Gennaro Utech endured a weekend of highs and lows at the opening round of the EMX125 Championship, showing both speed and toughness in equal measure. The young Italian started strongly but was forced to dig deep after a heavy crash, ultimately salvaging valuable points while continuing to adapt to his new surroundings with Fantic.
“Yes, the weekend started good. I had the first place in my group in the qualifying and first race I did a big crash at the start. I broke a little bit my face but the second race was good. I was in third but finished fifth. I’m not so happy, but I work to be better for the next few races”, Utech told GateDrop.com.
The extent of the crash made his second race performance even more impressive. “We needed to have some stitches in the face before the second moto. We go for the next race. I felt all good and had no pain for the second race.”
Track conditions added another layer of difficulty, but Utech remained unfazed despite prefering hard pack conditions.
“For me the conditions doesn’t really matter but it was such a hard race. I think I prefer the hard pack, it’s a little bit better for me I think. But I still like to ride on the sand”.
Still settling into life with his new team, Utech admits there is more to come.
“I felt not so much comfortable at the start after signing with Fantic but now I’m more comfortable. I need to work more to be better in the moto’s. We will work more and we can be ready for the next race.”
Working alongside experienced figures has already made a difference, particularly with Michele Cervellin.
“Working with Michelle Cerveillin has been good – he has helped me a lot,” Utech explained, highlighting the value of guidance as he continues to develop.
Ambition is not lacking, but the Italian is keeping his feet on the ground. “I want to win for sure but we need to go step by step.”
Preparation during the off-season has also played a role, with valuable time spent training alongside his teammate. “I spent winter with my team mate Bertram and we worked together during the training – it was good”.
Utech’s weekend may not have delivered the results he was hoping for, but it highlighted his determination and toughness. Bouncing back from injury to finish strongly in race two is a positive sign, and with continued progress and growing confidence in the Fantic setup, he looks well placed to improve as the season unfolds.
