to compete in the Italian Hill Climb Championship. In his debut of 2006, riding a Suzuki GSXR 1000, he won the Open Class with an outright lap record. During that season he had two victories to his credit; in fact he was never off the podium in all the races and so became champion at his first attempt! He retained the title in 2007, a year in which he made an impressive debut at the NW200.

Fellow, hill-climber, Rizzardini, also intends making the Glencrutchery Road start line this August. With many podiums to his credit, the 30 year-old technician from Bescia, also qualified and raced well at the Northern Irish event of 2007. Our final potential entrant from Italy is Pietrangelo De Luca, a 30 Year-old, Manager, from Monza, has raced in hill climbs and at short circuits for the last three years.

This should be an interesting year for Italians at the IoM races with two pilots hoping to improve on their already high standards at the TT, the arrival of a top-flight competitor and several others looking to make the standard at the Manx with a view to eventually taking part in the TT itself. We wish them all well – it is great to have such an international atmosphere in the paddock.

Pier Ortalda