WSB: Marco Melandri handed suspended jail sentence for tax fraud in Italy
World Superbike title challenger Marco Melandri has escaped jail after being found guilty of tax fraud in Italy.
Last Updated: 26/10/12 5:00pm
Melandri has instead been given a 19-month suspended jail sentence and has come to an agreement over payments with the Italian tax authorities.
The BMW rider avoided paying millions in taxes by claiming his main residence between 2003 and 2005 was close to the Donington Park circuit in Derbyshire.
But prosecutors in Italy found that Melandri's assets and financial interests remained in his home town of Ravenna, and that his address in England was fictitious.
The 2002 world MotoGP 250cc champion is currently third in this year's WSB championship standings, just 29.5 points behind leader Max Biaggi.
