Alberto Forato and Brent Van doninck are all set to launch their 2026 FIM Motocross World Championship campaign aboard the Fantic XXF 450, with Argentina hosting the much-anticipated MXGP season opener in just ten days. The countdown is on.
Building on encouraging pre-season performances, highlighted by a strong second-place finish at the Internazionali d’Italia, Fantic Factory Racing MXGP is looking forward to an exciting 2026 FIM Motocross World Championship campaign. The Grand Prix of Argentina (7–8 March) will kick off a true world tour, with 19 rounds spanning 17 countries across five continents.
Fantic heads into the MXGP season with a renewed team structure and an all-new rider line-up featuring Alberto Forato and Brent Van doninck, under the leadership of former 500cc World Champion Jacky Martens. The passion remains unchanged – and it has driven the entire build-up to the season opener, with a focused winter programme aimed at further enhancing the performance of the Fantic XXF 450.
Close collaboration between the team, the riders and Fantic Racing’s in-house R&D department brings together a wealth of experience and technical expertise – further strengthened by fresh input and the excitement that comes with a new beginning.
Alberto Forato:
“The season opener is always special, but after everything I have been through, this year will be even more so! I am ready to line up behind the gate again. We continue to work hard, and I already have a great feeling with my Fantic XXF 450. The whole package suits me, and I am having fun riding my bike. I want to be there at every race this season, and staying healthy will be my first goal. The level in MXGP is very high, but I will give it my all to stay as far up front as possible. The feeling is there, and we showed at the Internazionali d’Italia that we are on the right path. Coming back after such a long time off the bike, I didn’t really have any expectations regarding results; I just wanted to see how I felt and gather as much information as possible about the new bike. Everything went well, and getting a podium has motivated me even more for the season ahead.”
Brent Van doninck:
“I am feeling good going into the new season. Staying with the same team but stepping up to a factory ride for 2026, things have turned out perfectly for me. I am confident I can take the next step with the Fantic XXF 450. I feel good on the bike, and there is a really nice atmosphere with the whole Fantic crew. We have a lot of fun, but of course we also know how to be serious when we need to be, and we have been putting in the work to be ready for the MXGP season opener. This year, I really want to focus on being consistent – being there at every race. It will be important to stay healthy, in order to finish strong with a good overall result in the championship. After the past three years, I think that is especially important for me this season. I will do one more pre-season race in Lierop, and then we are ready to go!”
Jacky Martens, Fantic Factory Racing MXGP Team Owner:
“This season marks the start of a new chapter for our team, and we have been working hard together with our staff and everyone at Fantic to be as ready as possible for the upcoming MXGP opener in Argentina. The first pre-season races have already delivered encouraging signs, but it is the work and development taking place behind the scenes that make me even more confident looking ahead. To be in a position to work closely with a factory again is a dream for us, and I have to say I am really impressed with how professionally Fantic’s R&D department operates. With a skilled staff, state-of-the-art facilities and our shared experience, I am sure we can get the maximum out of an already proven package and put Alberto and Brent in the best possible position in a highly competitive MXGP field.”
Davide Guarneri, Fantic Racing’s Motocross Manager:
“There have been significant changes to our MXGP project ahead of this new season: we have a new team structure and two new riders. What has not changed is the spirit with which we approach this challenge. Right from the start, there has been a strong understanding between all the Fantic staff, our in-house R&D department and Jacky Martens’ team. This is crucial in order to grow together. In terms of bike development, we started from last year’s base, when we secured an amazing third place in the championship. For 2026, we have made small refinements and still have possibilities for further improvements, but at the moment the riders seem very satisfied with our current package. The opening MXGP rounds will be the real test, but the initial feedback is encouraging. We started well with a second place at the Internazionali d’Italia, but we are also aware that the World Championship will be an even greater challenge. For Fantic, a very dynamic brand strongly focused on racing, this will be the third year in the premier class of Motocross. We are ready to give our maximum effort to make sure that our journey continues in the best possible way.”
