As the iconic baseball figure Yogi Berra once famously said, “It’s not over until it’s over.” This sentiment perfectly encapsulates the journey of Thomas Brianti, who made a remarkable comeback to competitive racing after a hiatus that many believed woudl mark the end of his career.
Hailing from Parma and born in 2003, Brianti first gained recognition in 2019 by clinching the CIV title in the Supersport 300 category. However, the following two years proved challenging on the global stage, leading to his temporary exit from the sport. His redemption came when he decided to compete in the Kawasaki Ninja Trophy ZX-4RR, a single-make championship launched by the japanese manufacturer as part of the Italian Speed Championship. This decision turned out to be a masterstroke: racing under the MCR Corse banner, Brianti missed the opening round at Misano but quickly made up for lost time. From Vallelunga onwards, his performance was nothing short of remarkable, culminating in a championship victory with a narrow three-point lead over Diego Goretti.
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Brianti’s Comeback and Triumph
“My season was unique because it almost didn’t happen,” Brianti recalls. “In January, I was seriously considering retirement. In fact, I had already announced it to my inner circle. But two months later, I received an unexpected call from Kawasaki-Italia, inviting me to join their new Trophy series. At that point, I had been focusing solely on fitness, bulking up to 85 kg of pure muscle.”
What followed was nothing short of unusual.
“I only had two weeks to prepare for Vallelunga, where I made my season debut.I remember that weekend vividly: I started cautiously in the free practice sessions but gradually built confidence. In the race, I overtook Samuele Treccani on the final lap to secure a win. It was a dream comeback, proving doubters wrong and reigniting my passion for racing.”
From there, the victories kept coming.
“I won every race except Misano 2. The championship title was not just a personal triumph but also a testament to the incredible support from my team. We bonded like a family, and their belief in me was unwavering.”
Brianti’s Journey: The Pause and What Lies Ahead
Let’s revisit the past: what led to your hiatus?
“In 2019, I won the Italian Supersport 300 title with Team ProDina, despite a rocky start with three zeros in the first four races.It was a comeback story, much like this year, but I was more confident in my abilities this time. in 2020, I competed in the World Cup, but things took a downturn in 2021. I switched to the National Trophy 600 in 2022, but the transition from 300cc bikes was challenging. I only found my rhythm by the end of the season, which was to late to make an impact.”
What happened next?
“I took a step back. During that time, I held onto the hope of returning to racing, but the lack of funding and sponsors forced me to reconsider. I focused on my hobbies, like weightlifting, and worked as a tyre fitter and later as a boiler installer. My parents encouraged me to stay grounded but never give up. To keep my skills sharp, I participated in the Polini 12-inch Italian Cup. Then,the chance with the Ninja Trophy came along.”
this year, the SSP 300 is being replaced by the Sportbike category in the CIV. What are your thoughts on this change?
“based on my experience with the Ninja 400, I think the new category is a step in the right direction. It could serve as a better stepping stone to higher-level competitions.”
Will we see you competing in this new category?
“as of now, I’m in the same position as I was at the end of 2023: there’s a real chance I might not race this year. If that’s the case, I’ve made up my mind—I’ll retire from competitive racing for good.”
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