Paton and Stefano Bonetti together at the Tourist Trophy again in 2018

Paton – Following some news that appeared in recent days in the main media outlets, regarding the failure to grant clearance to Italian pilots by the IMF, Advanced Group srl – trademark owner SC Project e Paton – wanted to clarify his position on the matter, clarifying that nothing will change regarding the support offered to the rider Stephen Bonetti.

This is the press release:

"Following the news, which has appeared in the main media in recent days, regarding the failure to grant clearance to Italian pilots by the FMI, Advanced Group srl - owner of the SC-Project and Paton brands - intends to clarify that, in compliance with the commitments taken with the driver, with the sponsors and with the fans, nothing will change regarding the support offered to the driver and friend Stefano Bonetti and which remains a cornerstone of the 2018 racing season of the Paton SC-Project Reparto Corse team. Stefano, who we would like to remind you is the fastest Italian driver ever on the Isle of Man, will have the support of SC-Project and Paton with whatever license he wants to use to race in the Tourist Trophy. We will be extremely happy to be able to have the driver race with a license from his country of birth, we who pride ourselves on being Italian, but we will also be willing to provide Bonetti with an official Paton S1-R Lightweight also with a foreign license. We hope that the FMI can review its decision, at least with regard to the pilots who, thanks to their results, have distinguished themselves nationally and internationally and who have brought prestige to the Federation itself".