Young Italian talent, Andrea Bonacorsi had a superb season winning the EMX250 title to add to the EMX125 title he won in 2020 – winning one is very difficult never mind winning both! The Hutten Metaal Yamaha rider ended the season racing the MX2 World Championship at Matterley Basin and ended up tenth overall despite bad starts.
In 2024, Bonacorsi will race the entire MX2 World Championship as a rookie which he is looking forward to and with the speed he has will be looking to run at the front.
We caught up with Bonacorsi after Matterley Basin to discuss his day and making the step to MX2 in 2024.
GateDrop: Andrea, what a season! First of all to win the EMX250 title and then to end the season racing MX2 here at Matterley Basin, the class you want to be. Can you talk me through your weekend?
Bonacorsi: The weekend was good for me. It was a good chance to prepare for the next season, I mean we come here to make experience and test a few things. It was good. I mean it could be better but it was okay.
GateDrop: The racing looked very intense in MX2 today, maybe something you aren’t used too because in EMX250 you can maybe manage a race easier than you can in MX2 where everyone is flat out!
Bonacorsi: I mean, compared to the EMX250 it is the intensity in the first few laps and the start matters a lot in MX2. In EMX250, if you go top fifteen, I showed that I can get into the top three, okay not easy, I need to fight a bit but you can do it. Here in MX2, if you start fifteen and if you finish tenth it is good, let’s say (laughs). They are really on another level and especially at these kind of tracks. At a Lommel, you can make more of a difference.
GateDrop: Just on the EMX250 title, you had been trying a few years to get the job done so it must have felt amazing to do it this weekend?
Bonacorsi: For sure, it feels amazing, I worked so hard for it. The 2021 season I got Covid during the middle of the season but as a rookie season it was okay to be fourth. Last year was a tough year for me, I have no excuses, I was really bad. I was over thinking a lot and not make many good results, just a few good results but nothing more. It was a lot of up and downs but this year we made a click needed to win the title with the team. I am really proud to be able to do it for them this season and I am proud to be part of the Yamaha squad. I am really happy about how the season went.
GateDrop: You have an EMX125 title to go alongside the EMX250 title which is an amazing achievement, you can count on one hand how many riders have done this so it shows you are a winner and that must feel great?
Bonacorsi: For sure, two titles. The EMX125 and the EMX250 title, I think the last one to do it was Thibault Benistant also on the Yamaha. I mean it feels good and I worked really hard for it. I might not be the most talented rider on the bike but I put a lot of work into it, I can say I push really hard and the results are starting to come.
GateDrop: You have raced some MX2 GP’s in the past but you always probably had EMX250 in the back of your mind and not to take too many risks, was it nice to ride out there this weekend not having to worry about that and go full gas?
Bonacorsi: For sure, it was. I also did a race in Lommel and that is one of my favourite tracks, it was a real pity I had an issue with the bike on the Saturday but Sunday P6 in moto one and I had a huge crash in moto two. I had to go out of the race because I was thinking about EMX250 too much but if EMX was not there, I will not say a podium but top five for sure because I know what I can do in Lommel. Also today we showed we have speed, fitness but we just need the starts and put everything together for next year. I am really to put in the hard work to achieve good results.
GateDrop: Just on next year, any expectations or just go to round one and improve/progress as a rider throughout the season?
Bonacorsi: I mean, expectations, not really… I mean I am going to be a rookie even if I did do three years in the EMX250 class. I have for sure some expectations of myself that is for sure growing. I want to enjoy next year and I want to work hard to enjoy suffering with the other guys.
GateDrop: You are an Italian living in the Netherlands, do you speak much of the language and do you like it there?
Bonacorsi: I like it there. At the beginning it was difficult, to go from another country to live there, it is never easy and a choice not so many do, I think. But not it is paying off, after three years I have a team behind my back, it is really good. They are more than just a team, a team manager and trainers and stuff, we are big friends and this is why it is achieving me for some results.
GateDrop: Some riders that ride a 250cc bike you aren’t sure if they’ll suit the 450cc but looking at your build, you should suit the bigger bike in the future…
Bonacorsi: For sure, my goal is going to be do as much as I can to do the best possible in MX2 first. Of course, I know I like the 450cc I ride with it sometimes and I enjoy it. But we will do first MX2 and after that MXGP but if everything goes well I can do good there.
Interview: Andy McKinstry
Images: Nigel McKinstry
