After a frustrating spell on the sidelines, Andrea Bonacorsi is back doing what he does best—racing at the highest level as he prepares for his MXGP return in Sardinia. The talented Italian raced the Dutch Masters opening round following injury, immediately throwing himself into some of the toughest conditions imaginable as he builds his way back to full fitness. But this comeback isn’t just about regaining form—it also marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter in his career.
Bonacorsi has made the high-profile switch to Ducati, joining their ambitious motocross project under the guidance of Louis Vosters. With the iconic Italian brand continuing to develop its MXGP package, the young rider finds himself not only racing but also playing a key role in shaping the future of the bike. We caught up with Bonacorsi as he opens up about his return from injury, adapting to the Ducati, and his mindset as he looks to make an impact in the 2026 season.
GateDrop: Andrea, you missed a few GP’s there, for your return to racing, you probably could have picked an easier track (laughs). I mean what was it like riding that track? It was so rough and gnarly.
Bonacorsi: For sure it was not the easiest track to come back but it’s needed before Riola which will probably be even worse. I mean I don’t feel 100% yet but the goal of the race here for me was to just stay on two wheels, don’t take any risk and bring it home and I did it in a decent way too. There was a big group of good guys here so it was good for me to see the level and like I said to not be there 100% pushing – I did two great motos for sure.
GateDrop: In the second moto you were battling with Vlaanderen and two Ducatis were together, I feel like in those rough gnarly conditions maybe last year the Ducati wasn’t the best in the sand but I feel like you showed today it’s a decent level…
Bonacorsi: Sure, I mean I was just playing a bit and tried to make his life a bit difficult of course and but like I said I wasn’t really pushing or trying to keep him in the back. For sure it’s good to see two Ducati’s up there battling even though if it was first and second position it would be even better. I feel like hopefully we’re getting there though. Last year the Ducati’s in the sand was quite bad and now I believe the riders also do a good step to bring the bike up there as well.
GateDrop: I mean what’s it been like for you, the transition to Ducati obviously it’s the same team with Louis Vosters so it must be good to have him in your corner but in terms of the bike… Was it like totally foreign for you when you first got on it or how did you feel when you first got on the bike?
Bonacorsi: Actually when I first got on it, for me it was actually really good and then of course once you start training you start to get into your speed. You start to figure out things that you need more and I feel like of course there is some work in progress that we have to do but everybody’s motivated. I hope soon we will get some upgrades.
GateDrop: Obviously you’re a young rider, you probably don’t want to be the rider to develop on this bike but do you feel like your two more experienced teammates can help with that or do you know exactly what you want?
Bonacorsi: I do definitely know what I want and I’m young but I know exactly what I want on a bike. I’m for sure helping them also developing and for sure what I try is good for myself. I’m a guy that I don’t change so much throughout the year with what I feel good with and what I like at the testing day, I stick with it. Actually for sure I’m helping to develop the bike.
GateDrop: That’s quite interesting because most riders your age probably don’t want anything to do with that, is that something you’re enjoying, you can add that to your CV as well that you’re good at developing a bike as well as being fast if you can do both you shouldn’t be far away…
Bonacorsi: Sure, I mean I developed the Fantic if you think about it. I started the project with them on the 125cc. Of course I was really young but I was with Maddii and Corrado taught me a lot on what I would like on the bike or not. From there on you know I always had to do it myself, I went to Hutten Metaal and there it’s not that they know what you want on the bike, you know? You have to adapt quick and know quick what you want yourself.
GateDrop: Obviously the last few GP’s, you’ve been at home watching because of the injury, has it been difficult watching the races being injured? Mentally especially at the start of the year it must be very tough to deal with it.
Bonacorsi: Yeah sure also because in Argentina I was there in the front group when I crashed. I was there relaxed and I wasn’t taking big risk to be there. For sure watching the last two races for me sucked. They were two tracks that suits me quite good, also the new track in Spain was looking rough and that’s what I like. Switzerland last year I missed the podium there by one point so it’s two tracks that I was looking forward to race at. But at the same time it gives me extra motivation to come back strong as soon as possible.
GateDrop: Confidence wise you must be in a good place because like you say you were really fast in Argentina and you were fast here so the two races you’ve done, you’ve got a tick you must be happy.
Bonacorsi: Sure, I don’t care about being injured or not because when I go out there for a GP, I try my best every time so injury or no injury for me once I’m behind the gate I forget about everything. I had the speed in Argentina so we’ll have it also at the next round.
GateDrop: I mean what are your goals this season on a new bike?
Bonacorsi: I mean my goals are for sure getting better and improving from last year. Now I have some zeros but I’m sure if I can show what I can do every weekend from Riola on and improve also myself I’m sure we can be up there at the end of the year.
GateDrop: What’s it been like having Jeremy and Calvin as teammates obviously they’re a lot more experienced than you are in terms of MXGP anyway, have you been able to learn a lot from them?
Bonacorsi: Yeah, I mean I feel like the last year with Glenn (Coldenhoff) and Brian (Bogers) it was the best year for me. They were two amazing teammates and I will always keep that for my experience in the future. With Jeremy and Calvin they both do a bit everything by themselves let’s say and for sure we see each other a lot during GP’s as well. Of course we all have the same feeling on the bike as well so it’s good to share our feedbacks.
GateDrop: Are you still living in the Netherlands? I think you’ve been there since the EMX250 days? Do you not miss Italy? I mean there’s no place like home.
Bonacorsi: Yeah, since 2021 I’ve been living here. I mean this winter I was glad I spent quite some weeks home in Italy. I was missing those tracks because in the last years I was actually used to such a rough track like here today but then I go to a hard pack that is my home soil and I was sucking at it (laughs). I’m looking forward to after Arco because we have some time off – a month so hopefully I can spend some time down there and improve at the hard pack tracks again – that looks like it’s my weak point right now.
GateDrop: You wouldn’t have thought that 10 years ago (laughs). Are you in for the full Dutch Masters or is it just wait and see on that one?
Bonacorsi: So far I take it week by week. Of course this one was important but I feel like for me and for developing the bike. I feel like putting hours on it and doing moto’s together with everybody else, I will keep doing every race that I can.
GateDrop: What’s it like having Louis Vosters as a boss, he seems to know what he’s doing when he’s running a team but what’s he like to work with from your point of view?
Bonacorsi: He’s an amazing guy for me. He’s treating me really good, he knows I’m young and he knows what I need. He’s a really funny guy and it’s just amazing he’s giving me this opportunity to be with him and to do this project together with him. For me it’s really good and you know in MXGP, you don’t often see team bosses like that so I’m really glad to have him behind my back.
GateDrop: I think you’ve signed a two-year deal so there’s a lot of trust there so you must appreciate that as well?
Bonacorsi: Yeah, sure I mean for me being young and having two years is good. I know and they also know if they sign me for two years what I can do and I am looking forward to improving the bike, improving myself and show where I belong.
