Former World Superbike and Grand Prix ace Pierfrancesco Chili will be a special guest at this year’s Classic TT.
The Italian fan-favourite will be attending the festival for three days and is sure to be a hit with the British spectators, who were huge fans of the rider during his career.
The 52-year-old had an illustrious racing career that spanned over 20 years. His first major success came in 1985 when he won the 125cc European Championship. He immediately moved into the 500cc World Championship, spending a year with Suzuki before joining Honda for five years.
His best year came in 1989 when, riding the NSR500cc machine, he came sixth overall, also winning that year’s Italian Grand Prix.
Chili spent a few years in the 250cc World Championship in the early 1990’s but it was his time in World Superbikes which raised his profile further.
Chili was a regular on the grid between 1995 and 2006, riding on works Ducati and Suzuki machinery as well as competing for privateer teams. His best years came in 1998 and 2000 when he finished fourth overall for Ducati Corse and Alstare Suzuki respectively. He finished in the top eight of the Championship every year between 1995 and 2004.
Chili claimed a total of 17 wins and 61 podiums in a World Superbike Championship career that took in 278 races before retiring at the end of the 2006 season.
Looking ahead to his Classic TT appearance, Chili said: “The Isle of Man has an incredible history and I’m really looking forward to finally getting the chance to see the iconic circuit and meet some of the great TT riders and legends of road racing who I have huge respect for and find out more about this famous place. It’s going to be a lot of fun and a great chance to meet some road racing fans.”
It promises to be a busy visit as he will be meeting the fans at the Paddock Carnival Chat Show on Friday 26th, attending the RST Legends Dinner on Sunday 28th and putting in an appearance at the Grandstand on Saturday’s opening Classic TT Race day.
He will also be heading to the VMCC’s Festival of Jurby on Sunday 28th August where he will complete some demonstration laps on-board his former Suzuki World Superbike GSXR 750, now owned and maintained by Team Classic Suzuki.
This year’s Classic TT gets underway on Saturday, August 20. Keep checking The Checkered Flag for all the latest news and results from the event.
