One of the standout performers in the EMX125 class so far this season has been Nicky Mannini. The young Italian is not only showcasing impressive speed but also delivering results at the sharp end of a fiercely competitive field. At his home round in Trentino, Mannini bounced back from a frustrating first moto to take a dominant race win in front of a passionate crowd—securing an all-Italian 1-2-3 and finishing as the top home rider. We caught up with the TM rider to discuss his strong start to the season, the emotion of winning at home, and how it feels to be part of such a stacked EMX125 field.
GateDrop: Nicky, your home GP, second moto, it was an Italian 1-2-3 and you were the best Italian. A very good weekend, you must be happy to get back on the podium?
Mannini: Yeah, for sure, very happy about this weekend. Yesterday I started second, I passed first and I led almost all the motos, but then second took me out, we crashed, so it was a bit sketchy. I finished seventh in the end. Today I started first, I led all the moto, I pushed, I pushed all I had and yeah, this is the result. Super happy, thank you to all.
GateDrop: How did it feel in that second moto, to put the wrongs of yesterday behind you and get the win? You looked very happy at the end, celebrating…
Mannini: Yeah, I was super, super happy because it’s my first time, first win, home GP and yeah, so pleased.
GateDrop: And just on the first moto, Bellei, it seemed like initially, up pit lane, he sort of cut across you and then a couple of corners later, it looked like a pretty blatant take out, that must be pretty annoying…
Mannini: Yeah, I almost crashed and I was like this, but I get up fast and push, push, push to the end.
GateDrop: The starts, the starts have been amazing this year…
Mannini: Yeah, the start was good, the drop was not the best but later up the straight was better and I pushed in the corner, the braking, I go full gas and yeah, I start first.
GateDrop: It seems like the bike is quite good out of the gate, maybe you also, or a combination of both the rider being good and the bike being good out of the gate?
Mannini: Yeah, I think, yes (laughs).
GateDrop: Obviously last year, an injury and then you came back towards the end of the season. Was it good to have a full off-season, to work with the bike and the new team?
Mannini: Yeah, last year was harder, tough, because I stopped riding for five months, but when I came back, I came back so good and this winter, yeah, I worked so good. We have also now to improve somethings on the bike, but we’re working and I hope to do it better.
GateDrop: You had the red plate earlier in the year, that must have felt amazing. It’s not often we get to see a red plate on a TM…
Mannini: Yeah, I took the red plate in France but then I got sick for Riola and it was hard, so hard. I had a hot temperature, my nose was so cold and I tried, but it was too much for my physique because I was sick. But yeah. Here I do a good race, I heard a lot from the fans, it was so nice.
GateDrop: On the level of the EMX125 class this year, the level seems very, very high. There’s five to ten guys that can win on any given day…
Mannini: Yeah.
GateDrop: What’s the level like and do you enjoy the championship?
Mannini: Yeah, I enjoy it, I enjoy it more when I do podiums, but yeah, the level is very high, a lot of riders on the same level and all the riders are pushing from the start to the end. There are some sketchy moments, but yeah, I’m happy about this.
GateDrop: There’s so many Italians as well, is it nice to have so many Italians and battle against them? Do you enjoy that?
Mannini: There’s a lot of Italians here, a lot of Italian riders go fast on the day but yeah, if I stay in front of them, I’m more happy.
