Strong Comeback for Alberto Forato at MXGP of Turkey

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After seven weeks on the sidelines due to injury, Alberto Forato made a strong return to racing at the MXGP of Turkey. The Fantic Factory Racing MXGP rider immediately showed in Afyonkarahisar that his speed is still there. With a seventh-place finish in the opening race and fifteenth in the second, he finished twelfth overall. Jörgen-Matthias Talviku secured fifteenth place overall.

Forato only received medical clearance to resume riding ten days before travelling to Turkey. Despite the limited preparation time, the Italian immediately felt comfortable on his Fantic XXF 450. He set the eighth-fastest time in qualifying before finishing tenth in the qualifying race.

On Sunday, Forato continued to make progress. In the opening race, he showed strong pace and good physical condition, riding to an impressive seventh-place finish.

In the second race, however, luck was not on his side. Shortly after the start, a stone hit his motorcycle, resulting in a technical issue. As a result, Forato was unable to ride at his normal level, but he refused to give up and still brought his Fantic home in fifteenth place. With a 7-15 score, he finished twelfth overall.

Alongside Forato, Jörgen-Matthias Talviku once again lined up for Fantic Factory Racing MXGP. The Estonian rider was initially brought in as a replacement for Forato, but remained part of the team in Turkey as Brent Van Doninck continues to recover from the rib injury he sustained in Sweden.
Talviku had several strong starts, but his weekend was mainly defined by crashes. He made a good start in the qualifying race, but after two crashes, his motorcycle was damaged and he was unable to finish the race.

Talviku also made a strong start to the opening race. At the end of the first lap, he was running inside the top eight when he suffered a heavy crash. Once again, his motorcycle was damaged and he was forced to retire.

In the second race, Talviku managed to regroup and crossed the finish line in fourteenth place. This placed him fifteenth overall.

Alberto Forato:
“It felt great to be back, although in terms of results it was also a weekend of mixed emotions. I rode a very good first race, finishing seventh, and I felt comfortable on the bike. It’s just a shame about the bad luck in the second race. It looks like I was hit by a stone shortly after the start, which caused a problem with the bike and meant I could no longer push properly.

“But I’m not someone who gives up easily, so I kept riding. It wasn’t easy to make it to the finish, but I’m very happy to be back. I really wanted to be here. Once again, thank you to everyone who made this possible!”

Jörgen-Matthias Talviku:
“The weekend started quite well and in the first few laps I had the confidence to make some good moves. The start of the qualifying race was especially strong, but then I crashed out quite early and wasn’t able to gain any more experience on the track.

“In the first race, I again had a couple of really good opening corners. At the end of the first lap I was inside the top eight, but then I had a heavy crash. The bike was damaged again and I couldn’t continue. Before the final race, I tried to regroup, but I didn’t have the confidence and my riding wasn’t great.

“I’m not used to these circumstances either, but I’ve learned a lot from the team over the past few weeks. Of course, I want better results, but things don’t change overnight. We’ll keep working on it.”

Jörgen-Matthias Talviku makes progress with Fantic Factory Racing MXGP in Arnhem

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Fantic Factory Racing MXGP once again counted on Jörgen-Matthias Talviku at the Grand Prix of the Netherlands in Arnhem. The Estonian rider took his place on the Fantic XXF 450 for the third time and showed strong pace despite being ill. With 15th- and 13th-place finishes in the races, he ended the Grand Prix 16th overall, just two points away from the top ten.

With Alberto Forato and Brent Van doninck still sidelined due to injuries, Talviku was the sole representative of Fantic Factory Racing MXGP during the sixteenth round of the World Championship. In front of more than 30,000 enthusiastic spectators, the 23-year-old Estonian faced a demanding sand race at Motorsportpark Gelderland Midden.

Talviku made a strong start to the weekend. He posted the 11th-fastest time in qualifying and also ran around that position for much of the qualifying race. Despite not feeling fully fit, he kept pushing and eventually crossed the finish line in 15th.

On Sunday morning, Talviku once again showed that he is becoming increasingly comfortable on the Fantic XXF 450. He set the tenth-fastest time in the warm-up. The opening race then got off to an unfortunate start. Talviku hit the starting gate and was forced to begin the race from the back of the field. He fought his way back through the pack to finish 15th.

Further progress followed in the second race. The Estonian rode to a solid 13th-place finish, collecting enough points to finish 16th in the overall classification. Remarkably, he was only two World Championship points away from a place in the overall top ten.

