Coming into the 2023 season, Marc-Antoine Rossi signed a deal with the VRT KTM Junior team to contest the EMX250 series and he has turned a few heads this year racing the competitive class. The French talent did get injured and missed three rounds of the series which meant he only finished seventh in the championship but he had top three speed and ended the season winning the final round at Matterley Basin.
We caught up with Rossi to discuss his season, goals for the future and more.
GateDrop: Marc-Antoine Rossi, a return to EMX250 racing here for you, it could not have went much better apart from going 1-1 but a bad start in race made things difficult. But to win at this level, how does it feel?
Rossi: Yeah, I feel really good. It is a great weekend for me to comeback to competition. Nothing to say, just great for the whole team, for me to win the last round. The track was incredible, the best race of the year for me. The first moto was great, I passed first to win. In the second moto I took a bad start and then after made a little crash but I pushed to pass second. After that I knew I would win so I relaxed.
GateDrop: In the second moto, Lata started to catch but then the next lap you set the fastest lap of the race to pull away from him again – it looked like you were riding with even more in the tank?
Rossi: Yeah, I think it was mid moto when I made the best lap of the race. I did see Lata come back behind me but I pushed a little bit because I didn’t want to lose my second place but after I did push for two laps and did my best lap. I saw I pulled away, relaxed and seen him behind me, I saw Ferruccio (Zanchi) in front but I knew I had the overall win.
GateDrop: 2-3 years ago you had some good rides in the EMX125 class but nothing like this year, you have been very fast at the front of EMX250, have you may be surprised yourself a bit this year?
Rossi: No, not a surprise. Because I have worked for this and it is not a surprise for me. I have worked very hard and it is good for me and my head. Two years ago I had a good race here but this year has been incredible, the best memory.
GateDrop: You raced the MX2 GP in Villars at your home round in France, you were very very fast there. You must have really enjoyed that one racing in front of your home crowd?
Rossi: It was a great GP. It was my first one and it was incredible, two times in the top ten and that was great for the first one. Next year, I will make the whole GP season and it is great. See you next year for a good year!
GateDrop: Just on your style, you have such a good style, you like to throw the bike around and throw lots of whips. Is this something you have worked on?
Rossi: Yeah, a lot of people always say about my whips and style. But it is just my style and it is really good. I relax on the track without any pressure, it is good for me. Since I’ve been three years old it has been like this for me.
GateDrop: There’s lot of good fast French riders at the moment – it is really good for French MX!
Rossi: For sure, also this weekend, Thibault (Benistant) was really fast and also an EMX champion. Next year will be my first in MX2 and I think I can win a title in two or three years.
GateDrop: You must be very excited to make the move to MX2 in 2024?
Rossi: For sure, I am very happy about that. With a good team, I am very excited and hope to do well.
Interview: Andy McKinstry
Images: Nigel McKinstry
