COZAR (Spain) 16 March 2025 – The first round of the EMX250 and EMX125 Presented by FMF Racing championships at the MXGP of Castilla La Mancha in Cozar delivered an action-packed start to the season. Riders battled the rain, wind and tough track to kick off their campaigns.
And it was a day to remember for Adrien Petit in EMX250 and Yamaha Europe EMX125 MJC’s Jarne Bervoets in EMX125 who came out on top of the European podium for the first time of their career following impressive control on the muddy track of Cozar Moto Ranch.
In Race 1, Cat Moto Bauerschmidt Husqvarna's Nico Greutmann charged down the inside at the start, but Team VHR VRT Yamaha Official's Janis Reisulis made a bold move around the outside, setting the tone for a fiercely contested race. Venum BUD Racing Kawasaki's Jake Cannon and his teammate Francesco Garcia both got off to strong starts, while KTM Kosak Team's Bradley Mesters also looked competitive before a costly mistake on the opening lap saw him drop from second to 15th.
As the race developed, Moto Bauerschmidt Husqvarna's Mads Fredsoe executed a clean pass on Team VHR VRT Yamaha Official's Ivano Van Erp to take fourth place, but it was Greutmann who emerged from nowhere to grab the race lead on lap 4 of 11. However, his time at the front was short-lived as he suffered a dramatic crash, launching over the handlebars and injuring his wrist. Meanwhile, Fantic Factory Racing EMX125's Simone Mancini, a standout in the 125cc class last season, also had an off-track moment. Petit was also on the charge and mastered the mud to make his way up from 11th to 5th showing impressive skills along the way.
Reisulis maintained control of the race despite increasing pressure from behind. Fredsoe’s bid for the lead happened on lap 6 but was derailed after running into trouble with two laps to go, allowing Reisulis to make an outside pass on the Husqvarna rider. Meanwhile, Venum BUD Racing Kawasaki's Jake Cannon was one consistent rider as the Australian came from the back in 7th place to go up to 3rd on lap 4. In a thrilling finale, the battle for second with Fredsoe intensified, leading to a final lap showdown. The last word went to Cannon in the last lap with Fredsoe making a little mistake. In their wake, was JM Honda Racing's Noel Zanocz, the 2024 EMX125 European Champion, surging forward to join the battle from further down the pack but settled for 4th.
Despite a last-minute scare near the finish line, Reisulis held firm to claim victory ahead of Cannon, Fredsoe, Zanocz, and Petit.
The second race of the EMX250 European Championship at Cozar saw more action unfold as riders faced freshly prepped but rain-soaked conditions following overnight storms. With the championship leader's red plate up for grabs, the battle on the track was fierce from the very first corner.
At the start, Venum BUD Racing Kawasaki's Jake Cannon lined up hoping to build on his second-place finish from Race 1, but an early crash derailed his chances. The Australian went down after getting tagged in a tight battle, while Team VHR VRT Yamaha Official's Ivano Van Erp launched into the holeshot, leading the pack into the first turns. Right behind him, the Frenchman Petit and Venum BUD Racing Kawasaki's Francisco Garcia slotted into second and third, followed closely by GABRIEL SS24 KTM Factory Juniors' Max Werner, Fredsoe, and Team VHR Racing's Tom Brunet.
As the race settled, Zanocz and Mancini started charging through the pack, eager to make up lost positions. Meanwhile, Brunet suffered mechanical issues, forcing him out of contention. Van Erp, who had been running strongly in third place, had a rough couple of laps on lap 6 and 7 of 12, first running off track and dropping to fifth before crashing two corners later. Despite his struggles, he fought back to finish inside the top ten.
Race 1 winner Reisulis had a rollercoaster race. Initially, he fluctuated between podium contention and mid-pack battles, but a series of mistakes and an unfortunate late-race incident saw him drop down to 12th place, knocking him off the overall podium standings.
At the front, Petit made his move on Van Erp by lap two, taking over the lead. From that moment on, he displayed a masterclass in control, extending his gap and cruising to his first-ever EMX250 race victory. The French rider crossed the line a dominant 41 seconds ahead of second-place Garcia, marking his arrival as a serious contender for the championship.
Behind Petit, Zanocz put in a solid ride to claim third place, while Wozniak MX Racing Team's Nicolai Skovbjerg managed to work his way into fourth, overtaking Fredsoe and Werner in the latter stages of the race.
With a fifth-place finish in Race 1 and a dominant win in Race 2, Adrien Petit claimed the overall victory and secured the red plate as the championship leader heading into Round 2. Noel Zanocz finished second overall, just three points adrift, while Mads Fredsoe secured his first podium finish since 2023 in Germany, a long-overdue return to form. Despite his Race 1 win, Reisulis’ struggles in Race 2 saw him drop to fourth overall, just missing the podium. Nicolai Skovbjerg rounded out the top five after two consistent races.
