The 2025 MXGP of Castilla La Mancha will be remembered as a historic milestone for both Fantic and the FIM Motocross World Championship, as Glenn Coldenhoff and Andrea Bonacorsi secured the first-ever MXGP podium finishes for the Italian brand. Brian Bogers added to a remarkable team performance, with all three Fantic Factory Racing MXGP riders finishing second, third, and fourth in the final moto of the day.
Heavy rain in the days leading up to the first European GP of the season made for challenging track conditions in Cózar, Spain, but the Fantic Factory Racing MXGP riders rose to the occasion. A double top-5 finish in Saturday’s qualifying race – Brian Bogers in fourth and Glenn Coldenhoff close behind in fifth – set the stage for a stellar race day at the MXGP of Castilla La Mancha.
More rain created a real mudder, making starts more crucial than ever. Glenn Coldenhoff nailed his launch aboard the Fantic XXF 450, even briefly taking the lead on the opening lap of race 1 before settling into third. “The Hoff” had to surrender one position in the final stages but still secured a strong fourth-place finish.
Brian Bogers looked confident on the tricky track – third in free practice, fifth in the warm-up, and fourth in the qualifying race – but his hopes took a hit at the start of moto 1 when he was caught in a turn-one crash. He put his head down and charged through the pack from the back of the field to finish 11th despite a mistake, not too far behind his teammate Andrea Bonacorsi. “Bona” ran inside the top 10 throughout the race, eventually crossing the line in eighth.
The fight for the podium spots came down to race 2, and the Fantic Factory Racing MXGP trio delivered a dream start, with all three XXF 450 machines running inside the top six from the get-go. But this was just the beginning. Andrea Bonacorsi, Glenn Coldenhoff, and Brian Bogers stormed to second, third, and fourth, respectively – securing Fantic’s best-ever moto result and making history in Cózar with the Italian brand’s first-ever MXGP podiums. Coldenhoff took the second step on the podium, Bonacorsi joined him in third, and Brian Bogers was seventh overall.
Glenn Coldenhoff:
“Fantic made a big step, and they have worked so hard over the last year. I feel like we are working really closely together, and we have some really motivated people behind us. I get a lot of energy from them. Our bike is really good, and I took three really good starts; that was the key this weekend. It was very, very difficult out there, but we made it happen. Second overall and my first podium in two years – that feels good. I am happy for the whole Fantic team, with Bona being on the podium together with me, and also Brian – he finished fourth in race 2 and has the pace. I think it will be a nice year for Fantic. I am thankful for the whole team, also the mechanics who are the real winners this weekend here.”
Andrea Bonacorsi:
“I don’t really know what to say, it is just amazing. It was a really tough day for everyone, but in the end, hard work pays off. A 2-3 for Fantic is cool. I just feel really good with them. I am in a really good spot with the whole team. Also, having Glenn and Brian by my side – they are so experienced, and I can learn a lot from them. Everyone at Fantic and the team are working hard. They are amazing, and it feels like being home again. Thank you all!”
Brian Bogers:
“I am really happy with the weekend, especially with my riding on Saturday, finishing fourth in the qualifying race on a track that was still in good condition. It was good to show some solid speed. I know I can ride well in the mud, and I proved it again today with fourth in race 2. In the first moto, I got caught up in a start crash, managed to recover to ninth, but then went down again and finished eleventh. It is a bit of a shame because with two good starts, my overall result could have been much better. But it definitely feels good to be back up front.”
FANTIC FACTORY RACING EMX
The European Championship kicked off in Cózar, Spain, the very place where Fantic celebrated its EMX125 title just a few months ago. However, for the opening round of the 2025 season, the conditions were completely different, as heavy rainfall provided a muddy and challenging track, even forcing organizers to adjust the schedule.
It was no easy task, but the young Fantic Factory Racing EMX riders tackled race 1 with solid performances. Francesco Bellei got off to a strong start aboard his Fantic XX 125. He lost a few positions in the first two corners after struggling to find the ideal line, but once he settled into his rhythm, he maintained a fast and consistent pace. The 16-year-old Italian charged up to fourth place before a small mistake in the final laps cost him one position. Douwe Van Mechgelen fought inside the top 10 from the start, and despite a few mistakes in the extremely difficult conditions, he managed to secure eighth place.
For race 2 on Sunday, the track became even more demanding due to overnight rain. A strong start and clean track space were more crucial than ever, but Bellei didn’t get the perfect launch and found himself in the mid-pack. His teammate Van Mechgelen had an even tougher time, getting caught up in a crash at the second corner and dropping to the back of the field. Both riders fought hard throughout the race, eventually finishing 11th and 12th. In the overall classification for the weekend, both Fantic Factory Racing EMX riders secured top-10 finishes, with Bellei in sixth and Van Mechgelen in ninth.
It was an unfortunate weekend for Simone Mancini, making his EMX250 debut in brutal conditions. A minor technical issue in race 1 prevented him from finishing the opening moto. He was on track for redemption in race 2, running in seventh place until the penultimate lap, when a stone hit him in the eye, causing him to lose ground. Despite the setback, he showed great determination to cross the finish line in 17th place, earning his first points of the season. And a new opportunity is just around the corner, with the next round taking place in France in just one week.
Francesco Bellei:
“I am not completely satisfied, but I am happy with the points I brought home with sixth overall – in this heavy mud, anything can happen. It could have gone better, but it also could have been worse. The conditions were truly brutal, probably the toughest I have ever faced in my life. So, all in all, it is a solid start. Now we are already focusing on the next round in France in just a week.”
Douwe Van Mechgelen:
“It was not the easiest weekend, but we made the best of it. I had a good start in race 1, but a rock hit my arm on the first lap, causing a lot of cramps in my left arm. That led to me tipping over four times, I made too many mistakes. It wasn’t really a good race from my side, but it was still enough for P8. On Sunday, I felt better during the warm-up laps and had a good start, but I crashed in the second corner after running into another rider. I restarted dead last but still managed to finish in P12 with some good lap times. I am not completely satisfied, of course, but considering the circumstances, we can be happy.”
Simone Mancini:
“An unlucky weekend, but the season is still long. The conditions were really tough, and in race 1, we had an issue that didn’t allow me to finish the moto. In race 2, the track was even more demanding than on Saturday. I was running in the top 10, and I managed to move up to seventh place. Because of the heavy mud, I had to take off my goggles, and with one lap top go, a stone hit me in the eye. I was forced to stop because I couldn’t see anything, and I only managed to finish 17th. I think it was the hardest lap of my entire life.”
