EMX125

PIETRAMURATA, (Trentino, Italy) 10 April 2025 – The 2025 FIM Motocross World Championship concludes its first quarter with the return to the Italian mainland, and arguably the most picturesque venue on the calendar, the classic “Il Ciclamino” circuit at Pietramurata, for what is sure to be a stellar Monster Energy MXGP of Trentino!

One of 33 circuits in Italian territory to play host to a Motocross Grand Prix, Pietramurata has ran more of these events than any of the rest, this being the 21st time that World Championship Motocross enjoys the sound of engines bouncing off the cliff faces next to the track!

The first winner here was an Italian, on an Italian machine, as Massimo Contini claimed overall victory on his 125cc Cagiva in 1987.  This will be the 14th year in succession that Trentino has hosted an event, and during both pandemic-affected years of 2020 and 2021 we even held three GPs here within eight days!

In terms of most victories at this iconic circuit, well it comes down to the icons of World Motocross in the 21st Century, as four riders have each taken five GP wins… and three of those will line up this weekend! 

The clearest candidate for taking a record sixth win is the current MXGP Championship leader, Tim Gajser, who took the very first of his 51 GP victories here in 2015, the year of his MX2 world title.  He will be looking to take his third GP win of the year for Honda HRC, or at the very least extend his 34-point Championship lead in front of what is the closest thing he has to a home crowd, as his fan club make the short journey from Slovenia to make some noise for their hero!

While the winner of the last two GPs here in the premier class, Jorge Prado, is not racing, the other two five-time winners here are, namely Red Bull KTM Factory Racing legend Jeffrey Herlings, and the exciting return to action of nine-time World Champion Antonio Cairoli! The Sicilian icon will take to the circuit for Aruba.it Ducati Factory MX Team at the age of 39! His five wins here include the most recent GP win of his career, in October 2021, and this may very well be the last ever GP of his incredible time as a racer.

The MX2 class is once more being led by the reigning World Champion Kay de Wolf, who won the first race here last year for his current team, Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing, but fell in the first corner of race two. In a title race that sees the top four covered by just 14 points, and with all of them enjoying good recent results at Trentino, the MX2 races are sure to be wide open and entertaining! Flip a coin, or even roll a die, to take a guess at the winner!

The EMX250 European Championship returns to action this weekend, with two-stroke Wozniak MX Racing Team  hero Adrien Petit leading the way by just a single point from VHR VRT Yamaha Official EMX250 rider Janis Reisulis. Reisulis won at Trentino in EMX125 in 2023. The top Italian in the series is Brando Rispoli for Ghidinelli Racing Team KTM, but last year’s EMX125 winner here, Simone Mancini, will have high hopes to get the crowd excited for Fantic Factory Racing EMX250!

Hungarian Aron Katona leads the EMX125 Presented by FMF Racing Championship for Racestore KTM Factory Rookies after a double win in Sardegna, with fellow sand lover Dani Heitink in second for the MJC Yamaha Official EMX125 squad.  Behind them in the Championship sit four Italians, all hungry for success on home soil!

Francesco Bellei for Fantic Factory Racing EMX125, Katona’s teammate Nicolò Alvisi, and Niccolò Mannini on the TM Moto CRD Motosport machine will all be looking for home glory.  Riccardo Pini for MCV Motorsport TM is also right in the mix, and there is a real chance of an all-Italian podium on home hard-pack!

The Monster Energy MXGP of Trentino is one of the most celebrated events on the World Championship Motocross calendar, and it promises to deliver incredible racing across all four classes!

Tim Gajser didn’t seem to push for the maximum in Sardegna as the races were won by Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rookie Lucas Coenen and Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP veteran Romain Febvre, with the Frenchman taking the overall victory to narrow the gap at the top slightly to the Honda HRC man.