Jörgen-Matthias Talviku:
“It was a solid weekend. Sick or not, we gave everything on the track. On Saturday I had a good start and was running around 11th before eventually finishing 15th. The speed was there. It was just a shame about the mistake at the start of the first race. We fought hard for 15th and 13th places. In the end, I finished 16th overall, but I was only a few points away from the top ten. I felt better on the bike this weekend and was also more relaxed. So there was definitely progress, and I’m happy about that. A big thank you to Fantic, the entire team and all our sponsors.”

Solid Performance by Talviku in Sweden, Van Doninck Awaits Further Examination

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Fantic Factory Racing MXGP experienced a weekend of mixed fortunes at the Swedish Grand Prix in Uddevalla. Jörgen-Matthias Talviku showed clear progress throughout the weekend and finished 15th overall, while Brent van Doninck’s weekend came to an early end following a crash at the start of the second moto.

Talviku once again replaced the injured Alberto Forato aboard the Fantic XXF 450. For the 23-year-old Estonian, it was his first race in Uddevalla since his time in the 125cc class in 2019.

In both motos, Talviku showed particularly strong speed during the opening stages. He quickly worked his way up to 12th position and remained there for a considerable amount of time. Although he was not yet able to maintain that pace over the full race distance, his 15th- and 17th-place finishes provided further valuable experience in the MXGP class. These results earned him 15th place in the overall classification.

For Brent van Doninck, a difficult weekend came to an early end at the start of the second moto. The Belgian was involved in an incident in the first corner and suffered a heavy crash, taking a significant impact to his ribs.

Following an initial examination at the circuit’s medical centre, Van Doninck was cleared to return to Belgium. He will undergo further examinations there to determine the extent of his injury.

Fantic Factory Racing MXGP will share further information about his condition as soon as it becomes available. Next weekend, the MXGP of the Netherlands will take place in Arnhem, where the riders will return to the sand.

Jörgen-Matthias Talviku:
“I definitely felt that there was progress. I haven’t ridden much in these kinds of specific hardpack conditions and my speed was quite good. In the first few laps of both motos I was fast, and I made some smart overtaking moves that helped me a lot. I rode in 12th place for quite a long time, but perhaps I was still riding a little too tense. Once my pace dropped, it dropped too much as a result. A 15th-place finish was still solid for me. I need some more Grand Prix experience to be able to maintain the intensity over the full race distance in the MXGP class. Once again, thanks to the team and everyone at Fantic. Next week we’ll try again when we’re back in the sand.”

Fantic Factory Racing MXGP Unveils Special Livery and New Rider Line-up at Home Grand Prix in Lommel

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Fantic Factory Racing MXGP lined up at the MXGP of Flanders with a one-off special livery during its home Grand Prix. On the demanding sand circuit of Lommel, Jörgen-Matthias Talviku made his debut aboard the Fantic XXF 450 alongside Brent Van doninck. The Belgian rider completed his home Grand Prix in 14th overall.

With thousands of fans, glorious weather, and one of the toughest sand tracks on the calendar, Lommel once again delivered one of the most spectacular events of the season. The weekend held extra significance for Jacky Martens’ Fantic Factory Racing MXGP team, whose headquarters are located just a short distance from the legendary Belgian circuit.

To celebrate the home event, Van doninck and his new teammate Talviku raced with a special livery inspired by the Belgian flag. Between on-track sessions, friends and partners were welcomed in the team’s dedicated hospitality area.

Van doninck arrived in Lommel highly motivated after securing his best moto result of the season one week earlier in Loket. However, the weekend proved more difficult than expected. Several mistakes and crashes on Saturday prevented him from finishing the qualifying race, leaving him with an unfavourable gate pick for Sunday’s races.
In the opening moto, Van doninck fought his way back to 15th place before crossing the line in 16th in race two. Those results earned him 14th overall for the Grand Prix.
Talviku was called up to replace the injured Alberto Forato. The Estonian made a promising start to his stint with the team by finishing 14th in Saturday’s qualifying race. Despite having very limited time on the bike, he demonstrated encouraging potential. Sunday’s results did not fully reflect that progress. After a crash at the start of the second moto, Talviku finished 19th and 18th, placing him 20th overall.

Following an intense run of three consecutive Grand Prix weekends, the team now has a weekend off before the FIM Motocross World Championship resumes with the MXGP of Sweden.

Brent Van doninck:
“Lommel is always a special Grand Prix. Racing with the Belgian-inspired livery and having so much support from friends and family made it even more special. After my result in Loket, I was determined to put together another strong weekend, but unfortunately things didn’t go as planned. It was a difficult weekend from the start. I made too many mistakes and had too many crashes on Saturday. By Sunday, I felt like I had no energy left and couldn’t give anything extra. We have to put this Grand Prix behind us. After three demanding race weekends in a row, it’s good to have a weekend off to recover, reset, and come back stronger in Sweden.”

