Van Mechgelen Wins Dutch Masters, More Podiums in Italy

Fantic Factory Racing riders delivered standout performances across the top national championships this weekend. Douwe Van Mechgelen clinched the 125cc title at the Dutch Masters of Motocross in Markelo, while Brian Bogers secured third place overall in the premier class standings. Meanwhile, at the Italian Prestige Championship in Cingoli, Simone Mancini claimed his first podium of the season, and Francesco Bellei opened the 125 Rookies Cup with a solid third overall.

As the MXGP and EMX championships took a weekend off ahead of the upcoming triple-header that will see the Fantic Factory Racing teams head to France, Germany and Latvia over the next three weeks, the spotlight shifted to two of the most prestigious national championships: the Italian MX Prestige Championship in Cingoli and the final round of the 2025 Dutch Masters of Motocross in Markelo.

At the latter, it was Douwe Van Mechgelen who stood out aboard the Fantic XX 125, securing the Italian brand’s first title of the season by clinching the 125cc crown in a thrilling finale at the Dutch Masters. The young Belgian sealed the championship with an impressive overall victory – his second win from three rounds – courtesy of a third-place finish in race 1 and a stunning win in race 2.

There was more good news from Brian Bogers, the sole Fantic Factory Racing MXGP rider competing in Markelo. With a solid performance consisting of two fourth-place finishes, Bogers ended the 2025 Dutch Masters third overall in the premier class standings.

It was also a positive weekend for the Fantic Factory Racing EMX squad in Cingoli, where Simone Mancini claimed a well-deserved first podium of the 2025 season aboard the Fantic XXF 250. Racing in front of his home crowd, the 17-year-old from the Marche region immediately impressed by setting the second-fastest MX2 time in Saturday’s qualifying – just two tenths off pole position.

Despite battling a cold, Mancini had a lightning start in Sunday’s first race. He slotted into second place from the first corner and stayed close to the leader in the opening laps, eventually pulling away from the chasing pack. Thanks to a strong pace and smart race management, he crossed the line in second. After a slightly slower launch off the line in race 2, the Fantic rider fought hard right to the chequered flag, crossing the line in fourth – and securing third overall on the day. It was Mancini’s first podium of the 2025 season and his second in the MX2 class of the Italian Prestige Championship, following his stunning 250 debut in Arco last October.

Also racing in Cingoli was his Fantic Factory Racing EMX teammate Francesco Bellei, who took part in the opening round of the 125 Rookies Cup. The 16-year-old Italian grabbed the holeshot in Saturday’s first race aboard the Fantic XX 125. Although he had to relinquish the lead in the early stages, he delivered a strong performance to secure second place.

Race 2 got off to a hectic start, as Bellei came close to going down in the second corner but managed to recover just in time, albeit losing valuable ground. While battling his way back through the field, he suffered a minor crash but continued to push hard. A decisive overtake in the closing stages earned him sixth place in the race to secure third overall.

Douwe Van Mechgelen:

“What a special day! I felt really good right from time practice. In race 1, my start wasn’t the best, and the track was quite one-lined. I was sitting behind third for a while before making a pass, and even though I set the fastest laps, I couldn’t close the gap to the leaders. So, the championship was tied on points going into the final race. I took the holeshot, made a mistake and lost a position, but with two laps to go I managed to pass again – and secure the title. I am just so happy right now because we work so hard for moments like this. Thanks to my family, my team and everyone at Fantic, my friends, and all the people supporting me trackside this weekend. I am really looking forward to carrying this momentum into the upcoming races.”

Simone Mancini:

“It feels great to get on the podium at my home race! I woke up with a bit of a cold and was struggling to breathe, but I still gave it everything I had. In race 1, I got off to a very good start, tried to keep my rhythm and stay consistent, and I managed to bring home a strong second place. The top riders weren’t too far ahead in race 2 either, but after a slightly slower start, I just couldn’t get any closer to them. Still, I am really happy with this first podium of the season – it is definitely an important step forward. I want to thank my team and everyone at Fantic for the great work they have done. A big thanks also to all the fans in Cingoli and all my friends who came to cheer for me – you were amazing!

