The EMX125 Championship is known for being one of the most intense proving grounds for young motocross talent, and under the guidance of Thomas Traversini, KTM’s official 125cc program continues to be a vital stepping stone for future stars. With a wealth of experience both as a coach and now as team manager, Traversini brings not only technical insight but also a deep understanding of rider development—on and off the bike.
We caught up with Traversini following a bittersweet weekend that saw Nicolo Alvisi impress with consistent front-running speed, while Aron Katona was left nursing an injury after a series of unfortunate setbacks. In this wide-ranging interview, the Italian reflects on the contrasting fortunes of his young riders, the lessons they’re learning, and the ultimate mission of the KTM 125cc project. He also opens up about his continued role with the Italian Motocross of Nations team, the progress of riders like Adamo and Guadagnini, and what it means to see young Italians carving their paths in MX2 and MXGP.
GateDrop: Thomas, I mean with one rider you’re probably over the moon and then an injury for another rider so how would you describe the weekend? Probably mixed feelings?
Traversini: We describe it like the last one, half and half, so I’m pretty happy about Nicolo’s weekend. He really showed that he has the speed to lead the championship and he did two solid starts and time practice was good. It was just small mistakes in the second moto which cost him some points but in the end he’s there and so I’m happy about it. It was the other way around with Aron, I am sorry for him because since the second moto in Portugal, he DNF motos due to stupid things, crashes and some things happen like yesterday. He was P3 and then a small mistake goes back to P7 then a small mistake goes back to P18… then another small crash, then when standing up one rider hit him on the leg and bike. The only positive thing is that it’s not a big injury so he has nothing broken. He has pain on the leg but I think he will be ready soon to go back racing. So, a little bitter sweet this weekend.
GateDrop: Earlier in the season… Aron, I mean he was unbelievable, he probably surprised everybody, the last few rounds, too many DNFs when he had the red plate… Is that frustrating? But at the same time we probably need to remember how young he is and it’s his first time he’s been in a situation battling for such a big championship…
Traversini: Actually, I think when he’s riding like he knows then he can be very, very fast and he can be at the front. But like you said, 14 years old, when you do a mistake and you get in the loop, thinking what’s going on, then of course he can also be missing up some things and doing some mistakes which is human. You have to accept when you take a 14 year old rider, my wish is that he learns from his mistakes and he will remember for the future because how to ride a bike, he knows pretty well. This is important to me.
GateDrop: With Nicolo, he was the other way around, he was sort of making mistakes at the start of the season But now the last three rounds really showed how mature he is and like Aron, he also knows how to ride a bike so it’s all mental… he should be able to win this title – he’s got a nice points gap…
Traversini: He has got a 30 points gap but I don’t take care too much for the championship to be honest. I want that the riders to perform well and show growth during the season. My goal and also KTM goal with this project is not just to win the title but to give to the riders the right tools to become a future MX2 GP rider. That’s the goal and my, let’s say, first goal is to give them as much as possible information that they can use it when they will need it in the future.
GateDrop: Last year you worked with Gyan Doensen, Dutch kid, obviously you didn’t get the title in the end but what was it like working with him and he’s also very talented…
Traversini: It was really amazing because, you know, kids, 99% of the times they are pretty good but to deal with the families is always more complicated. I have to say that I’m pretty lucky with that, maybe I choose the right families, I have no problems with anyone but the Doensen family was really on top of the list.
GateDrop: Looking ahead for the rest of the season have you any expectations from what you want from both of them? I guess with Aron you just want him to ride like how he did earlier in the season?
Traversini: Exactly, you’re right, that’s what I want to see from Aron when he steps back on the bike. He has to be ready to show what he’s shown at the beginning of the season and I’m going to be happy. It doesn’t matter if he finishes second, third, fifth or where he finishes in the championship. That’s not the goal as I told you but it’s important that he learns from the mistakes and progress with the technique and the riding skill which is for me important to become an MX2 rider.
GateDrop: You used to be a coach/trainer now with this team you’re a team manager. How different is that role? Are you enjoying the team management role? Do you still do a bit of coaching with the riders?
