Young Italian talent, Andrea Uccellini, is preparing for a big step in his career after deciding to make the move up to the MX2 World Championship for the 2027 season. Having raced in the EMX125 series this year, the Italian has opted to skip the EMX250 category and take on the challenge of competing against the best 250cc riders in the world.
Uccellini has signed with RaceStore KTM for his rookie MX2 World Championship campaign, believing the move to a 250cc four-stroke is the right decision for his development. After getting an opportunity to ride the bike during the 2025 season, he immediately felt it suited his riding style better.
We caught up with Uccellini to discuss his decision to move up to MX2, his experience with TM, his MX2 GP debut at Montevarchi and his goals for the 2027 season.
On his plans for 2027…
“During the middle of the 2026 season, I did two races on the 250cc four-stroke and was immediately very fast, despite only having done a test of a few minutes. The four-stroke definitely suits my riding style better, and someone noticed. I had three offers for the 2027 season, two in MX2 and one in EMX250. My dream is to race in MX2, so the choice was easy. I didn’t really think about racing the EMX250 class. I am very happy with the choice that I have made. I didn’t know Paolo Mencacci (RaceStore), but I discovered a passionate and knowledgeable person. I am sure I’ve made the right choice”, Uccellini told GateDrop.com.
Reflects on his time with TM…
Uccellini’s time with TM was relatively short, with injury interrupting his campaign after just a few months with the Italian manufacturer. Despite that, he showed plenty of potential as he was sitting sixth in the EMX125 championship before his injury. ,
The Italian showed good pace, particularly in qualifying, where he was regularly among the fastest riders. However, getting good starts proved more difficult, something that changed when he got the opportunity to race the 250cc four-stroke.
“I only spent a few months with TM, then I got injured. The bike has great potential and I felt really good with the factory team and with Gastone Serafini. I was very fast in qualifying, often finishing in the top three (first in France), but unfortunately, I never managed to get a good start. It was completely different with the 250cc four-stroke, though, where I always started at the front: yet another reason to switch to the 250cc for 2027”
Reflecting on his home GP at Montevarchi – his MX2 GP debut…
Earlier in the year, Uccellini had the opportunity to make his World Championship debut at his home Grand Prix in Montevarchi. It was a special occasion for the young Italian, who showed good speed in the qualifying race before misfortune got in the way.
After getting a great start and making an impressive pass on Valin, a mechanical issue and a subsequent knee problem made things difficult.
“It was incredible to take part in my home race: a dream. In the qualifying race, I started second; on the first uphill section, I overtook Valin on the outside, but then the bike stalled at the second braking point. After a few laps, my knee swelled up and I couldn’t ride well anymore”.
On goals for the 2027 season – his rookie MX2 GP season…
Uccellini knows that stepping into the MX2 World Championship will be a significant challenge, with the level of competition extremely high. However, having already experienced the 250cc four-stroke and feeling comfortable on the bike, he is confident he can make progress throughout his rookie campaign.
“The level in MX2 is extremely high, but I think I can do well on certain tracks. The bike is fantastic, I felt comfortable right away; it’s very easy and I had a great feeling from the very first meters. The goal is to try to grow throughout the season. I want to be fast in qualifying right from the start and then, as the championship goes on, become increasingly consistent in the motos”.
When it comes to his 2027 Grand Prix schedule, Uccellini expects to miss only two rounds, although completing the entire championship would be a major achievement for the young Italian. He also explained how his programme will differ from that of fellow Italian rider Nicky Mannini.
“I think I will only miss the rounds in China and Australia, but managing to do them all would be a great achievement. That would mean everything is going beyond expectations. I don’t think I’ll spend much time with (Nicky Mannini). We will be racing in two different championships, so we’ll have two different training programs”.
On his pre-season preparations…
With the 2027 season representing such an important step in his career, Uccellini is already looking forward to getting his preparations underway. Sardinia will be one of his main destinations during the winter, where he will have the opportunity to train alongside other World Championship riders.
“For pre-season, I will go to Sardinia a couple of times for a few weeks, along with other World Championship riders. I am looking forward to it”