Press Release • 18 May 2025 • 

Campionato Italiano MX Prestige Round 4

• Alessandro Lupino returns to the podium of the Italian Prestige Pro MX2 Championship with the Desmo250 MX

• The Beddini Racing Ducati Corse Factory MX2 Team rider consolidates his second place in the championship standings

The fourth round of the Italian Prestige Pro MX2 Championship was held this weekend on the Cingoli track in central Italy. Saturday, on the classic Italian track that celebrates 80 years of racing, Alessandro Lupino is second of his group in the timed practice, which allows him to line up fourth at the starting gate of the two Sunday motos.

At the start of the first heat Lupino is fourth but manages to overtake his closest pursuer in the standings and conquers third position after six laps, crossing the finish line third after 16 laps. In race two, the Italian rider charges and take the second position during the first lap, taking the lead three laps later. The pace of the second moto is way faster and the Beddini Racing Ducati Corse Factory MX2 Team rider holds the lead of the race until 8 laps to the end. The last laps are hectic, with the first three riders fighting for the victory; Alessandro uses all his experience to resist his opponent, who threatens him for second place, trying to regain the lead until the checkered flag that sees him pass 2nd at 0.597 seconds from 1st place. On the podium, the reigning Italian MX1 Champion is 2nd, and consolidates his second position in the championship.

The Italian Prestige Pro MX2 Championship will now take a break of three and a half months and will return to the scene with the fifth and penultimate round, in Castiglione del Lago (PG) on August 30th and 31st.

Alessandro Lupino: “It was a challenging weekend, on Saturday I struggled to have a good feeling with the track and the bike; we tried different solutions and found what we needed for Sunday. At the start of race one I didn’t feel very comfortable because of the many changes but in the end I managed to push, finishing third. In race two the track was much more technical and I had fun, bringing home a good heat, showing that we are close to the front. Now we have a few months to work and continue to develop the bike that only hit the track in mid-February.”

FOLLOW DUTCH MASTERS OF MOTOCROSS HERE

Italian Championship MX Round 2 Mantova

Alessandro Lupino runner-up in Mantova

• Second consecutive podium for the Desmo250 MX which continues to grow, confirming to be competitive and reliable

• The Italian Ducati rider climbs to second place in the championship standings after the Mantova round

The second round of the Italian Prestige Motocross Championship was held this weekend on the Tazio Nuvolari circuit in Mantova. Alessandro Lupino, credited with the second best lap in the timed practice session on Saturday, lined up at the gate of the two heats on Sunday eager to bring the Ducati Desmo250 MX back to the podium, after the excellent third place overall obtained in the debut race of the little 250 from Borgo Panigale.

The reigning MX1 Champion made a good first start, taking third and dueling throughout the heat for second place, crossing the finish line third after 15 laps. In the top five at the start of the second moto, the Beddini Racing team rider climbs to 4th in the first corners, moving into 3rd after four laps and engaging in a entertaining duel for second place that he conquers with two laps to go, crossing the finish line in 2nd. With a 3rd and a 2nd Alessandro climbs to the 2nd step of the podium, as he did on his debut with the Desmo450 MX a year earlier. Thanks to today’s result, Lupino moves to 2nd place in the championship that will resume in Montevarchi on April 26th and 27th with the third of the six scheduled rounds.

Alessandro Lupino: “In the first moto I didn’t feel completely at ease, but in the second I had fun. Returning to racing with the 250 is not easy, you need a different approach and I’m trying to adapt my riding style. I suffered in Ottobiano and it happened again today but little by little I’m starting to find the right references. In any case I’m happy, the gap with the front is not that wide and we’re doing a good job. The bike is growing since Ottobiano and, as the result show, we’ve made another step. I have to thank Ducati for the incredible work they’re doing; let’s not forget that the Desmo250 MX was only born on February 14 and has already proven to be competitive and reliable.”

 Team FANTIC FACTORY RACING EMX – Italian Prestige MX2 Championship on Ottobiano

Italian Prestige MX2 Championship on Ottobiano

First appointment in the Italian prestige MX2 championship for Simone Mancini who, riding his new Fantic XXF 250, took to the track on the Ottobiano track.

Saturday saw a good performance for Simone who, despite not being a fan of sandy terrain, managed to finish with an excellent second time.

