Thorius secures third EMX125 podium; Forato out with broken shoulder blade
Bertram Thorius earned his third EMX125 podium with second overall at Foxhills; Alberto Forato fractured his shoulder blade in a crash.
- 3
- 2nd
- 6th
- 4th and 6th
What Happened
Bertram Thorius delivered another strong performance aboard the Fantic XX 125 at Foxhills. He claimed the holeshot in race one and finished second, then fought back to fifth in race two after a hectic start, securing second overall. This marks his third podium of the season and his career-best overall result.
Thorius's teammate Gennaro Utech showed pace but settled for seventh overall after a small crash in race one. He recovered to seventh in both races. The pair now sit fourth and sixth in the EMX125 championship standings, with the next round in Sweden on August 15-16.
In the MXGP class, Alberto Forato started strong with the sixth fastest time in practice but crashed on the opening lap of the qualifying race, injuring his left shoulder. Medical evaluation in Belgium confirmed a fractured scapula (shoulder blade). He underwent successful surgery on Sunday and will miss upcoming MXGP rounds.
Brent Van doninck flew the flag for Fantic Factory Racing MXGP at Foxhills. He finished 16th in race one but improved to tenth in race two, ending 11th overall. Van doninck expressed satisfaction with his progress after a tough run of crashes and illness.
Forato crashes in MXGP qualifying race, injures left shoulder
Forato undergoes successful surgery on fractured scapula
Forato will miss upcoming MXGP rounds during recovery
Next EMX125 round at MXGP of Sweden
“Another podium secured, and it is my first time finishing second overall. It took me a few laps to find the right lines in race 2, but overall, it was a really good weekend. I felt great with the bike and am very happy with the result. A huge thank you to my team and Fantic, and my family and everyone supporting me at the track or from home. Now let’s continue to put in the work before going for i”
“It was my first time at Foxhills and I really enjoyed it. They did a great job with both the track preparation and the organization. My riding wasn’t too bad in race 1, but the level in this class is so high that it’s hard to make passes when you find yourself at the back of the pack. In race 2, I was in a better position after the first lap and put together a good race with solid pace throughout.”
Previously from Fantic Motor S.p.A.
Thorius had previously taken third overall in Portugal in late June, while Forato and Van doninck endured a tough weekend in South Africa. Meanwhile, Utech recently won the Italian Rookies Cup.
- 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
- Fantic's Gennaro Utech Crowned Italian Rookies Cup Champion
Background drawn from MotorClaw's earlier coverage of Fantic Motor S.p.A.'s official releases.
Why this matters
Thorius continues to impress in the EMX125 class, securing his third podium and moving up in the championship. Forato's injury sidelines him for upcoming MXGP rounds, impacting Fantic's factory team. The contrasting results show the highs and lows of racing at a high level.
Terms in This Story
- Holeshot
- The first rider into the first corner in motocross, often leading the race.
- EMX125
- European Motocross Championship for 125cc motorcycles.
- Scapula
- The medical term for the shoulder blade.
- MXGP
- The FIM Motocross World Championship.
Summarised from the linked release; details can be imperfect — always verify against the original source.