Fantic's Gennaro Utech Crowned Italian Rookies Cup Champion
17-year-old Gennaro Utech secured the 2026 Rookies Cup title for Fantic Factory Racing EMX with two second-place finishes at Faenza, overcoming a recent shoulder injury.
- 17
- 2 (2024 and 2026)
- Two second places
- 4th
What Happened
Gennaro Utech, a 17-year-old from Sicily, won the 2026 Rookies Cup championship for Fantic Factory Racing EMX at Andrea Dovizioso's 04 Park in Faenza. Racing just two weeks after a shoulder injury at the Portuguese GP, Utech secured the title with two second-place finishes. This is the team's second Rookies Cup win, following Simone Mancini's success in 2024.
2
Fantic Factory Racing EMX has now won the Rookies Cup twice: in 2024 with Simone Mancini and 2026 with Gennaro Utech.
“I am really happy to have won the Rookies Cup title after taking the victory in Arco and two second-place finishes here in Faenza. The other guys were very fast, and I am still working on getting back to 100% after my shoulder injury. In the end, we managed to get the job done and bring the title home. Now the focus shifts back to the EMX125 European Championship, and we will do our best in the re”
Utech's teammate Bertram Thorius, 15, entered the finale tied on points but crashed out in race 2 after a racing incident, finishing third in race 1. Thorius was uninjured and will return to action at the British GP, round 8 of the European Championship, where he currently sits fourth in the standings.
Previously from Fantic Motor S.p.A.
Bertram Thorius, who entered the Rookies Cup finale tied on points with Utech, had previously secured a podium in the EMX125 class at the Portuguese GP and impressed at the FIM Junior Motocross World Championship. His strong performance this season set up a dramatic title decider.
- Thorius Takes EMX125 Podium in Portugal; Forato and Van doninck Score Points in MXGP
- Fantic Riders Struggle in South Africa MXGP; Thorius Impresses at Junior World Championship
Background drawn from MotorClaw's earlier coverage of Fantic Motor S.p.A.'s official releases.
Why this matters
This is the second Rookies Cup title for Fantic Factory Racing EMX, demonstrating the competitiveness of their Fantic XX 125 bike. The close battle between teammates Utech and Bertram Thorius, who tied on points entering the finale, highlights the team's depth in nurturing young motocross talent. The result affects the standings in the EMX125 European Championship, where both riders aim to continue their strong performances.
Terms in This Story
- Rookies Cup
- A junior motocross championship for emerging riders, often a stepping stone to higher classes.
- EMX125
- The European Motocross Championship for 125cc bikes.
- Fantic XX 125
- A race-kitted 125cc motocross motorcycle produced by Fantic Motor.
Summarised from the linked release; details can be imperfect — always verify against the original source.