As mentioned above, Gajser is going for a record sixth GP win at this circuit, after MXGP wins in 2019, two in 2020, and one in 2022 to add to his first ever win back in MX2.  In contrast, while Febvre is at home in the hardpack and has won individual races in 2016, 2020, 2021, and last year’s first outing, he has never quite got to the top step at Pietramurata.  Now would be a very good time to break that duck!

Next one up in the points table is Glenn Coldenhoff, making his best start yet to an MXGP campaign for Fantic Factory Racing, taking two of the Italian brand’s first ever podium finishes and riding with supreme consistency. A race winner at Trentino in MX2, 11 years ago on a Suzuki, he also took second overall here in one of the 2021 events, so maintaining his good run is not out of the question.

Coenen has been electrifying in his first MXGP season, but he hasn’t enjoyed a good day at Trentino since winning in EMX125 in 2021, scoring just 10-9 finishes in MX2 last season. Maxime Renaux had an awful MXGP of Sardegna for Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP and faces a battle to be fit for Trentino, where he won his final MX2 GP in 2021. His teammate Jago Geerts has won here twice in MX2 and is starting to make progress in the MXGP class this season.

Coenen’s teammate Herlings is still getting back up to speed and is unlikely to add to his wins here from 2013, ’14, ’16, ’18 and ’21. When Jeffrey first won here in 2013, in MX2, it was Cairoli who took victory in MX1, as it was known then! TC222 took further wins in 2016, ’17, ’20, and ’21.  His first appearance here on an Italian machine, standing in for the injured Mattia Guadagnini, will gain a lot of attention, and who knows what that bit of Tony magic can produce on race day!

Kevin Horgmo sits in a brilliant sixth position in the Championship for Team Motul Honda Motoblouz SR, and he likes the Trentino circuit after an EMX250 win here in 2021.  Other former winners in Trentino are Ben Watson, who just scored his best result of the season for MRT Racing Team Beta, and Jeremy Seewer, who took both Fox Holeshot Awards for Aruba.it MX Factory Team last time out.

The top Italian in MXGP right now is Andrea Bonacorsi, who has progressed massively for Fantic Factory Racing, and after a great third place in what turned out to be his final ever MX2 race last year, he will have high hopes of performing well in front of his home fans for the first time on a 450!

With 49 riders entered, the circuit will be a full one in MXGP this weekend, and with the younger generation starting to push against their more experienced competitors, the class is building into a fascinating contest, and the tricky slopes of the Il Ciclamino circuit will test all of them in a cauldron-like atmosphere!

MXGP - World Championship Top 10 Classification: 1. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 215 Points; 2. Romain Febvre (FRA, KAW), 181 Points; 3. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, FAN), 156 Pts; 4. Lucas Coenen (BEL, KTM), 141 Points; 5. Maxime Renaux (FRA, YAM), 125 Points; 6. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, HON), 114 Pts; 7. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, HON), 110 Pts; 8. Andrea Bonacorsi (ITA, FAN), 104 Points; 9. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KAW), 86 Pts; 10. Mattia Guadagnini (ITA, DUC), 84 Pts.

Main Photo: MXGP Start Trentino 2024

Top Photo: Antonio Cairoli

Bottom Photos: 1. Andrea Bonacorsi; 2. Tim Gajser

The Championship leader’s red plate has been more of a pinball than ever before in the MX2 class this season, with six different winners in the first six races, and a seventh rider claiming two Qualifying Race wins!

Kay de Wolf broke that run of different winners by taking both of Sunday’s races with amazing riding at Riola Sardo, but he still holds just an eight-point lead over the top Red Bull KTM Factory Racing pilot, Simon Laengenfelder.  The German has won the second race at Trentino in each of the last two years, but is still searching for his first GP victory since the end of 2023, as well as his first possession of the red plate!

The last two winners of the MX2 class at Pietramurata then bring up the chase.  Liam Everts, now with Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing, is just two points behind Laengenfelder after losing the red plate in Sardegna, while 2023 Trentino winner Andrea Adamo is just four markers further back for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing!  The home favourite did win the Qualifying Race here last year, but it’s worth noting that neither rider has actually won an individual GP race here, showing how consistency is the key around this difficult circuit!

