Zanchi and Italy finish fourth in Motocross of Nations 2026 MX2 qualifying race
Ferruccio Zanchi rode from 28th on the grid to eighth in the MX2 qualifying race as Italy took fourth at the 2026 Motocross of Nations in Ernée.
- 4th
- 1,670 meters
- about 70 kilometers
- 28th
What Happened
The 79th FIM Motocross of Nations is taking place this weekend at the Raymond Demy circuit in Ernée. The track spans 1,670 meters and winds through the hills of the town, which lies about 70 kilometers south of the English Channel, on a hard-packed clay surface defined by significant uphill and downhill sections. Italy's Ferruccio Zanchi and his team-mates finished fourth in the MX2 qualifying race. That result earned Italy its starting position for Sunday's three main motos.
Zanchi is competing in the Motocross of Nations for the first time in his career. He is debuting the Beddini Racing Ducati MX2 Factory Team's Desmo250 MX at the international event; following the Desmo450 MX's debut a year ago, the bike now sports Italy's colors to represent the national team in the MX2 class. After finishing ninth in the morning's free practice, he lined up 28th for the MX2 qualifying race.
The ballot decides the starting positions and forces Italy to the back of the grid, with Zanchi lining up 28th.
Zanchi finishes ninth in free practice.
Zanchi gets a good jump off the gate but is squeezed out at the first corner, passing through in 16th, is 11th after the first lap and climbs to eighth by the end of the race.
Italy starts from its fourth-place qualifying position in the three main motos.
- Started 28th after Friday's ballot put Italy at the back of the starting grid
- Squeezed out at the first corner, passing through in 16th place
- Eleventh after the first lap
- Climbed to eighth place by the end of the race
4th
Zanchi, Alberto Forato and Andrea Adamo secured the finish that sets Italy's starting position for Sunday's three main motos.
Why this matters
The qualifying result matters because it decides where Italy's three-rider team starts Sunday's three main motos, which settle the event. It is also Zanchi's first Motocross of Nations and the first outing for the Beddini Racing Ducati MX2 Factory Team's Desmo250 MX, a year after Ducati's Desmo450 MX made its debut at the event.
Terms in This Story
- Motocross of Nations
- An annual international motocross event in which riders compete for their national teams rather than for their regular race teams.
- MX2
- A motocross racing class in which riders compete at events such as the Motocross of Nations.
- moto
- A single motocross race or heat; a weekend event is often decided over several motos.
Summarised from the linked release; details can be imperfect — always verify against the original source.