News

Italian rider Roberto Rolfo has signed a two-year deal to race an MV Agusta F3 675 in the FIM Supersport World Championship seasons of 2016 and 2017. The 35-year-old will compete with the Factory Vamag team.

Following an excellent debut WorldSSP season on an MV in 2013, when he finished on the podium at Donington Park and Jerez, Rolfo rode a Go Eleven Kawasaki in 2014 and achieved a single rostrum result at Magny-Cours. For 2015 there was a partnership with Team Lorini where he competed on a Honda, picking up a best result of fifth position at Assen.

Rolfo now looks forward to at least two years with the team run by Learco Ghelfi, supported by title sponsor Vamag.

“I’m really happy about this great opportunity,” he says. “I want to thank Learco and Team Factory Vamag for the confidence and enthusiasm! I really like the organisation and professionalism that can be felt within the team. Everybody is united and motivated and we all share a great passion!”

The team has stressed that its choice of rider was far from random.

“Vamag and Factory SBK got together to create this partnership,” explains Vamag owner Franco Crosta. “We have chosen a fast and expert rider in Roberto Rolfo. This association was formed not by chance but by careful analysis in order to do well in what is an increasingly competitive, but equally challenging and exciting category.”

The team has already completed its first test, at the Cartagena circuit in Spain’s south-eastern Region of Murcia.

Rolfo’s career as a rider started in Grand Prix racing, where highlights included three World Championship 250cc wins and a single victory in the Moto2 class. In 2003, he finished runner-up in the 250cc category, missing out to Manuel Poggiali by only 14 points. He started no less than 103 World Superbike races between 2006 and 2011, achieving a pair of fourth place finishes on a Ten Kate-run Honda at Monza and Silverstone in 2007.