In race one Simone immediately started off fast, cornering in second position and trying not to lose contact with the top of the race, after a few laps fighting for second position with Alessandro Lupino the two had contact and Simone had the worst of it, restarting from the back of the group and finishing outside the top twenty positions.

In race two, another brilliant start for Simone who once again started off very fast and moved into second position, the race heated up lap after lap with a tight fight for the podium and only at the end was Simone forced to give up third position, finishing anyway with an excellent fourth place in the heats and ninth overall of the day.

Next appointment in Spain in Cozar for the opening of the European championship.

09 March 2025

Campionato Italiano MX – Brilliant Podium Finish on Debut for the Ducati Desmo250 MX

•The brand-new bike from the Borgo Panigale company was put to the test on the treacherous sands of Ottobiano and immediately demonstrated great competitiveness and reliability.

•The Desmo250 MX passes the first test of the season, taking third place in the Italian Prestige MX2 Championship with a strong Alessandro Lupino.

It took just a few weeks for the Ducati Desmo250 MX, raced by Team Beddini Factory Racing, to conquer the first Italian podium of its very young career. Despite a painful and swollen wrist, the reigning Italian MX1 Champion managed to get on the podium at the first attempt, demonstrating all his fight and tenacity.

It had been 10 years since Alessandro Lupino had ridden a 250 4-stroke, and the first round of the Italian Prestige Motocross MX2 Championship was also the occasion for him to debut in a class he had never competed in before in the Italian series. The nine-time Italian Motocross Champion, with 44 podiums to his name in MX1, riding the Ducati Desmo250 MX for its debut, also achieved his first personal top three in the Prestige MX2 Championship.

First in his group at the end of official practice on Saturday, Alessandro also recorded the best time in the subsequent timed session, earning the second gate pick for the two motos on Sunday.

At the start of race one, the 34-year-old began just outside the top five, moving into fourth after one lap. By the next lap, he was in third, maintaining an excellent pace and quickly closing the gap to second, eventually taking the position. However, his rival’s response was clumsy, and after making contact, Lupino was sent to the ground with a sore wrist and the bike severely damaged. The Italian didn’t give up, though, and admirably gritted his teeth to cross the finish line in 10th.

Then, in the second moto, Alessandro was fifth out of the first corner and, after three laps, was in second, as he superbly found his flow. From there, nothing stood between the Desmo250 MX and the third step of the podium, which served as a fitting reward for a brilliant moto.

After the first round of the championship, Lupino is third in the standings with 290 points. The next round of the Italian Prestige Championship will be held at the Mantova circuit on March 29 and 30, a track where, a year ago, Alessandro rode the Desmo450 MX for its debut.

Alessandro Lupino: “I’m happy once again, we did a great job, and I have to congratulate the team at Ducati, who performed a miracle. The Desmo250 MX has only been running for three weeks, and today we came for a test day. However, if I hadn’t been taken out, we could have secured two second-place finishes. As a rider, I’m pleasantly surprised to have made it onto the podium and to already have such a competitive bike on our first outing.”

Internazionali d’Italia MX Eicma Series Round 2

Mattia Guadagnini and the Ducati Desmo450 MX on the podium at the Internazionali d’Italia di Motocross

• The Italian takes the Borgo Panigale bike to the podium at the Internazionali d’Italia for the first time

• The result at Montevarchi confirms the progress made by the Ducati Desmo450 MX, which will soon be available on the market for customers

The Internazionali d’Italia di Motocross EICMA Series 2025, the championship that opens the racing season of continental motocross, concluded with Ducati’s first podium of the year. On the Miravalle di Montevarchi track, made brutal by the heavy rainfall during the week before the race and restored by the organisers with exhausting work, Mattia Guadagnini posted the eighth fastest time in timed practice, with his teammate Jeremy Seewer close behind in tenth. Given the track was still very slippery due to it being covered by a treacherous layer of ice, this was a solid start to the day by the talented duo. Starting second in race one, Guadagnini fought with determination throughout the moto to finish third, while Seewer, who battled arm pump and was never completely at ease on the Tuscan track, claimed tenth. In race two, Mattia started second again, with Jeremy fourth after a good start. In the opening laps the Venetian ignited the stands of Miravalle, as he battled for first in the early exchanges. He eventually made the pass into third under the chequered flag after 16 laps, earning him the right to climb onto the third step of the podium. It was a less fortunate race for the Swiss ace, who was fourth until a few laps to go, before being forced to retire due to a technical problem.

