Former World Superbike and GP rider Pierfrancesco ‘Frankie’ Chili and Ex-World Superbike World Champion and TT winner Carl ‘Foggy’ Fogarty will be reunited at The Footman James Classic Motorbike Show at Birmingham’s NEC on Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th November.
Best remembered in the UK for some of his epic battles in the World Superbike Championship having achieved a record 278 starts, ten pole positions and 17 wins, Frankie was hugely popular with fans due to his never-say-die attitude on the track and his often colourful post-race interviews. He also raced in both the 250cc and 500cc GP classes, winning five races – four in the 250 class and one in 500cc. Competing from the early 1980s, Frankie won the 125cc European Championship in 1985, finally retiring from a marathon career in competitive racing at the end of the 2006 season. Genuine Chilli RG500
Frankie is making a special journey from his home in Italy to be at the show to be reunited with the genuine Chili RG500 bike he raced. But that won’t be the only reunion as his old nemesis Carl Fogarty joins him for the weekend.
The legend of World Superbike racing, crowds worshipped Carl’s gutsy, aggressive style and determination to win at all costs, which resulted in 59 wins, four World Superbike titles and a total of eight world crowns. Beginning his career in motorcross, Carl won his first F1 TT title at the age of 23 only to win again the following year. He hit the headlines with a double win at the Isle of Man on 1990 before making his World Superbike Championship debut at Donington in 1989. During his career he rode for Ducati and Honda, before Carl was forced to retire from racing in 2000 after enduring multiple injuries in a racing incident.
Frankie and Foggy go way back, on and off the circuit, and they will be signing autographs on the Vintage Motorcycle Club stand and appearing on the Meet and Greet Stage to share memories, anecdotes and chat to the audience. We dare you to bring up that unforgettable battle between the two at Assen in the 1998 World Superbike Championship race. The pair will be joined by multi TT winner (and possible referee) Mick Grant, who will also be providing live action with Classic Bike Trials.
Ticket prices start from just £10.00 (for Classic Motorbike Show-only access) or from £17.50 for ‘access all areas’ including the neighbouring Footman James Classic Motor. For more information on the Footman James Classic Motorbike Show, visit www.classicmotorbikeshow.com.
