We might only be two rounds into the 2022 MX2 World Championship but there’s no doubt that Italian talent, Andrea Adamo has been the surprise package of the season so far and has probably raised plenty of eyebrows both inside and outside the paddock.
Let’s go back to last year, it was Adamo’s rookie year in the MX2 World Championship and after having got injured the year before after the opening EMX250 round he was going into the season with a lack of racing under his belt. However, the SM-Action GasGas team clearly believed in him and decided to promote him to the MX2 World Championship. Adamo had a solid season last year usually finishing between 10-15 in the moto’s but lacked the breathtaking speed and intensity to run in the top five. In his rookie season in the MX2 World Championship, Adamo finished fourteenth which was a very good season and even that probably surprised some people after a lack of racing in 2020.
After two rounds of the 2022 MX2 World Championship it’s fair to say Adamo has really exceeded expectations and has made a huge step – he’s clearly had a very strong off-season working on his intensity and speed. A scorecard of 9-11-4-3 after four moto’s has seen him get his first podium in the MX2 World Championship and almost out of nowhere!
At Mantova in front of his home crowd Adamo was absolutely superb leading the second moto for fifteen minutes ahead of Jago Geerts to show the kind of pace he was running.
It’s no real surprise to see Adamo call it the best day of his life: “I believe that it was the best day of my life! I started well in race two; I was second when Tom crashed and I found myself in first. I led the race for more or less than 15 minutes but then I started to feel some fatigue, but I’m so happy for the final result. I’m grateful to my team and to all the people that keep supporting me”, Adamo stated.
After two rounds of the series, the former EMX150 champion, is currently fifth in the MX2 World Championship and hasn’t even got a factory bike at his disposal. It’s not going to be easy for the Italian to stay in the top five but if he can maintain this kind of speed he’ll be a top ten rider all season quite comfortably.
He’s still only 18 years old and clearly has a bright future if he can continue to progress, develop and stay away from injury – with this kind of speed he’s bound to secure a full factory ride for the 2023 season. Factory KTM should certainly keeping tabs on him – with Vialle moving up to MXGP next year they’ll be on the lookout for at least one MX2 rider and Adamo could fit the bill.
Adamo might not have been an elite talent at youth level but his results and progress show he’s dedicated and puts in the hard work – it’s all now starting to pay off and Italian fans will be hoping he can make it to the very top.
Article: Andy McKinstry
Main image: Infront Moto Racing
Podcast! Jonathan McCready and Andy McKinstry talk about the MXGP at Mantova, some amazing MX2 performances plus should Herlings race the US nationals? The Ken Roczen situation and that Stewart/ Anderson clash. Available on all major podcast platforms. Get it on iTunes here or Spotify and You Tube below: