Fantic Riders Struggle in South Africa MXGP; Thorius Impresses at Junior World Championship
Fantic Factory Racing MXGP riders Alberto Forato and Brent Van doninck faced a tough weekend in Johannesburg, while junior rider Bertram Thorius showed speed at the FIM Junior Motocross World Championship in the Czech R…
16th
17th
6th
What Happened
Fantic Factory Racing MXGP competed at the Terra Topia MX Track near Johannesburg, South Africa, for the first time. Alberto Forato set the 11th fastest time in practice and finished 12th in qualifying, while teammate Brent Van doninck placed 13th. However, race day brought challenges: Forato crashed on the opening lap of race 1, damaging his bike and forcing a retirement. Van doninck finished 16th in race 1.
In race 2, Forato bounced back to finish 11th, just one second shy of the top 10. Van doninck placed 17th in race 2. Forato ended the weekend 16th overall, and Van doninck 17th overall. The championship now heads to the British GP on 18-19 July after a week off.
“The goal is always to fight for the top 10, and we came close again in race 2, but a DNF always hurts the overall result. The weekend off will be a good opportunity to recharge the batteries after an intense triple-header.”
At the FIM Junior Motocross World Championship in Jinín, Czech Republic, Fantic Factory Racing EMX rider Bertram Thorius qualified fastest in his group and secured second gate pick. Race 1 was marred by two crashes, leaving him 10th. In race 2, he finished third, earning sixth overall. Thorius had recently podiumed in the EMX125 series.
“I got another good start in race 2 and put together a solid race to finish third. Overall, it was a bit of an up-and-down weekend, but I really can’t complain about finishing sixth in the world. We just have to learn from our mistakes and keep trying to improve every weekend.”
Previously from Fantic Motor S.p.A.
Bertram Thorius had previously dominated the Italian Rookies Cup opener in Arco, sharing race wins and the overall podium with teammate Gennaro Utech, underscoring his strong form entering the Junior World Championship.
Background drawn from MotorClaw's earlier coverage of Fantic Motor S.p.A.'s official releases.
Why this matters
The results show Fantic's performance across two continents as the MXGP season enters its second half. Forato and Van doninck aim for top-10 finishes, while Thorius' podium in race 2 confirms his rising talent in the junior ranks, affecting team morale and development.
Terms in This Story
- MXGP
- The premier class of the FIM Motocross World Championship.
- EMX
- European Motocross championship, a feeder series to MXGP.
- DNF
- Did Not Finish, a racing result when a rider retires before the race ends.
- JWC
- FIM Junior Motocross World Championship for younger riders.
Summarised from the linked release; details can be imperfect — always verify against the original source.