News

The news came quickly and unexpectedly for many who were unaware of the serious illness that had afflicted Alberto Fantini: the packed Magny-Cours media centre was informed of the sad news with a brief announcement which was greeted by a lengthy and moving round of applause.

One of the world's leading motorcycle journalists Alan Cathcart, who was visibly shocked by the news and who was also present at Magny-Cours, said: "Alberto Fantini wrote a long chapter in the history of the Superbike World Championship".

Alberto Fantini was one of the most important collaborators of Maurizio, and then Paolo Flammini, with whom he established a rapport of sincere esteem and friendship: for many years he was the Race Director for the Superbike World Championship, and had always managed to establish a solid and proper rapport of collaboration with all the teams and riders, an essential element for the growth of the Championship itself.

Maurizio Flammini remembers him in this way: "Since as far back as 1983 when Alberto joined our organization, he was a paladin of justice in our sport, a guarantor of the safety of the riders and an unimpeachable organizer of the system, and for more than 25 years one of the most loyal fellow travellers of our Team which also thanks to him has become famous throughout the world. Speaking in his native Rimini dialect, he was able to talk to and convince friends and ‘enemies' in five continents: from Africa to Australia, from Mexico to New Zealand, from Malaysia to Japan. With his ability, he conquered circuits throughout the world, leaving an unmistakable sign of professionalism and benevolence."

Paolo Flammini added: "Alberto collaborated with a great passion that was never far removed from his outstanding professionalism: one of the things I remember about him the most was the inflexibility of his decisions, which on a humane level were sometimes immensely difficult, but they were always imbued with the utmost respect for the regulations, as was required by his role."