The dream start to the 2025 FIM Motocross World Championship continues for Fantic. Just four rounds in, Glenn Coldenhoff has already secured his second podium of the season – the third for the Italian brand. The Fantic Factory Racing MXGP star now sits third in the championship standings. His teammate Andrea Bonacorsi also impressed, narrowly missing out on another trophy with a strong fourth-place finish. In EMX125, Francesco Bellei gained valuable ground with a solid weekend in the deep sand of Riola.
The first of two consecutive MXGP rounds on Italian soil – home turf for Fantic – took place in Riola Sardo. The deep sand track, known as one of the toughest tests on the calendar for both man and machine, saw the Fantic Factory Racing MXGP team rise to the occasion.
Already on Saturday, a fast launch out of the gate set the tone for a strong qualifying race. Glenn Coldenhoff battled within the top three in the opening laps before settling into fourth, securing a good gate pick for Sunday’s races. Andrea Bonacorsi also impressed at his first home round with a strong sixth place, while Brian Bogers finished 13th despite battling sickness.
Coldenhoff and Bonacorsi had their starts dialled on the Fantic XXF 450 in race 1, and it didn’t take long for them to move into podium contention. “The Hoff” led the Fantic charge, taking over second place by lap seven, while “Bona” was right on his teammate’s rear wheel, delivering some spectacular racing action. In the end, they crossed the finish line with a brilliant 2-3 result for the team.
Race 2 got off to a tougher start for Bonacorsi, as he was involved in a first-turn incident. He put his head down and charged through the field, breaking into the top 10 already by lap two. Coldenhoff found himself in seventh after the opening lap and battled hard in demanding conditions to move up the order. He did so successfully, making his way up to third place and earning a superb second overall – just one point behind the GP winner. Bona’s strong comeback saw him climb all the way to fifth. Fourth in the overall classification, he narrowly missed out on his second MXGP podium by just two points.
Brian Bogers, who had impressed in Riola at his Fantic debut one year ago, had to dig deep this weekend to salvage points – which he did twice with 18th-place finishes. A result that doesn’t reflect his well-known sand-riding skills, but the best he could manage while feeling under the weather.
Glenn Coldenhoff:
“This second place means a lot – two podiums in the first four GPs and now sitting third in the championship. I have never had a better start to a season. We had a really strong pace in race 1, I was aggressive, made some good passes, and moved into second. My teammate Bona was right behind me and pushing hard – it was a great race for both of us. In race 2, I wasn’t that fast at the beginning. I actually got sick before France and had to take a week off afterwards, so I am just happy to be here. Big thanks to the team and everyone at Fantic for the amazing work. I am really happy right now – the bike is doing what I want it to do, and that is showing in the results.”
Andrea Bonacorsi:
“It was a good weekend! In race 1, I had a good start, made a few passes and worked my way into third – and it was a really nice battle with Glenn. I got another good start in race 2, but in the first corner I couldn’t avoid a rider who had crashed right in front of me, I had nowhere to go and ended up going down as well. I was last but managed to pass a lot of guys in the first two laps, and in the end, I finished fifth for fourth overall – not bad at all, but missing the podium by just a couple of points hurts a bit… Now we are heading to Arco, another track I really like and where I did well last year. We will try to have another good weekend!”
Brian Bogers:
“I just didn’t feel good this weekend. I got sick on Monday and spent the whole week on the couch. Coming into the GP, we already knew it was going to be tough – Riola is brutal even when you are at 100%, it is one of the most demanding races of the season. I had no energy out there. I just hope we can bounce back next week!”
FANTIC FACTORY RACING EMX
The MXGP of Sardegna marked the first of two home rounds for both Fantic and the Fantic Factory Racing EMX team – and for its newest recruit, Francesco Bellei. Although the 16-year-old grew up racing on hard-pack tracks, with the upcoming Trentino GP being his true home ground, he still impressed in the deep sand of Riola Sardo.
In race 1, Bellei was involved in a first-turn incident that forced him to stage an impressive comeback from the very back of the field. Demonstrating remarkable determination and top-level fitness, the young Italian charged through the pack to secure a strong sixth-place finish. His teammate, Douwe Van Mechgelen – fresh off a podium at the Dutch Masters but not in peak condition due to seasonal allergies – dug deep to bring his Fantic XX 125 home in ninth place.
Bellei got off to a better start in race 2, placing himself inside the top 10 from the opening lap. On an very demanding track, he maintained a solid pace to finish fifth with a strong final push. His sixth overall on the day moved him up to third place in the championship standings. It was a tougher Sunday for Van Mechgelen, due to a second-turn incident that dropped him down the order. Despite the setback, he fought hard to salvage 15th place, securing 12th overall.
Still, there was a Fantic XX 125 on the podium at the GP of Sardegna, thanks to a remarkable performance by Dream Team’s Cole McCullough – once again highlighting the bike’s competitiveness in all conditions.
Francesco Bellei:
“All in all, it was a positive weekend in the sand of Riola. Race 1 was tough because of the start, I got caught up in the crash in the first corner, but I made a great comeback. Without that incident, I could have fought for third place. In the end, I finished sixth, and I am very happy with how I rode. In race 2, I got off to a good start, gained a few positions, and was in fourth place, but unfortunately, I had to give up a position in the last lap. Considering we were racing in Riola, it wasn’t bad at all – and now we are heading to Arco di Trento, we will give it another go at my home race!”
Douwe Van Mechgelen:
“I came here for more, but it is a big field with a lot of fast riders who can win. If you don’t get a good start and strong opening laps, it is tough to fight back. The crash at the start of race 2 made things more complicated, and I wasn’t able to ride at my best. But I know all the hard work will pay off eventually – we will keep pushing.”
