Fantic are always strong when it comes to the EMX125 championship and despite a different team running the setup this year, it was still a great season ending up champions. After Maddii Racing ran the setup for a number of years, SDM-Corse Racing ran the team this year and did a very good job.
It also helps when there’s talented riders underneath the awning but Noel Zanocz did the double this year winning the 125cc Junior world title as well as the EMX125 series. Zanocz made history as he became the first rider from Hungary to win these titles. It was also a strong season for Simone Mancini as he finished third in the EMX125 series and runner up in the Junior World Championship.
It’s not going to be easy to replace any of these riders but we understand that young Italian talent, Francesco Bellei will sign with the Fantic Factory Racing team to contest the EMX125 championship in 2025. Douwe Van Mechgelen who was with the team this year is also expected to remain under the awning for the 2025 season.
It was a strong season for Bellei contesting the EMX125 championship, it was actually his first year racing outside Italy and the first full season for him in the EMX125 category. Together with the Dreams Racing KTM team, they did a great job as Bellei finished fourth overall in the championship.
Fantic do a great job developing young talent in the EMX125 class and will be hoping to do the same with Bellei. There is no doubting how fast Bellei is in hard pack and he showcased that at the final round of the EMX125 series this year at Cozar finishing 3-1 for second overall – he was superb in race two!
One area that Bellei still has to improve in is the deep sand as he only picked up seven points at Arnhem but for it being his first year racing outside Italy, it is understandable. Mancini also had to work on his sand riding before joining the Fantic team but improved a lot in those conditions this year and the team will be hoping for the same outcome with Bellei.
Heading into the 2025 season, Bellei will be one of the title contenders and especially with the Fantic Factory Racing team behind him, it could be the perfect match. Along with the likes of Dani Heitink, Nicolò Alvisi and many others, the EMX125 series should be a great watch in 2025.
Bellei also showed his pace is already good on a 250cc four stroke at the Motocross European of Nations so the future could be very bright for the young Italian if he can stay injury free and continue to develop.
