Fantic Factory Racing MXGP’s Glenn Coldenhoff continued his impressive run with another podium, this time in Arco di Trento. It was a standout home Grand Prix for the Italian brand, made even more special thanks to the rising Fantic Factory Racing EMX stars: Francesco Bellei claimed his first podium of the EMX125 season, while Simone Mancini secured a superb maiden race win in EMX250.
With Brian Bogers still recovering after getting sick ahead of the GP of Sardinia, Glenn Coldenhoff and Andrea Bonacorsi proudly represented Fantic at the brand’s home round in Arco di Trento. Following solid qualifying race performances that saw both Fantic Factory Racing MXGP riders in the top 10, with Coldenhoff in seventh and Bonacorsi in tenth, the team was all set for another memorable day of racing at the MXGP of Trentino.
Glenn Coldenhoff continues to impress aboard the Fantic XXF 450, which sported a special livery to celebrate the partnership between Fantic and NILS at the home Grand Prix for both companies. Always at the sharp end heading into the first turn, the Dutch rider used all his experience in race 1, holding third early on and finishing in fifth with a strong performance.
In race 2, Glenn Coldenhoff had an even better start, claiming his second holeshot of the season. Third after the opening lap, the battle for the podium was on in front of an electrified crowd, creating an amazing atmosphere. “The Hoff” never backed down, battling in the top five throughout the race. A decisive pass with four laps to go put him on the box, as his third-place finish in the race also secured him the third step on the overall podium. With an impressive score of three podiums out of the first five rounds of the season, including back-to-back podiums in Sardinia and Trentino, Coldenhoff remains in third place in the championship standings.
While Coldenhoff set the stage for his top performance with blistering starts aboard the Fantic XXF 450, Andrea Bonacorsi lost ground off the line in both races, which hampered his chances on the traditional hardpack track of Arco, with a particularly tricky first turn. In race 1, he was held back in his attempt to climb the order by visibility issues towards the end, and he had to settle for sixteenth place. In race 2, “Bona” fought his way into the top 10, finishing in ninth. In the overall classification, the 21-year-old Italian concluded his home GP in thirteenth place, just one point shy of the top 10 in the incredibly competitive premier class.
The 2025 FIM Motocross World Championship is now heading to Frauenfeld, Switzerland, for round six of the series next weekend.
Glenn Coldenhoff:
“It turned out to be a really good weekend. I was a bit off the pace on Saturday, but on Sunday I got two really strong starts – which is always a big plus. Especially after the holeshot in race two, I felt like I could ride free, and my pace definitely improved. I think it was one of the better races of all my career – I had a great feeling and just kept pushing. The team told me I needed to pass Fernandez for the podium, and I made it happen. Getting another podium is amazing – for myself, the team, and everyone at Fantic, especially here at the brand’s home GP. Doing it in front of all the management is definitely a good sign. Now I have had a podium in the rain, a podium in the sand, and now one here in Arco. We are in a really good place at the moment, and I feel like I can fight for it at any GP!”
Andrea Bonacorsi:
“All in all, it was a good weekend, except for race 1, when I didn’t get off to the best start and had an issue with my goggles while trying to move up the order. I couldn’t see very well, and I lost a few positions towards the end. In race 2, I struggled a bit at the start again, but I managed to make my way up and finish ninth. I know that the speed and fitness are there to be up there, but you also need to start at the front to be with the other guys right from the beginning. This week, we will get back to work to be ready for Switzerland.”
FANTIC FACTORY RACING EMX
Francesco Bellei made it clear right away that he is at home in Arco di Trento, setting the fastest time in free practice and securing a stunning pole position in front of the Italian crowd. In race 1, he continued to impress with a remarkable pace aboard the Fantic XX 125. The 16-year-old from Trentino was battling for the lead when he made contact with an opponent, sending both riders to the ground and losing valuable time. Nevertheless, Bellei fought back to finish fifth, keeping his hopes for a podium alive.
With the rain arriving overnight, conditions changed for race 2 on Sunday. However, Bellei was once again among the ones to watch on home soil. After starting just outside the top 10, he quickly moved into the top 5. He remained calm and maintained a solid, consistent pace. He made some passes and was right where he needed to be when a rider in front of him made a mistake. Eventually, Bellei crossed the line in second place, securing third overall – and his first podium as a Fantic Factory Racing EMX rider, just missing out on the win by two points. In the championship standings, Bellei made another step forward, now sitting in second position.
It was a more complicated weekend for his teammate Douwe Van Mechgelen. A crash in race 1 and an issue in race 2 left the young Belgian without a point-scoring result in Trentino.
In EMX250, rookie Simone Mancini delivered a standout performance in race 2. Starting strong aboard the Fantic XXF 250, he quickly moved into the top positions and began chasing the race leader. In the final laps, Mancini made a decisive pass and took the win, getting the crowd on their feet. This maiden race win not only earned him sixth overall but also boosted his confidence after a difficult Saturday, which included a heavy crash in free practice and a DNF in race 1 due to a small technical issue.
Francesco Bellei:
“Overall, it was a good weekend. I am happy with my speed and riding, especially on Saturday: I was first in free practice, first in qualifying, and took the pole position. Even in race 1, I had great pace. Unfortunately, a big mistake prevented me from winning the race. On Sunday, I had a solid race, finishing second and third overall. Of course, I would have liked to win here at home, but we gained even more experience, and step by step, we are getting there.”
Simone Mancini:
“The weekend didn’t start well with a heavy crash in free practice and a DNF in race 1, but we made up for it in race 2. Finally, a great result – my first-ever EMX250 race win. I had a good start, kept a consistent pace, felt good physically, and in the last few laps, I took over the lead and went on to win the race. This victory is a big boost after a tough start to the season, and now we hope it is one of many! A big thanks to the team for all their work and to the fans for the amazing support – it was crazy, I can’t even describe it!”