Langenfelder’s teammate Sacha Coenen lies fifth in the standings, and will probably be hoping for a weekend without a big crash, after suffering some mighty get-offs in the last two GPs.  He will still carry plenty of speed, however, and after winning the last GP on the Italian mainland, in Maggiora last year, he cannot be counted out of a podium spot, not even the top one!

Thibault Benistant has shown great speed on hard pack this season, and scored two Qualifying Race wins for Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2, and is highly likely to challenge at the front after finishing second overall here last year!  He sits sixth in the standings ahead of Monster Energy Triumph Racing’s Camden McLellan, who is coming off of his best ever result in MX2 last weekend.

Since taking his first career race win in the Spanish mud at Cozar, Honda HRC man Ferruccio Zanchi has had a tough time of it, and will be aiming to re-ignite his season on home ground. His rookie teammate Valerio Lata rounds out the top ten of the series, but has great memories of the Pietramurata circuit, having won a round here in EMX125 in 2021, as well as the last two years in EMX250!  Will that extra fire bring the teenage hotshot towards the front?

In for an interesting wildcard appearance, and completing a 40-rider entry list in MX2, is reigning Women’s Motocross World Champion Lotte van Drunen, lining up to build her hard pack skills for De Baets Yamaha MX-Team. 

With one of the best atmospheres of the entire series, the Monster Energy MXGP of Trentino is not one to be missed! Watch it all on MXGP-TV.com, or even come and join us by the Dolomites for a memorable experience! It’s gonna be a firecracker!

MX2 - World Championship Top 10 Classification: 1. Kay de Wolf (NED, HUS), 185 Points; 2. Simon Laengenfelder (GER, KTM), 177 Points; 3. Liam Everts (BEL, HUS), 175 Pts; 4. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), 171 Pts;  5. Sacha Coenen (BEL, KTM), 143 Pts; 6. Thibault Benistant (FRA, YAM), 128 Pts; 7. Camden McLellan (RSA, TRI), 118 Pts; 8. Cas Valk (NED, KTM), 115 Pts; 9. Ferruccio Zanchi (ITA, HON), 97 Pts; 10. Valerio Lata (ITA, HON), 84 Pts.

Top Photo: MX2 Start Trentino 2024

Bottom Photos: 1. Andrea Adamo; 2. Valerio Lata

Don’t miss your chance to watch the Monster Energy MXGP of Trentino this weekend. Get your tickets HERE!

All the photos from the Monster Energy MXGP of Trentino will be available HERE.

You can find the complete results HERE.

TIMETABLE

SATURDAY:
07:05 EMX125 Free Practice Group 1, 07:30 EMX125 Free Practice Group 2, 07:55 EMX250 Free Practice Group 1, 08:20 EMX250 Free Practice Group 2, 08:45 EMX125 Qualifying Practice Group 1, 09:20 EMX125 Qualifying Practice Group 2, 09:55 EMX250 Qualifying Practice Group 1, 10:30 MX2 Free Practice, 11:00 MXGP OAT Free Practice, 12:10 EMX250 Qualifying Practice Group 2, 12:45 MXGP Wildcard Free/Qualifying Practice, 13:40 MX2 Time Practice, 14:15 MXGP Time Practice, 15:00 EMX125 Race 1, 15:45 EMX250 Race 1, 16:35 MX2 Qualifying Race, 17:25 MXGP Qualifying Race.

SUNDAY:
09:45 EMX125 Race 2, 10:25 MX2 Warm-up, 10:45 MXGP Warm-up, 11:30 EMX250 Race 2, 13:15 MX2 Race 1, 14:15 MXGP Race 1, 16:10 MX2 Race 2, 17:10 MXGP Race 2.

