 Parlotti was born in Zero Branco, Treviso, Italy.After winning the first two 125cc races of the 1972 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season in West Germany and France, Parlotti decided to race at the 1972 Isle of Man TT Races to take advantage of his main championship rival Angel Nieto's absence from the Isle of Man Mountain Course.While lying in first place on the second lap during the 1972 125cc Ultra-Lightweight TT race held in heavy rain, Gilberto Parlotti crashed his 125cc Morbidelli motorcycle at the Verandah section on the A18 Mountain Road and died from his injuries.