I'm with The Cap'n .... think he had a brother Mario and if memory serves a top ten TT finish from a really late start number.....lovely iconic livery too.
ha ha! Klaus Klein was my first thought!
The "Blackfords" sticker helps, but I think the main problem is the photo is so darned good,
it could have been last year!! (or the year before, I mean! )
I don't know about confused, my brain is fried !!
Even with the hints/clues I've still no Idea. I must be looking in the wrong place.
Machine wise, I'm still leaning towards a 4 stroke. I said initially an FZR 250 but maybe the 400?
It might be the angle of the photo but it looks to small for the OWO1.
Help..😳
Time to give the answer - some of you already know!
It is Peter Rubatto on the 750 Bimota YB4 (FZ750 engine?) at Ballakeighan in the 2007 Pre TT Classic. He finished 7th on that bike in the 1987 F1 TT. His best result was 4th in the 1985 F1 race on a Honda. His brother Mario rode in the 1986 F1 TT.
The last comment in the thread is from Steve Linsdell - apparently Peter spent some time being hosted by the IOM police during his time at the TT :-) .
I hadn't realised that Peter had raced at the Southern 100. He was a fine rider, who loved the TT. Things were never the same for him after the loss of Klaus Klein, but I believe that he did come back a few years after that tragedy, to race the TT.
He was very popular on the Island, and embraced both the racing and the social side.
I was very sorry to hear of his passing.
Well well Moriarty Mike - Detective Noakes checked the MoT history online for the bike's reg and it failed an MoT for an insecure front mudguard(tut tut fancy failing "scrutineering" hehe) in April 2007 so i'm guessing that's a TT Centenary Event with a flying Squirrel of the Scott species with possibly Mr N.Jefferies aboard ...