LINKS

Infront Moto Racing

FIM

FIM Europe
 

RIOLA SARDO (Sardegna, Italy)  6 April 2025 – The third round of the EMX125 Presented by FMF Racing delivered a full weekend of intense racing, resilience, and breakout performances on the sandy terrain of Riola Sardo. And at the heart of it all was Racestore KTM Factory Rookies’ Áron Katona, who put on a masterclass across both races to become the first rider this season to win three races in a row, solidifying his place as a title favourite.

In Race 1, Katona continued his exceptional form. The Hungarian became the first rider this season to secure back-to-back race wins following his triumph at the last Round of Europe. The race kicked off with SwissMoto KTM’s Ryan Oppliger taking the holeshot, while TM Moto CRD Motosport’s Niccolò Mannini slotted into the front group. Chaos erupted in the opening corner, however, with F4E GASGAS Junior Racing’s Seth Priem, Yamaha Europe EMX125 MJC Yamaha’s Levi Townley, and others getting caught up in a first-turn incident.

As the field scrambled to recover, Racestore KTM Factory Rookies’ Nicolò Alvisi charged forward to take third from Mannini. At the front, Yamaha Europe EMX125 MJC Yamaha’s Mano Faure and Oppliger fought for the lead — until Katona entered the mix, slicing through the pack with precision. A crash for Alvisi while leading handed control to Katona, who took full advantage, grabbing the lead on lap 6 and never looking back.

Behind him, Alvisi regrouped to take second, while Faure dropped to third after pressure from Yamaha Europe EMX125 MJC Yamaha’s Dani Heitink. Despite a crash that knocked him outside the top 10, DREAM TEAM Fantic’s Cole McCullough recovered brilliantly to finish fifth. Mannini faded dramatically in the latter stages, ultimately crossing the line 15th — a result that opened the door for Katona to launch a serious bid for the red plate.

The momentum only intensified in Race 2, where Katona cemented his dominance with another flawless display. As the gate dropped, Townley stormed into the lead with a perfect holeshot, chased closely by MCV Motorsport–TM Moto’s Riccardo Pini and Yamaha’s Jekabs Kubulins. McCullough also started strong in fourth, while Katona — buried outside the top 10 — began another relentless comeback.

By lap two, Katona was already into the top 10, clearly the fastest man on track. Mannini, meanwhile, continued to struggle in the Sardinian sand, eventually slipping to 19th. Up front, a fierce battle ensued between Townley and Kubulins, with both riders swapping positions in a tense showdown. Behind them, McCullough overtook Pini to claim third, setting his sights on the leaders.

Katona charged past Fantic Factory Racing EMX125’s Francesco Bellei and Pini by lap five and soon dispatched McCullough with a precise outside-in move. With just under two laps to go, he launched a decisive attack over the finish jump to pass Kubulins and instantly pulled a gap, cruising to a commanding third straight race win. Townley crashed on lap eight while fighting with Katona for third and had to finish the race in 19th place despite his great start from the start.

Kubulins held strong for second, while McCullough’s third earned him his first podium of the season. Late-race drama saw Faure falling out of podium contention, allowing Bellei and Alvisi to secure top five finishes. Alvisi’s consistency over both motos was enough to seal second overall on the day, while McCullough’s comeback rewarded him with the final step of the podium.

In one of the most electrifying rounds so far, Katona delivered a perfect 1-1 scorecard in Sardegna, showcasing his prowess in the sand and extending his winning streak to three. With 50 points secured in Riola and 115 overall in the standings, the Hungarian now holds the red plate heading into the next round — and looks like the man to beat in this year's EMX125 championship.

Aron Katona:  "It was pretty hard and again not the best start so I will definitely work on it. But I kept the flow and my speed. I had so much fun and it’s such a beautiful track. Thanks to everybody supporting me especially my team! What a feeling it is to be the leader of the Championship!”

