11-02-2026	International News
Mattia Guadagnini Third in the Italian MX1 Championship

Mattia Guadagnini and Van Venrooy KTM Racing have made a positive start to the 2026 season in the International Italian Championship. After finishing fifth in the opening round in Alghero, Guadagnini added another strong result in Mantova, securing third place in the final championship MX1 standings.

In the first moto, he immediately went on the attack and managed to move up to sixth place in the opening corners after the start. Guadagnini found a good rhythm, which allowed him to keep moving forward throughout the race. In the second half of the moto he advanced to third place, which he held all the way to the finish, earning a third-place result.

In the second moto, he went off the track in the second corner after the start, losing several positions. Guadagnini then rode a consistent race and eventually crossed the finish line in ninth place.

These results were good enough for fifth place overall on the day, which secured him third place in the championship standings.

Mattia Guadagnini:
“I’m very happy with how the first two races have gone. In Mantova, the first moto went very well, despite the fact that I struggled with stomach problems all day. I was very satisfied with my third place. In the second moto, I went off the track shortly after the start, which meant I could forget about a good start. I rode around tenth place for most of the moto and finished ninth. The feeling on the bike is very good, and in the coming weeks we will keep working hard to be ready for the first Grand Prix in Argentina.”

Noel Zanocz also showed promising things in Mantova in the MX2 class. Zanocz started strongly in the first moto and was running in second place in the early stages. Unfortunately, two crashes spoiled his race, and a pit stop for new gloves and goggles dropped him back outside the top thirty. Zanocz fought back, however, and managed to finish in sixteenth place.

In the second moto, he did not get a good start, but Zanocz rode a strong race and charged back to sixth place. With these results, he finished ninth overall on the day and ended the championship in eighth place.

Noel Zanocz:
“The track in Mantova was tricky, with a loose top layer but hard underneath. I started the day with the third-fastest time in my group, which I wasn’t completely satisfied with. In the first moto I started strong, but when I tried to take the lead, I crashed. After that, I crashed again and went into the pits for new gloves and goggles. I treated the rest of the moto as a training session, and it went well with good lap times. In the second moto my start wasn’t good, but despite visibility problems caused by moisture, I was able to work my way forward. The preparation is going well, and I’m looking forward to the coming weeks leading up to the first Grand Prix.”

In consultation with the team, it was decided that Aron Katona would not take part in the race in Mantova. He continued with his training schedule and is working hard to be in strong form for the upcoming races.

Results Italian Championship MX1 Mantova:
1 Tim Gajser 50 Pnt
2 Tom Vialle 38 Pnt
3 Alberto Forato 34 Pnt
4 Jago Geerts 32 Pnt
5 Mattia Guadagnini 32 Pnt

Final Italian Championship Standings MX1:
1 Tim Gajser 88 Pnt
2 Alberto Forato 68 Pnt
3 Mattia Guadagnini 66 Pnt
4 Jago Geerts 56 Pnt
5 Jan Pancar 55 Pnt

Results Italian Championship MX2 Mantova:
1 Simon Laengenfelder 50 Pat
2 Cas Valk 36 Pnt
3 Jekabs Kubulins 36 Pnt
4 Scott Smulders 36 Pnt
5 Ferruccio Zanchi 30 Pnt
9 Noel Zanocz 21 Pnt

Final Italian Championship Standings MX2:
1 Simon Laengenfelder 92 Pnt
2 Scott Smulders 70 Pnt
3 Cas Valk 68 Pnt
4 Ferruccio Zanchi 67 Pnt
5 Sacha Coenen 50 Pnt
8 Noel Zanocz 48 Pnt

 

Fotos:Daniele Barreca

Online: Stefan Uhlmann