Popular Italian rider Pier-Francesco Chili has agreed on a deal to ride a Ducati in the 2002 season. Chili's future had looked rocky as his options in WSBK had fallen through, but a late offer from the privateer NCR outfit has saved him from leaving the series prematurely.
Although a contract has not yet been signed, Chili has been carrying out publicity for the team. An issue which must be in the front of the entire squads mind is the lack of financial backing for the coming year. It has been reported in
MCN that the team need a cool £2 million, which as yet they do not have in entirety. The team has stated however that there are sufficient funds to buy bikes for both Chili and his team-mate Broc Parkes.
“We are getting closer to finding enough cash,” Chili told
MCN. “I want to race and I am sure now I will be able to. Right now I am trying to stay calm by concentrating on my own training programme.
“Because the money is so late in coming, it means I will miss testing in December. But I'm sure we will be ready to start in January. That will not be a big problem.”