Main Photo: Áron Katona

Top Photo: EMX Start Sardegna

Bottom Photos: 1.Nicolò Alvisi ; 2. Cole McCullough

EMX125 - Race 1 - Top 10 Classification 1. Áron Katona (HUN, KTM), 29:47.704; 2. Nicolò Alvisi (ITA, KTM), +0:16.908; 3. Mano Faure (FRA, Yamaha), +0:28.043; 4. Dani Heitink (NED, Yamaha), +0:44.352; 5. Cole McCullough (IRL, Fantic), +0:44.770; 6. Francesco Bellei (ITA, Fantic), +0:52.993; 7. Riccardo Pini (ITA, TM), +0:55.261; 8. Jekabs Kubulins (LAT, Yamaha), +0:56.404; 9. Douwe Van Mechgelen (BEL, Fantic), +1:01.267; 10. Raivo Laicans (LAT, GASGAS), +1:05.770

EMX125 – Race 2 - Top 10 Classification:  1. Áron Katona (HUN, KTM), 30:27.085; 2. Jekabs Kubulins (LAT, Yamaha), +0:08.786; 3. Cole McCullough (IRL, Fantic), +0:16.250; 4. Nicolò Alvisi (ITA, KTM), +0:18.178; 5. Francesco Bellei (ITA, Fantic), +0:18.632; 6. Mano Faure (FRA, Yamaha), +0:28.105; 7. Jarne Bervoets (BEL, Yamaha), +0:46.404; 8. Riccardo Pini (ITA, TM), +0:49.977; 9. Sleny Goyer (FRA, Yamaha), +0:51.353; 10. Filippo Mantovani (ITA, KTM), +1:08.076;

EMX125 Overall - Top 10 Classification: 1. Áron Katona (HUN, KTM), 50 points; 2. Nicolò Alvisi (ITA, KTM), 40 p.; 3. Cole McCullough (IRL, FAN), 36 p.; 4. Jekabs Kubulins (LAT, YAM), 35 p.; 5. Mano Faure (FRA, YAM), 35 p.; 6. Francesco Bellei (ITA, FAN), 31 p.; 7. Dani Heitink (NED, YAM), 28 p.; 8. Riccardo Pini (ITA, TM), 27 p.; 9. Jarne Bervoets (BEL, YAM), 24 p.; 10. Sleny Goyer (FRA, YAM), 19 p

EMX125 Championship - Top 10 Classification: 1. Áron Katona (HUN, KTM), 115 points; 2. Dani Heitink (NED, YAM), 88 p.; 3. Francesco Bellei (ITA, FAN), 87 p.; 4. Nicolò Alvisi (ITA, KTM), 82 p.; 5. Niccolo Mannini (ITA, TM), 82 p.; 6. Riccardo Pini (ITA, TM), 82 p.; 7. Jarne Bervoets (BEL, YAM), 81 p.; 8. Mano Faure (FRA, YAM), 78 p.; 9. Jekabs Kubulins (LAT, YAM), 72 p.; 10. Filippo Mantovani (ITA, KTM), 72 p

EMX125 Manufacturers - Top 10 Classification 1. KTM, 135 points; 2. Yamaha, 130 p.; 3. TM, 109 p.; 4. Fantic, 97 p.; 5. GASGAS, 53 p.;

Photo: EMX125 Podium Sardegna 

All the photos from the MXGP of Sardegna will be available HERE.

You can find the complete results HERE.

MXGP OF SARDEGNA QUICK FACTS:

Circuit length: 1750m

Type of ground: Sand

Temperature: 20˚/17˚

Weather conditions:  Sunny / Cloudy

LINKS

Infront Moto Racing

FIM

FIM Europe
 

RIOLA SARDO (Sardegna, Italy), 5 April 2025 – The Official Opening Press Conference of the MXGP of Sardegna took place today in the Media Centre at the iconic Crossodromo Le Dune in Riola Sardo, welcoming everyone to the fifth consecutive edition of the FIM Motocross World Championship held on this stunning Mediterranean island.

