VFT Racing: A Somewhat Hectic Debut
Team Manager Omar Menghi takes stock of 2016 and looks to the future
At the start of 2016, the VFT Racing outfit moved into the top tier of WorldSBK, but suffered a huge setback before the season had even begun. Fabio Menghi, riding for the family-run squad (VFT standing for Valerio Family Team, with Valerio Menghi being the team owner and Fabio’s father), suffered a broken hip when he crashed heavily in the Phillip Island pre-season test. During Menghi’s absence, Matteo Baiocco and Luca Scassa rode the Ducati Panigale R as substitute riders.
“It was a bit of a difficult start because Fabio was injured immediately,” recalls Omar Menghi, Team Manager. “It was a traumatic experience and forced him away from racing for a long time. We worked with other riders who covered for Fabio. First it was Matteo Baiocco, but he then he had commitments in the Italian championship, so we drafted in Luca Scassa; both riders already knew the Ducati, they both achieved top ten Superpole results and they both scored points in the races.
“It was an excellent experience with Matteo. As he knew the bike so well, he was able to give us really good feedback at the beginning of the year when we came into the category as inexperienced newcomers. That helped us make the step we needed.”
Last year, the team ran Fabio Menghi on a Yamaha in the World Supersport class.
“There are many differences between the two classes,” Omar Menghi continues. “Running the Superbike requires a lot of work, both technically and electronically. We have also had to adapt to the two-race format and have therefore had to organise ourselves in the best possible way. I think we have done well so far. There is always room for improvement, but we believe we have managed to establish a good level.
“As for the future, we still need to define everything properly. There are certainly possibilities with sponsors for next year and our intention is to carry on racing in the top category of WorldSBK.”
The paddock is continuing with its summer break before the racing action resumes in Germany on the weekend of 16-18 September. Between now and the end of the season in Qatar, eight more races remain for Fabio Menghi and VFT Racing.
