The Italian Maddii Racing Team has been one of the most successful teams in the motocross world since its founding in 1991. The team quickly built an impressive résumé; in 1995, Alessandro Puzar captured the 125cc World Championship, followed by Alessio Chiodi’s back-to-back world titles in 1998 and 1999. In the years that followed, Marco Maddii added two European titles to the team’s rich history, after which the focus increasingly shifted toward developing young talent.
That approach paid off. Riders such as Gianluca Facchetti, Alberto Forato and Mattia Guadagnini progressed through Maddii Racing into the World Championship and became established names within the international motocross elite. In 2021, the team entered a new chapter as the official Fantic factory squad, immediately achieving success with the EMX250 title for Nicolas Lapucci and the breakthrough of Cornelius Toendel, Andrea Bonacorsi, Cas Valk and Haakon Osterhagen.
In 2025, Maddii Racing made its MXGP debut as Ducati’s official factory team with Jeremy Seewer and Mattia Guadagnini. During the Grand Prix of France, Seewer secured Ducati’s first-ever overall MXGP podium. And once again, a major shift awaits the Italian squad: in 2026, Maddii Racing will line up as the official Honda team in both MX2 and EMX250.
A perfect moment to sit down with Marco Maddii, who together with his father Corrado has been the beating heart of this remarkable team since 2017.
A Strong Family Structure
Since 2017, Maddii Racing has been led by its family core: Marco and his father Corrado. Their cooperation is built on a clear and effective division of roles. Marco handles organization, training, and complete bike setup. He maintains sponsor relationships and is constantly seeking new partners to strengthen the team.
Corrado, meanwhile, focuses on the technical foundation: suspension and engine components. For engine development, the team works with an external engineer, but Corrado remains the key point of contact, translating rider feedback directly to the tuner a system that keeps communication lines short and development fast.
Two Brands, Two Challenges: Fantic and Ducati
Looking back at the team’s recent projects, in which they introduced two entirely new brands into the EMX and MXGP paddock, Marco speaks proudly. First came Fantic, and later Ducati two very different paths with their own challenges.
“With Fantic, the base was strong right away thanks to the Yamaha connection. That allowed us to focus entirely on tuning and fine-tuning. We wanted to be better than Yamaha, and in the EMX classes we succeeded. Our engines truly were better, and that was something special.”
The Ducati project, however, was a completely different experience. Instead of starting from an established foundation, the team was now working from scratch. “A completely new bike, a new concept, new technology it made the challenge much bigger. With Fantic, we reached a competitive level more quickly. With Ducati, it took much more time. The base was good, but there is a big difference between a good bike and the best bike in the paddock. That process takes time.”
Still, Marco looks back with satisfaction. The foundation they laid for Ducati in MXGP after years of hard work and solving countless problems, now serves as a solid base for the teams that follow.
A New Dynamic in MXGP
As Ducati’s official MXGP team, Maddii Racing also had to adapt to a new dynamic.
“In MXGP, things are different in many ways,” Marco explains. “In technical decisions, many people want to have a say, and that makes processes slower than we’re used to. We prefer to tackle and solve problems immediately, but within a big company it simply doesn’t work that way.”
Working with experienced riders, on the other hand, felt familiar.
“In some ways, it’s even easier. You don’t have to explain everything. But they’re also much more demanding. A professional like Jeremy Seewer wants every detail to be perfect. Young riders don’t always look that deeply into things.”
Despite the challenges, the Ducati chapter is one the team looks back on proudly. Two podium finishes with Seewer and several strong results from Mattia Guadagnini highlight a period of significant progression. “It was tough at times, but that’s exactly why I’m proud of what we achieved. We made real steps forward.”
Unforgettable Memories
When asked about his fondest memory with the team, Marco immediately goes back to 1995 the year Alessandro Puzar won the world title together with his father Corrado.
“I was seven or eight, but I still remember it clearly. Alex and my father worked incredibly well together. They’re still close friends today. His determination was enormous.”
He recalls an iconic photo taken before the final Grand Prix in Germany, during the intense title fight with Chiodi. “You can see the fire in their eyes. They were both completely focused. I’ll never forget that.”
Chiodi’s titles in 1998 and 1999 also hold a special place. In more recent times, the standout memory is the Fantic season with Nicholas Lapucci.
“That year was incredible. We won the Italian Championship and the EMX250 title something no one had ever accomplished before. And we also took the 125cc title. That was truly a special season.”
The Maddii Method: Old-School Hard Work
That Maddii Racing has developed so many Italian riders into world-class competitors is no coincidence. According to Marco, the secret lies in their old-school approach.
Hard work, both in the gym and on the bike, is always the foundation. Supercross training is used heavily to refine technique and broaden skills. But perhaps even more important is the group dynamic.
“We always try to build a strong group that can train together, push each other, and make each other better. Fun is essential. When riders enjoy training and feel healthy competition within the group, they get faster. That applies on the bike just as much as in the gym.”
Long motos, tough workloads, rain or shine: it defines the team’s culture.
Looking Ahead to 2026: A New Chapter with Honda
With their new role as Honda’s official MX2 and EMX250 factory team in 2026, Marco looks forward with confidence.
“It’s a fantastic project. We’ll be working with young talents and have the chance to fully apply our experience in both EMX250 and the MX2 World Championship.”
The partnership with Honda is something he values greatly.
“We’re given a lot of freedom to do things our way, even though our collaboration with Honda is still relatively new. Being able to work according to our philosophy is very important.”
Maddii also aims to maintain the high standard they set during their time with Ducati. Although they are moving to the lighter classes, the level of professionalism remains the same.
Marco is optimistic about the equipment: the Honda chassis feels strong, the engine is performing well, and there is still plenty of time before the season starts to continue development.
“We’re exactly where we want to be right now. But the coming months will be crucial. It’s still a new bike for us, and there’s a lot of work to be done with both the riders and the machines.”
