Ferruccio Zanchi heads into the 2026 season full of optimism after a promising first race with Ducati at the opening round of the International Italian Championship in Alghero. Making his competitive debut aboard the all-new Desmo250 MX, the Italian showed encouraging speed and, just as importantly, a strong feeling with the bike following the winter break. With Ducati’s motocross project continuing to gather momentum and expectations building ahead of round two in Mantova, Zanchi sat down with Off Road Pro Racing to reflect on his first outing, the progress made so far, and his goals for what he sees as a key foundation year in MX2.
We are ready for the second round of the “Internazionali d’Italia” in Mantova, but let’s take a step back to the first round in Alghero, where you raced for the first time with Ducati. How did it go and how do you feel about the bike?
Zanchi: Hi everyone! It was a very positive Sunday in Alghero. The race went very well, and in addition to the good result, I had a good feeling with the bike in the first race of the season after a long break!
We worked very well with the TEAM and DUCATI during the winter, and the first test was positive.
We are still in the pre-season testing period and Ducati already seems to be in excellent shape. What are your expectations for this season?
Zanchi: The bike already has a good foundation to start the season! I expect to improve race after race and try to stay in the top 5 as much as possible!
You’ve been in the international circus for several years now. How do you see the state of health of motocross in general?
Zanchi: The world championship is definitely growing! In both categories, there are more and more riders who can aim for a podium finish in every Grand Prix. Lately, the races are becoming more interesting and competitive, and therefore more engaging for the public!
A team consisting of three riders in the same 450 category, then there’s you and Simone with the new Desmo250 MX. How do you get on with your teammate?
Zanchi: Ducati is definitely investing a lot in motocross, which is great to see. I didn’t know Simone before becoming his teammate. He’s a great guy, polite, friendly, and motivated! We immediately established an excellent relationship, and it’s really nice and fun to train together. He’s worked very hard and is constantly improving, so I’m sure he’ll have a great season!
What are your expectations for this MX2 season?
Zanchi: I see this season as a starting point where the team and I will aim to build a solid foundation to consistently finish in the top 5 so that we can compete for the title in 2027!
The live streaming will feature two separate coverages, with Marco Gualdani providing Italian commentary and MXGP voice Paul Malin, providing English commentary on all the races broadcast live on federmoto.tv and FIM-MOTO.tv
