By Considered by many Italy’s leading International road racer of the 21st century, Bergamo’s Stefano Bonetti is another true overseas TT hero.
A TT newcomer in 2004 at the same time as future 19 times International Road Race victor Guy Martin, he went onto collect three top forty finishes including a strong run to 22nd in the Production 600 race.
His second TT tenure saw him continue to chip away with pace, speed around the fabled, mythical Mountain Course.
27th within the second Supersport race, the prior Scottish Life International Superstock race saw him place a more than creditable 15th.
Following TT campaigns in 2007, 2008, 2009 would yield a further eight top 25 finishes including whilst the history making opening TT of the 2010’s would provide ‘Bonny’ with a brace of top twenty finishes.
Ever increasing in stature on the legendary Manx roads, TT 2012 saw the amiable Italian clinch a huge new personal best finish of 12th within the Royal London 360 Superstock race, outpacing notable names including David Johnson, Ben Wylie, fellow countryman Alessio Corradi, Davy Morgan and twice Senior TT winner Adrian Archibald.
In recent years Bonetti who joined last year the North West 200 race winners circle, enjoyed Super Twins success at Frohburg, has excelled and some on S1-R Paton machinery within the ultra-competitive Lightweight class.
In three of the last four Lightweight TT encounters, he’s secured top six finishes including taking fourth in the 2018 race stint ahead of various hugely talented Mountain Course competitors including Welsh roads legend Ian Lougher.
To date Bonetti’s impressive looking TT CV has overall eight top 15 finishes and no less than 24 top 20 finishes.
Photo by Mark Corlett
When reflecting on his roads career to date, we have to mention as well his momentous second place finish in last year’s Bennetts Senior Classic TT.
Extremely well liked, Bonetti rightly ranks amongst Italy’s pure road racing greats alongside icons including 15 times World Champion, 10 times TT winner Giacomo Agostini.
Words by Stevie Rial