Jörgen-Matthias Talviku:
“It’s been a busy few days. On Sunday, I had to battle with myself more than anything. In these demanding conditions, I still don’t have enough confidence on a bike that is very new to me. I’m definitely not satisfied with the results, but at the same time I’m trying not to be too hard on myself. We did everything that was possible in such a short period of time. Now I’m looking forward to spending more time on the bike and becoming more comfortable. Once again, a big thank you to Fantic and the team for giving me this amazing opportunity.”

Season-best race result for Fantic’s Van doninck in Loket

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Fantic Factory Racing MXGP’s Brent Van doninck secured a season-best seventh-place finish in race 1 and finished 11th overall at the MXGP of Czech Republic, confirming his improving form ahead of both his and the team’s home GP in Belgium.

With Alberto Forato recovering from scapula surgery, Brent Van doninck was the sole Fantic Factory Racing MXGP rider at round 13 of the FIM Motocross World Championship, and he made sure to fly the flag for the Italian brand: a solid 12th place in Saturday’s qualifying race laid the foundation for a strong race day in Loket.

Fast out of the gate aboard his Fantic XXF 450, the 30-year-old Belgian slotted into the top 5 right from the start of race 1. In a highly competitive MXGP field, he maintained an impressive pace to hold on to fifth place for much of the race. Despite losing a couple of positions in the closing stages, Van doninck crossed the line in a season-best seventh place.

Race 2 was off to another great start, with Van doninck once again in the fight for the top 5, before he was involved in a costly crash in the second corner. Forced to come through from the back of the field, the Fantic Factory Racing MXGP rider charged to 16th, narrowly missing out on a top-10 overall finish in 11th place.

Momentum is building ahead of the team’s highly anticipated home GP in the sands of Lommel.

Brent Van doninck:
“Race 1 was really good, and I had two great starts, but in race 2 another rider crashed right in front of me. I hit his bike and went down. It is a shame because I really believe a top-10 overall finish was within reach today. There was nothing I could do to avoid it, though, so we will take the positives into next weekend. I am really looking forward to my home GP. A lot of fans and friends will be there, and I am feeling really good on the bike, so I can’t wait to get back out there.”

Forato Undergoes Surgery for Shoulder Blade Fracture, Van Doninck Shows Progress at the MXGP of Great Britain

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The Fantic Factory Racing MXGP Team experienced a weekend of mixed fortunes at the MXGP of Great Britain in Foxhill. While Alberto Forato was forced to withdraw due to injury, Brent Van Doninck showed that his upward trajectory is back on track.

Forato’s weekend started in promising fashion. The 26-year-old Italian posted the sixth-fastest time in timed practice and looked set for a strong result. However, disaster struck in Saturday’s qualifying race when he crashed heavily on the opening lap, injuring his left shoulder.

Following further medical examinations in Belgium, Forato was diagnosed with a fractured shoulder blade. He successfully underwent surgery on Sunday afternoon and will now focus entirely on his recovery. As a result, he will miss the upcoming rounds of the FIM Motocross World Championship.

For Brent Van Doninck, the weekend unfolded much more positively. The Belgian quickly felt at home on the classic hard-pack circuit of Foxhill and built on his 14th-place finish in the qualifying race. In the opening moto, however, he struggled to find the right lines to make passes and had to settle for 16th place.

The second moto was a significant improvement. Van Doninck delivered a strong performance and crossed the finish line in tenth place. That result earned him 11th overall for the day, just outside the top ten, and he now heads to the next Grand Prix in the Czech Republic full of confidence.

Brent Van Doninck:
“It was my first time racing at Foxhill and I really enjoyed it. The organisers did an amazing job, both with the track and the overall event. My riding in the first moto wasn’t actually bad, but the level in this class is so high that it’s incredibly difficult to make passes when you’re stuck further back in the field. In the second moto I was in a much better position after the opening lap, which allowed me to ride a strong race with a consistent pace. It was great to finish back inside the top ten. I’m really happy with the progress we’ve made. We also made a few changes to the bike setup that worked really well. I’m going home feeling positive, and it’s been a while since I could say that. The last few races have been mentally tough, with the crash in Montevarchi followed by illness in South Africa. We’re moving in the right direction now, and there are still a few tracks coming up that suit me well. We’ll keep working hard and never give up. Hopefully we can achieve even more top-ten finishes.”