MG: “How cool! Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful! I missed this feeling so much, both on the podium and with the bike. In the first moto, I got some arm pump, and in the second heat I took a few wrong lines, but overall I had fun. It was really nice. At the start, I was really excited and aggressive in the first laps – it has been a long time since I had this much fun. Let’s hope it’s the start of a great adventure. I’m happy, I’m really happy.”

JS: “Today we had good weather, but the track was brutal, with it being frozen and icy in the morning, so I didn’t go crazy because I didn’t want to hurt myself here. In the first moto, I had a lot of arm pump and didn’t get the best start. I just didn’t get the feeling on this track and I didn’t want to push too hard and make a stupid mistake. So I just stayed in my place, and then seeing as I had a lot of arm pump, I just didn’t risk anything. Moto two was really good, solid start, I was around the top four for a bit. I followed and caught Mattia, and then found a good pace to pass him, but then I had some technical issues and that was it but still we made a good step.  It was a positive moto in terms of my riding and bike set up. We know it’s a project and we keep working.”

Gajser takes MX1 title, as Lata and Zanchi battle for MX2 honours

Honda HRC’s Tim Gajser won the second round of the Internazionali d’Italia – held at the Montevarchi track – going two-one, and winning the championship title in process by scoring 97 out of 100 possible points.

In the first race, the #243 got a good jump out of the gate by wasn’t involved in some bar-banging around the first corner that dropped him down the field a bit. He soon got to work though and within four laps was leading the moto. Unfortunately, a slight mistake near the end allowed the second-placed rider through and although he fought back to try and retake the lead, he came across in second.

Moto two went a lot smoother as another good start saw him battling for the lead right away. He quickly took the position on the first lap and never looked back, pulling out a 30 second margin over second place, in another dominating performance.  That made it three moto wins out of four and some good practice as he prepares for the 2025 MXGP Championship, which starts on March 1-2 in Cordoba, Argentina.

Teammate Ruben Fernandez was back at home training this weekend, as he plans to ride the Spanish championship next week for his second warm-up race before heading to South America.

MX1 Race 1
1. Lucas Coenen
2. Tim Gajser (Honda HRC)
3. Mattia Guadagnini
4. Isak Gifting
5. Andrea Bonacorsi

MX1 Race 2
1. Tim Gajser (Honda HRC)
2. Isak Gifting
3. Andrea Bonacorsi
4. Mattia Guadagnini
5. Glenn Coldenhoff

MX1 Overall
1. Tim Gajser (Honda HRC)
2. Isak Gifting
3. Mattia Guadagnini
4. Lucas Coenen
5. Andrea Bonacorsi

MX1 Championship
1. Tim Gajser (Honda HRC)
2. Lucas Coenen
3. Andrea Bonacorsi
4. Isak Gifting
5. Mattia Guadagnini

—–

In the MX2 class, Ferruccio Zanchi got himself onto the third step of the podium after his four-three moto results, and Valerio Lata was then able to step up for third place in the championship after he combined his excellent Mantova results with his three-seven scores at this Montevarchi circuit.

For both riders, it was an excellent confidence booster before the season, in what was a competitive couple of rounds of the Internazionali d’Italia. Although they both made a few mistakes, they will head to Argentina excited to start off strongly in South America, confident that their Honda CRF250Rs will give them an excellent chance of challenging up the front of this MX2 championship.