Traversini: Of course, they are young kids. I think on the small team as we are we cannot have two people doing two different jobs. So, I’m managing the team and also training the riders. We can’t forget that these kids are going to school and they are busy with their families. Aron is living in Hungary, the other one is living two hours from my home place but at least we get organized to do some training camps especially in the winter time. We spend a lot of time together Aron for example, he was almost three months with me in the winter time. With this you build up some riding skills but for sure more of a relationship between the person together involved on the team. This is what is counting more
GateDrop: You’ve been the Italian Motocross of Nations team manager now for many years. Do you enjoy that role? And do you see yourself in that role for the foreseeable future as well?
Traversini: I’m still doing this year the team manager role for the Italian Motocross of Nations. When KTM stepped up with the 125cc team and they asked me to do this job, it was a tricky situation. So I said to the federation that I would stop with the youth coaching and to not be the youth team manager. But I’m still doing the Motocross of Nations team manager and this I really like. It’s good, It’s just one event per year but takes a lot of energy from November the year before. As soon as you finish you’re already thinking about next year so it’s 365 days per year job. You have to deal with many things and get organized, get the budget, organize with riders, with the teams so it’s quite a lot. Nobody thinks about it but it’s quite a big part of many hours per day you have to spend on it.
GateDrop: it probably won’t be that long really until you sort of have to think about picking a team. One rider I’d like to ask you about is Andrea Adamo, obviously he was world champion two years ago but I feel like he’s probably riding better this year. In your opinion, what’s it been like watching him this year? He seems mentally strong and he’s probably faster and fitter than he’s ever been…
Traversini: I would say he’s not faster, it’s for him a learning process. The first year nobody expected he would be a champion but then he takes the chance, he really fights for the chance. When somebody gives this chance to him then he really pushes to get it and he got it. Last year was a little bit more complicated but still he was riding with the bike and he didn’t forget how to ride the bike. But some situation was not the luckiest year and this year I think he’s more consistent. He’s more convinced about his possibilities and I think he’s doing a really great job. I think he will fight for the MX2 title until the end.
GateDrop: And Mattia Guadagnini and Andrea Bonacorsi… Obviously they’re very very young in MXGP… Mattia is part of the Ducati project which is exciting and probably also for you as well because you’re Italian. What’s it like watching those guys develop in MXGP in probably the toughest class in the world?
Traversini: It’s pretty good because don’t forget that I’ve been working with those guys since they were 65cc riders so for me I feel like I would not say like my sons but almost because I spent a lot of hours on the track. Away from the track I have a really close relationship and I think this is really important when you go to the MXoN. I mean the atmosphere and the feeling what you have with those guys. Adamo, it’s a family with me because he’s together with my sister-in-law. I’m in this business since quite many years and I’ve been spending time with a lot A lot with all of them And really with Lata, Zanchi, Forato, so It’s really nice to the feeling is so good when we are there. I hope that everyone gives this small percentage more for the success.
GateDrop: Alberto Forato, obviously his injury issues the last couple of years have been really hard for him, hopefully he get back to himself on the bike… To keep him in the MXoN picture, what do you want to see between now and the end of the year?
Traversini: I mean I know how is Alberto. He’s quite a tough guy so he will fight to come back on the position which counts in the MXGP. I’m quite honest with all the guys, I have six guys now in the list who are possible candidates. For the MXoN there are three riders in MX2 and three in MXGP. Everyone knows that and when it’s going to be a deadline for the team, for the entries and then I will pick up the best three and that’s it, so everybody is informed.
GateDrop: Valerio Lata, what was it like to see him win the qualifying race yesterday? I would say probably a little bit unexpected only because we know how fast the guys are at the front of MX2 but at the same time he looked completely in control, he didn’t get flustered and he made it look like he had won plenty of races in the past in MX2…
Traversini: I mean we cannot discuss how he rides the bike because he’s really nice to watch and a really technical rider. He has really good skills. But until now he has had some up and downs. But you know MX2 is a tough class. He has got this year a good chance I think he will improve during the season but he already showed at the beginning of the season that the speed is there and the technique is there. So he has a good package and I’m quite convinced that he can keep working. He can be one of the guys in the future.