In attendance were Infront Moto Racing CEO David Luongo, FIM/CMS Director Antonio Alia Portela, Tourism Councillor’s Private Secretary Stefano Piano, Mayor of Riola Sardo Lorenzo Pinna, and President of Motoclub Le Dune Fulvio Maiorca — all of whom expressed pride in once again bringing world-class motocross to Sardegna. A special guest and home hero was welcome to the press conference, which is the 2023 MX2 World Champion, Andrea Adamo from Red Bull KTM Factory Racing.

This year’s event marks five straight seasons of hosting the MXGP in Riola Sardo, a venue that has become an early-season highlight thanks to its technical deep-sand layout and the warm welcome it offers to riders and teams. The Grand Prix is now not only a key sporting event but also part of a broader initiative by the region to promote Sardegna as a year-round sports tourism destination — the “Island of Sport.”

David Luongo: "Returning to Sardegna for the fifth year in a row is a testament to the strength of this Grand Prix. Riola Sardo is now a reference point on the calendar — not only for the racing, but for its value to the teams, many of whom spend their winters here to train so pretty much everybody knows this circuit. It’s a track the riders know and respect, and the improvements in infrastructure and organization year after year show the passion of everyone involved. Sardegna is not just a race location; it’s a partner in our sport, and we're proud to continue this journey together. I want to thank all the people from the city, from the region, and from the island for all the support they give to the organizer, to this race. And we hope to continue to come here for many year."

Antonio Alia Portela: "It’s always a pleasure to return to Sardegna. Every time we see this race on the calendar, there’s a sense of excitement. The island offers a special combination: a technical and demanding track, great weather, and local institutions that work with true professionalism and heart. Beyond the perfect setting, it’s the people behind the scenes who make everything run smoothly. And of course, the strong support from local institutions, the town hall, and regional authorities truly makes a difference. It’s clear to us that Riola Sardo is more than ready to host MXGP, and we look forward to seeing it grow even further in the years to come.

Andrea Adamo: "For me, Sardegna has always been a special place to train and race. In the winter, riders usually split between Spain and Sardegna — and I’ve always chosen Sardinia. It’s in Italy, which I love, and the conditions here are perfect: deep sand at Riola, plus a variety of other tracks nearby. This is the only real sand circuit we have in Italy, and it’s been on the calendar every year since 2021, which is great because it means we get another home GP. I also feel a personal connection, coming from Sicily — another island — so racing here means a lot to me. I saw firsthand how much work goes into preparing this Grand Prix, and I really want to congratulate the organizers. They’ve done an amazing job. As for the weekend, expectations are high — I’ll do my best to stay up front and keep improving."

Photo: Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Andrea Adamo

Stefano Piano: "The Grand Prix of Sardegna is a key opportunity for us to promote the island’s image worldwide. We’re proud to welcome thousands of fans, athletes, and teams outside of the traditional summer period, helping to extend the tourist season and boost the local economy. Events like this reflect our commitment to positioning Sardegna as a top destination not only for its natural beauty but also for international sporting events."

Lorenzo Pinna: "This event fills us with pride. For Riola Sardo and the whole region, hosting MXGP represents a chance to grow, to showcase our identity, and to invest in the future. What once felt like a dream is now a reality, and we are committed to making it even stronger. The partnership between local institutions, Infront Moto Racing and the FIM is a winning formula that we want to continue developing."

Fulvio Maiorca: "Five years ago, we welcomed MXGP here for the first time — and now, Riola Sardo has become one of the most respected sand circuits in the world. Beyond the race weekend, we’re proud that international teams choose this track for their winter training. Our goal has always been to raise the level of what we offer, and with the continued support of Infront, the FIM, and our region, we’ll keep growing. Sardegna is without a doubt the island of motocross."

Main Photo: (left to right: Mayor of Riola Sardo Lorenzo Pinna, Tourism Councillor’s Private Secretary Stefano Piano,  Infront Moto Racing CEO David Luongo, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Andrea Adamo, FIM/CMS Director Antonio Alia Portela, President of Motoclub Le Dune Fulvio Maiorca )

LINKS

Infront Moto Racing

FIM