MX2 Race 1
1. Simon Langenfelder
2. Andrea Adamo
3. Valerio Lata (Honda HRC)
4. Ferruccio Zanchi (Honda HRC)
5. Cas Valk

MX2 Race 2
1. Simon Langenfelder
2. Andrea Adamo
3. Ferruccio Zanchi (Honda HRC)
4. Sacha Coenen
5. Cas Valk
6. Julius Mikula
7. Valerio Lata (Honda HRC)

MX2 Overall
1. Simon Langenfelder
2. Andrea Adamo
3. Ferruccio Zanchi (Honda HRC)
4. Valerio Lata (Honda HRC)
5. Sacha Coenen

MX2 Championship
1. Andrea Adamo
2. Simon Langenfelder
3. Valerio Lata (Honda HRC)
4. Cas Valk
5. Sacha Coenen
6. Julius Mikula
7. Ferruccio Zanchi (Honda HRC)

Tim Gajser   243

It was a good day overall, and I’m glad we came here to race. In the first moto I got a bit of arm-pump, which isn’t totally unusual, but I wasn’t feeling so great and that affected me a bit towards the end. Then in the second race we made some adjustments and things were a lot better and this gives me confidence that everyone is still motivated to win after the off-season. I’m excited to head to Argentina and get the first MXGP round started!

Ferruccio Zanchi   73

It was nice to get on the podium and have a good day of racing near to where I grew up. I felt strong and just kept pushing in both races. I made a couple of mistakes, but it was good to battle in completely different conditions than last week and it was good to have a couple more starts under my belt. However, I am looking forward to racing in Argentina and getting this world championship underway.

Valerio Lata   18

I wasn’t completely at my best today, but I think it was an okay round, and I was still able to finish third in the championship, so that is a nice feeling, in what are the early stages with this team. We’ve worked hard over the winter to get to this position and it is good to get some rewards already. Now though, the important work begins with the world championships and I need to make sure my preparation for Argentina goes well because it will be my first trip travelling such a long way to go race.

Marcus Pereira de Freitas

HRC General Manager – MXGP

It was a good weekend, and a good couple of events for everyone at Honda HRC. There were a lot of positives to take away, and some things which we now know we need to work on. Having these gate-drops is vital to get the riders into race-mode for the world championships and I feel each of them performed at the level we need them to be at, at this point in time. Tim looks fast and comfortable, Valerio has adapted to the Honda really quickly and is doing excellently and Ferro is going to be strong all season long if he can keep riding like this. Now it’s time to get everything ready for Argentina and the long trip to South America.

Italian International MX Championship Mantova

The season also kicked off for the young 125 riders, with Francesco Bellei making his debut with the Fantic Factory Racing EMX team aboard the Fantic XX 125. The talented rider from Trentino showed great speed from the very first laps, setting the fastest time in his qualifying group. In the first race, he got off to a perfect holeshot and led into the first corner, fighting hard to maintain his lead. Despite the challenging track conditions, he secured a promising third place. In the second race, his start was not as fast, and after a slight mistake, he lost a few positions. He crossed the finish line in fourth place, narrowly missing out on a podium with P4 overall.

After moving up to the Fantic XXF 250, Simone Mancini secured a solid eleventh place in the first race, competing against a strong MX2 field. His start in the second race was even stronger, as the Fantic Factory EMX rider battled within the top ten during the early stages. However, a crash in difficult conditions forced him to retire, compromising his final result and leaving him in sixteenth place overall. Nevertheless, the outlook remains highly positive as he focuses on his main objective—preparing for the EMX250 European Championship.

Unfortunately, the third Fantic Factory Racing EMX rider, Douwe Van Mechgelen, was forced to withdraw from the Internazionali d’Italia due to a left-hand injury sustained during training. The young Belgian will focus on his recovery, with his sights set on the EMX125 European Championship, which begins in mid-March in Cozar, Spain. All other Fantic riders will be back in action next weekend in Montevarchi at round 2 of the Italian preseason series. 

Francesco Bellei:

“All in all, a solid start with good sensations on the bike. We are taking away two major positives: the start and the qualifying. The track was really tough, and I am not fully satisfied with the outcome of the race because I couldn’t push as much as I wanted. This was just the first race, and we still have to work on some details. We will keep doing that and will try again in a week in Montevarchi.”

Simone Mancini:

“I am quite happy with the day, even though I couldn’t get the result I was looking for. In race 1, in the second corner, I got stuck with two other riders and I had to work my way up. I was off to a better start in the second moto and was running in about eight place, but then I fell and had to retire.”

