Thorius Takes EMX125 Podium in Portugal; Forato and Van doninck Score Points in MXGP
Bertram Thorius secured third overall in the EMX125 class at the Portuguese GP, while Alberto Forato and a returning Brent Van doninck scored points in MXGP.
third in EMX125
third
13th in MXGP
What Happened
Fantic Factory Racing EMX and MXGP teams competed at the Portuguese GP in Águeda. In EMX125, Bertram Thorius claimed third overall with a holeshot in race 2, while Gennaro Utech finished third in race 1 but crashed in race 2. In MXGP, Alberto Forato finished 13th overall, and Brent Van doninck returned from injury to take 16th overall.
Bertram Thorius fastest
Thorius fourth, Utech third
Thorius finished fourth, Utech third
Thorius holeshot and finished second; Utech crashed on opening lap, ended weekend
“I am very happy to be back on the box! My riding was good all weekend and it felt great to get the holeshot in race 2. Overall, it was a really good GP, and I would like to thank the Fantic Factory Racing EMX team, my trainer Kenny, and everyone supporting me both at the track and back home. Now I am looking forward to representing Denmark at the Junior World Championship.”
“Obviously, I am disappointed to end the weekend like this, especially because on Saturday, it was pretty clear we had the pace to fight for the podium: third in time practice, a good start and third in race 1. In race 2, there was nothing I could do to avoid the crash. Fortunately, there is no serious damage to my shoulder, so now we look ahead.”
In MXGP, Alberto Forato finished 13th overall with a 13th and 15th in the two races, while Brent Van doninck, returning from a back injury suffered in Montevarchi, took 14th and 16th for 16th overall. Forato sits 12th in the championship, and the series heads to South Africa next.
“There is not much to say, unfortunately it was just not my weekend. It is disappointing, but the season is long, so we will reset and focus on the next races. As always, I am giving it everything, and so is everyone in the team and at Fantic. We are working hard and we will keep doing so until we achieve our goal.”
“Obviously, the final result is not what we wanted, but considering that just a week ago I didn't even know if I would be able to ride, I will take it. The positive is that my back felt alright, and that gives me confidence heading into the next races.”
Previously from Fantic Motor S.p.A.
In prior coverage, 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.
Background drawn from MotorClaw's earlier coverage of Fantic Motor S.p.A.'s official releases.
Why this matters
This race weekend highlights the performance of young motocross prospects like Thorius and Utech, and the resilience of riders like Van doninck returning from injury. For Fantic, consistent points scoring keeps them competitive in both the EMX125 and MXGP championships.
Terms in This Story
- EMX125
- European Motocross championship for 125cc bikes, a feeder class for the world championship.
- MXGP
- FIM Motocross World Championship, the top level of motocross racing.
- holeshot
- The rider who reaches the first turn first at the start of a motocross race.
- chequered flag
- The black-and-white checkered flag waved to signal the end of a race.
Summarised from the linked release; details can be imperfect — always verify against the original source.