You don?t have to be an avid MotoGP fan to remember the stunt Romano Fenati pulled in 2018 at the San Marino GP. As well as being all the TV commentators talked about for the rest of the race, the entire internet went bonkers about it. It was all over social media, with everyman and their dog suggesting varying levels of punishment; from a slap on the wrist to imprisonment for attempted murder.

For those that can?t remember what happened, let me remind you. Half way through a Moto2 race at San Marino, Romano Fenati got upset with Stefano Manzi (who?d run him wide a time or two), so he drew level with him down the back straight, reached over and squeezed his opponents front brake lever. Luckily Manzi managed to hold onto his bike and avoid a crash, but only just.
Career suicide

Anyway, Fenati quite rightly had his racing license revoked, and it looked as though his racing career was over. But it wasn?t. Because rather than giving him a lifetime race ban (which is what many called for at the time), he was allowed to race in Moto3 in 2019.

And now, after three years racing in Moto3, the 25 year old Italian is set for a return to Moto2. But has enough water passed under the bridge for us to forgive Fenati for his previous wrongdoings" Should we just put it down to the folly of youth, put it behind us and forget it ever happened" I?m not sure we should.

Don?t get me wrong, I?m not normally one to worry about what-ifs, and near-misses. And if someone ...