Sensational KRT debut for Mathis Valin

Mathis Valin made a sensational debut for the Kawasaki Racing Team when the teenager totally dominated the MX2 racing and was narrowly edged for victory in the Superfinal against MXGP opposition in the opening event of the 2025 motocross season at Hawkstone Park in central England.

The French teenager had already served notice of his intentions during morning practice as he topped the training session in fresh but dry weather; in the afternoon he took a clear holeshot in each moto and, lapping several seconds faster than the opposition, claimed a clearcut victory in each of the twenty-eight minute MX2 motos, winning the first by forty-three seconds and the second by twenty-nine seconds. In the Superfinal, the closing race on the programme against the more powerful 450cc bikes, he again excelled, taking full advantage of the five-second start bonus for the smaller bikes to lead until half-distance; he eventually finished a close runner-up, defeated by just one of the MXGP riders who had managed to pass him on a long climb.
 
The KRT duo in the MXGP class also enjoyed a satisfactory day as Romain Febvre and Pauls Jonass finished third and fourth overall from 2-3 and 5-4 moto finishes after the Latvian, on his Kawasaki race debut and racing for the first time in seven months since he was injured last summer, had qualified on pole from the morning Qualifying. A further solid race in the closing Superfinal saw the KRT duo finish in teammate Valin’s wheeltracks in third and fourth.
 
Mathis Valin: « It was a very good day for my first race with the team to win both MX2 races! In the Superfinal I finished second; the MX2 started five seconds before the MXGP and even my teammates could not catch me! The track was really soft but I enjoyed it. I had a really good winter with the team and today’s results showed that we did a good job and that I am ready. »
 
Romain Febvre: « It was a good weekend to start the new season and we were even lucky with the weather so early in the year in the UK! The racing was good for me; it’s always important to see how everything is going compared to other riders, to see how are the starts and so on. I started second twice and then took the MXGP holeshot in the Superfinal. I would have liked to win at least one moto and this holeshot was perfect but then I stalled the engine twice and also fell one time in this race. I feel ready physically, the bike is running perfectly and in all three motos I was happy with my riding. Now we have two more races before flying to Argentina; two great opportunities to prepare for the GPs. »
 
Pauls Jonass: « The day went really well when you consider that it’s seven months since my last race. The first race of the year is always exciting but especially so with a new team and a new bike. I was riding a little tight, particularly in the first moto, but that’s normal for the first race back and I actually surprised myself as I had no arm pump. That was really positive and it was good to get the feeling for racing again. We got to know where the bike is working good for me and where we need to look to make adjustments. All-in-all I think we worked very well today and I felt I improved each session. And we couldn’t have a had a better place to start. The track was rough but that’s Hawkstone Park; it’s old school, rough, and good for training and also to challenge the bike. That’s why we like it. »
 
Antti Pyrhönen (KRT team manager): « The main target at these pre-season races for the team personnel and the riders is to have a good training under race conditions to see where we are with the bikes, the starts, everything. Racing is always different to training; it’s important to get nerves out of the way and feel comfortable for racing. Romain did a good training race with three strong motos and the same for Paulski; he was really impressive when you consider that he didn’t race since Teutschenthal in the middle of last summer. It’s not easy to get back behind the start gate after an injury so his performance today has given him a good platform to see what areas he still needs to work on and to build on for the future. And of course it was a very exciting day with Mathis; this was our first official 250 race and he did really well. We knew before we came here that he had been strong on the training tracks; the bike is really good and Mathis is comfortable with the bike, but it was important for him to get the first race under his belt with a very positive result so he can continue to build on his confidence from here. »

Internazionali d’Italia MX Eicma Series Round 1

Ducati returned to Mantova, where their adventure in the world of motocross of the Desmo450 MX began a year ago, and completed a solid day of racing in extreme conditions, bringing the bikes of Jeremy Seewer and Mattia Guadagnini to the finish line in both motos. 

With the 5th and 6th best lap times at the end of the timed practice session, Seewer and Guadagnini lined up in strong positions for the start of a difficult first heat, held on a track flooded by heavy rain that fell overnight at the « Tazio Nuvolari » circuit. Having started in third position, Seewer rode a smart and measured race to finish in 5th place, while Mattia claimed 8th following an impressive recovery after a problem that slowed him down at the start. At the beginning of race two, Jeremy started behind his teammate, in sixth position, but managed to find a good pace, despite the worsening track conditions, and passed under the chequered flag in 4th after thirteen laps to finish ahead of Guadagnini, who fought hard until the last corner, even though he was without his goggles from the halfway point. At the end of the day’s racing, Seewer finished 4th overall and Guadagnini took 6th to mark a valuable first hit-out of the season on the Desmo450 MX.

