One young rider that could have a bright future in the sport is young Italian, Francesco Bellei who raced his first European championship this year and he was impressive in the EMX125 class. Winning races, getting podiums and finishing fourth overall in the championship, it was a superb season.
For 2025, Bellei has signed a factory deal as he’ll be under the SDM Corse Fantic awning to take on the EMX125 championship. There’s no doubt he’ll be a championship contender in 2025.
We caught up with Bellei to discuss his opportunity and much more…
GateDrop: Francesco, let’s look back on your 2024 season. To my knowledge it was your first season racing outside Italy and a full European championship. Seeing you this year you wouldn’t have thought that! How would you reflect on your season, you must have been delighted to finish fourth overall in the EMX125 series?
Bellei: Yes, it was my first experience racing the full European Championship. And yes, I am really happy but the focus is to do even better than what we did.
GateDrop: How did you find racing outside your home country and different countries in Europe? Some riders struggle to adapt but you didn’t seem to have that many problems (apart from the deep sand probably)…
Bellei: Oh yes, the sand was a bit of a problem because this year we didn’t do a lot of sand training, and Ottobiano, the only sand track we have in Italy, is completely different compared to the sand you find in Belgium or the Netherlands. Apart from that, the tracks of the European Championship weren’t a problem for me.
GateDrop: You won the second moto at Arco di Trento, how did that feel to win for the first time at that high level?
Bellei: It was really exciting for me, because the first round in Riola was a difficult one for me and I was a bit upset. So after that win, I was very happy, also because Arco is my home track.
GateDrop: You were with Dreams Racing KTM this year, what was it like being part of that team? You’ve helped raise their profile…
Bellei: Sure, Dreams Racing helped me to do the full European Championship. Without them, me and my family wouldn’t have been able to do trips like Sweden or Portugal.
GateDrop: Heading into 2025, you had a decision to make, stay in the EMX125 series or make the move up to the EMX250 class, was this a difficult decision? I believe you had some offers for both classes…
Bellei: Yes, it was a really difficult decision to make, I had some offers for both classes, but at last I prefer to stay in the EMX125 series to do one more year of experience because I will have just turned 16, and I am so excited to ride a new 125cc bike.
GateDrop: You raced the Motocross European of Nations on the 250cc and even won a moto. Did you surprise yourself – you must already like the bike which is good for the future…
Bellei: I had a lot of fun at the Motocross European of Nations, because I like riding the 250cc. Yes, I was surprised but sure to do very well because I really like it a lot to ride the 250cc, and the track was fun. I won a moto but in the second one I knew that Italy was first and so I didn’t want to take any unnecessary risks.
GateDrop: You’ve signed with the Factory Fantic team for the 2025, how does it feel to have such a good team behind you for 2025? They won the EMX125 and Junior world title this year so no pressure (laughs)…
Bellei: I am really proud to ride for the Fantic Factory Racing Team, it is my first experience with a Factory Team, and my first experience without my “family crew” because my father prepared my bikes since I was child and my Mum is my second mechanic and gives me the pit board…so it will be a really big change for me, but it’s time to grow up. So yes, no pressure for 2025 (laughs)… The bike is good and I am sure that we are going to have fun. I am honoured that they think I am the right rider to do a good job.
GateDrop: Before Simone Mancini signed with the team sand was his weakness but that team have really helped him improve his deep sand riding, is that something you are going to focus on during the winter?
Bellei: Oh yes, sand skills are really important to have a good season, I want to become a complete rider and I’m sure that the team is going to help me to improve my way to ride in sand and deep sand.
GateDrop: You’ll work with former GP rider, Michele Cervellin as he is the team coach. Are you looking to working and learning with him?
Bellei: Yes, we have just started last week and I’m really happy because I know Michele Cervellin and I’m sure that I will grow a lot with him.
GateDrop: Growing up which riders did you look up to and why?
Bellei: It is more lately that I have looked at Lucas Coenen, he is young and managed to make Kay de Wolf’s life difficult.
GateDrop: Heading into the 2025 season what’s your goals for the upcoming year?
Bellei: The goal for the next season is to do even better than this year and, why not, try to make some dreams come true…
GateDrop: What are your plans between now and the start of the season in terms of where you’ll spend your time to put in the hard work and then what pre-season races will you do?
Bellei: For sure I will work hard to improve my starts and my sand riding skills. Until January we will stay at tracks around the team base. I put in the work in the gym and on the bike and then we will go to Sardinia where the hard work begins. I think that we will do the Internazionali d’Italia to kick off the season.
GateDrop: Thanks for taking the time to answer our questions, see you next year!
Bellei: Thanks to you!
