By blue2bikes
January 3 2005

Pier-Francesco ‘Frankie’ Chili has signed for the Klaffi Honda Team to race in the 2005 World Superbike series. This means he gets his way with a ride aboard the Honda FireBlade - his wish as he told me after meeting with him at Croft late last year, whilst riding for the European Superbike School.

After nine successful years, Frankie now makes a turning point in his career by switching from Ducati to the Klaffi Honda FireBlade, and will undoubtedly gain some top positions throughout the 2005 season - with a very possible chance to win the series.

Frankie Chili in 2004 - photo © Raceline Photography

It was clear when I talked to Frankie that he was not at all happy with the situation of not getting good support from Ducati during 2004, plus the way in which the PSG-1 team had decided to run Kawasaki machinery without him being fully involved in the negotiations.

He said that the only ride he wanted was a Honda FireBlade, and Klaus Klaffenböck - owner and manager of the Klaffi Honda Team - has now afforded him a ride along with great support.

Frankie stated that there had been a lot of ups and downs during his career, with nobody trusting him, but even then he was still having some success. “Klaus and Honda did all they could to make it happen and it means I now have the possibility to reach out for the WSBK Championship again.”

Frankie went on to say that he would like to thank his Italian crew for waiting whilst negotiations were proceeding – “Nobody left the crew and now we join the Klaffi Honda Team and looking forward to an exciting and successful 2005.”

Klaus Klaffenböck said he had always promised his sponsors a rider who was a winner – “Although we had a lot of discussions during the past weeks regarding who should be the rider - Ben Bostrom or Frankie Chili - and now that decision has been made.”

After a very successful début in the 2004 Supersport World Championship, German Max Neukirchner will be the second rider alongside Frankie in the WSBK line-up. Winner of the 2004 European Supersport Championship, Tatu Lauslehto from Finland will be the other rider competing in the SuperSport Championship.

The first track time for the new bikes will take place this month in readiness for the World Championships, when the first race of the year will be the 26th of February in Qatar.

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To buy the photograph shown above, visit Raceline Photography