Jeremy Seewer: « Honestly, it was a challenging way to start the year in this mud, but we still used it as good training and a great test for the bike. We needed to see where we are in those conditions, because they’re super tough and the bike is new, and we did, so that’s a huge positive. Also from my side, I’m in a happy place. I found out if I start well, I’m there on the start, so that’s already super positive against all those bikes that have been around for a long time. I also found out I can ride free and play with the bike in the race. I feel really good on the bike and we have a lot of potential.”

Mattia Guadagnini: “The first one went well and I’m happy. Today, the result didn’t matter much, given how extreme the conditions were, which meant we weren’t able to evaluate anything really. But I’m happy to have started and we have a great adventure ahead of us. It was a bit of a late start to the season with the physical preparation, so I want to use these races to be more ready for the MXGP World Championship. I feel good with the bike, we worked well, it was just a shame about the bad luck with the goggles and the start in the first moto. But I still had fun. Hopefully the conditions are better next weekend, in order to have some more references to continue me and the team’s preparations for the start of the MXGP season.”

Gajser gagne et Lata monte sur le podium pour ses débuts chez Honda HRC

Un circuit boueux de Mantoue, dans le nord de l’Italie, a accueilli la première manche des Internazionali d’Italia, où toute l’équipe Honda HRC a pris la piste pour son premier événement de shakedown de 2025. Malgré les conditions horribles, Tim Gajser a montré sa classe en réalisant une performance dominante en tête-à-tête et envoyant un avertissement à ses rivaux qu’une fois de plus, il sera à la hauteur pour les honneurs les plus prestigieux cette année.

Le Slovène a mené chaque tour de la course, prenant de bons départs et effectuant des dépassements rapides pour prendre la tête et s’éloigner du peloton. Comme il l’a montré l’année dernière, quand les conditions se dégradent, il s’améliore, c’est donc une bonne chose de voir qu’il maintient cette excellence sous la pluie. Pour son coéquipier sur la Honda CRF450R, Ruben Fernandez, les choses ne se sont pas si bien passées. L’Espagnol a eu une collision au premier tour qui l’a fait chuter dans le peloton, le forçant à se relever et à se battre pour remonter dans le peloton dans la boue. Il est cependant revenu à la sixième place et espérait mieux dans la deuxième ligne droite, les choses s’annonçaient bien au début puisqu’il suivait Gajser en deuxième position. Cependant, un petit renversement l’a laissé coincé sous sa moto et après avoir finalement été aidé par l’arrière, il est rentré aux stands où ils ont décidé de quitter la piste de course.

En catégorie MX2, Valerio Lata, nouvelle recrue du Honda HRC, a prouvé sa rapidité en réalisant deux bons trois tours pour ses débuts dans l’équipe. Le jeune Italien a pris deux bons départs et s’est battu avec acharnement tout au long des deux courses, minimisant les erreurs et réalisant les dépassements nécessaires pour se hisser sur la deuxième marche du podium. Après seulement quelques mois pour s’habituer à cette toute nouvelle machine, ce fut un début de carrière impressionnant pour Honda et lui donne un gros boost de confiance pour le championnat du monde MX2.

Pour Ferruccio Zanchi, les choses ne se sont pas aussi bien passées, mais c’est précisément pour cette raison que l’équipe a choisi de faire ces courses de préparation, afin de mettre les pilotes et les machines à rude épreuve, comme seule la course peut le faire. De petites erreurs dans la première course ont coûté à Zanchi une chance de monter sur le podium, avant qu’il ne doive sortir de la piste dans la deuxième course alors qu’il était troisième. C’était un peu décevant, mais le jeune homme sait que des courses plus importantes l’attendent et c’est pour cela qu’il s’est entraîné dur tout l’hiver.

Tim Gajser ²⁴³

C’était une bonne journée de course, malgré la météo. Il est toujours important de faire quelques passes décisives contre des pilotes rapides et de reprendre le rythme de la course. Les conditions étaient difficiles, les ornières et tout n’était pas facile, mais j’ai trouvé un bon rythme et je me suis installé, avec un bon rythme. Je suis très heureux d’avoir remporté les deux courses, et maintenant je me lance la semaine prochaine à Montevarchi et j’espère continuer sur cette lancée.

Ruben Fernández ⁷⁰

Je n’ai pas eu la meilleure journée possible, dans des conditions pas très agréables. Une collision au premier tour de la première course m’a obligé à relever ma moto, ce qui m’a obligé à remonter de loin pour finir sixième. Ensuite, dans la deuxième course, j’ai pris un bon départ et j’étais dans le sillage de Tim au début, mais une légère erreur dans un virage glissant m’a fait tomber et la moto m’a atterri dessus. Au moment où j’ai reçu de l’aide pour sortir de dessous, j’étais dernier, et même si j’ai essayé de continuer, au final, c’était une meilleure décision de quitter la piste. Néanmoins, c’était bien de faire une course et de retrouver cet état d’esprit après un entraînement aussi long, et de revoir tout le monde. J’espère que de meilleurs résultats seront au rendez-vous.

Valerio Lata ¹⁸

J’ai passé une très bonne journée à Mantoue, roulant dans la boue et sous la pluie et avec le Honda HRC pour la première fois. Deux ou trois résultats m’ont permis de monter sur le podium pour la deuxième place au classement général, et c’était sympa de me battre à la fin de la deuxième course pour gagner une position. Nous avons travaillé dur en équipe pour être ici et je suis très content de la façon dont nous avons commencé. J’espère que cela va continuer !

Ferruccio Zanchi ⁷³

La piste n’était pas la meilleure à cause de la pluie, mais j’espérais quand même pouvoir faire une bonne performance. Malheureusement, ça ne s’est pas passé aussi bien que je le voulais, mais c’était quand même bien d’être ici et de reprendre la course. J’ai fait quelques erreurs en course et quand c’est aussi boueux, ça rend les choses vraiment difficiles, mais nous en tirerons des leçons et continuerons à travailler dur pour faire mieux à l’avenir.

Marcus Pereira de Freitas 

Directeur général du HRC – MXGP 

Dans l’ensemble, ce fut une journée réussie, mais aussi une journée d’apprentissage. Tim et Valerio ont obtenu d’excellents résultats et c’est toujours utile lors de ces courses de pré-saison. Cependant, nous avons également rencontré des difficultés, ce qui est également utile car cela donne aux nouveaux membres de l’équipe un défi à relever, ce qu’ils ont fait. Nous trouvons toujours que venir à ces Internazionali d’Italia est une expérience précieuse et cela nous aidera certainement lorsque les championnats du monde commenceront.

MX1 Race 1
1. Tim Gajser (Honda HRC)
2. Lucas Coenen
3. Andrea Bonacorsi
4. Isak Gifting
5. Jeremy Seewer
6. Ruben Fernandez (Honda HRC)

MX1 Race 2
1. Tim Gajser (Honda HRC)
2. Lucas Coenen
3. Andrea Bonacorsi
4. Jeremy Seewer
5. Mattia Guadagnini
6. Isak Gifting

MX1 Overall
1. Tim Gajser (Honda HRC)
2. Lucas Coenen
3. Andrea Bonacorsi
4. Jeremy Seewer
5. Isak Gifting
6. Mattia Guadagnini

MX2 Race 1
1. Andrea Adamo
2. Valerio Lata (Honda HRC)
3. Sacha Coenen
4. Simon Langenfelder
5. Ferruccio Zanchi (Honda HRC)
6. Cas Valk

MX2 Race 2
1. Cas Valk
2. Andrea Adamo
3. Valerio Lata (Honda HRC)
4. Julius Mikula
5. Quentin Prugnieres
6. Sacha Coenen

MX2 Overall
1. Andrea Adamo
2. Valerio Lata (Honda HRC)
3. Cas Valk
4. Sacha Coenen
5. Simon Langenfelder
6. Quinten Prugnieres