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Main Photo: Adrien Petit
Top Photo: EMX125 Podium
Bottom Photos: 1. Noel Zanocz; 2. Mads Fredsoe
EMX250 – Race 1 - Top 10 Classification: 1. Janis Martins Reisulis (LAT, Yamaha), 32:25.546; 2. Jake Cannon (AUS, Kawasaki), +0:11.177; 3. Mads Fredsoe (DEN, Husqvarna), +0:14.735; 4. Noel Zanocz (HUN, Honda), +0:16.764; 5. Adrien Petit (FRA, Yamaha), +0:32.937; 6. Brando Rispoli (ITA, KTM), +0:41.865; 7. Bradley Mesters (NED, KTM), +0:47.843; 8. August Frisk (SWE, KTM), +1:15.727; 9. Ivano Van Erp (NED, Yamaha), +1:29.065; 10. Nicolai Skovbjerg (DEN, Yamaha), +1:32.694
EMX250 – Race 2 - Top 10 Classification: 1. Adrien Petit (FRA, Yamaha), 32:52.879; 2. Francisco Garcia (ESP, Kawasaki), +0:40.540; 3. Noel Zanocz (HUN, Honda), +1:03.049; 4. Nicolai Skovbjerg (DEN, Yamaha), +1:12.118; 5. Maximilian Werner (GER, KTM), +1:14.899; 6. Mads Fredsoe (DEN, Husqvarna), +1:15.078; 7. August Frisk (SWE, KTM), +1:44.239; 8. Lyonel Reichl (LIE, Husqvarna), +2:23.268; 9. Gyan Doensen (NED, KTM), +2:29.204; 10. Ivano Van Erp (NED, Yamaha), +2:39.410
EMX250 Overall - Top 10: 1. Adrien Petit (FRA, YAM), 41 points; 2. Noel Zanocz (HUN, HON), 38 p.; 3. Mads Fredsoe (DEN, HUS), 35 p.; 4. Janis Martins Reisulis (LAT, YAM), 34 p.; 5. Nicolai Skovbjerg (DEN, YAM), 29 p.; 6. August Frisk (SWE, KTM), 27 p.; 7. Bradley Mesters (NED, KTM), 24 p.; 8. Ivano Van Erp (NED, YAM), 23 p.; 9. Francisco Garcia (ESP, KAW), 22 p.; 10. Lyonel Reichl (LIE, HUS), 22 p
EMX250 Championship - Top 10 Classification: 1. Adrien Petit (FRA, YAM), 41 points; 2. Noel Zanocz (HUN, HON), 38 p.; 3. Mads Fredsoe (DEN, HUS), 35 p.; 4. Janis Martins Reisulis (LAT, YAM), 34 p.; 5. Nicolai Skovbjerg (DEN, YAM), 29 p.; 6. August Frisk (SWE, KTM), 27 p.; 7. Bradley Mesters (NED, KTM), 24 p.; 8. Ivano Van Erp (NED, YAM), 23 p.; 9. Francisco Garcia (ESP, KAW), 22 p.; 10. Lyonel Reichl (LIE, HUS), 22 p.
EMX250 Manufacturers - Top 10 Classification: 1. Yamaha, 50 points; 2. Kawasaki, 44 p.; 3. Honda, 38 p.; 4. Husqvarna, 35 p.; 5. KTM, 31 p.; 6. Triumph, 15 p.; 7. Fantic, 4 p.; 8. GASGAS, 3 p.;
The first EMX125 race of the season saw KTM Beddini Racing Team's Filippo Mantovani take control in challenging conditions. Early on, Yamaha Europe EMX125 MJC’s Levi Townley had a strong start, running inside the top five, but the treacherous track quickly took its toll as multiple riders struggled to stay upright. TM Moto CRD Motorsport's Niccolo Mannini wasted no time in making a charge to second place, while Mantovani positioned himself in third, waiting for an opportunity to strike. Meanwhile, Áron Katona showed impressive pace but had a tough moment when he nearly lost his advantage as the riders behind began to close in.
A fierce battle between Mannini and Mantovani saw the two trading positions multiple times. Mantovani made a decisive inside pass on lap 3 of 11 to take over second place, showing impressive confidence in the technical sections of the track. Further back, Jarne Bervoets from Yamaha Europe EMX125 MJC showed good composure as he paced through the field to get up to 3rd on lap 6, while Fantic Factory Racing EMX125’s Vencislav Toshev, who had been running in a solid fifth, dropped down the order after a costly mistake.
Katona’s woes continued as he suffered a heavy crash while leading. Holding a comfortable 12-second advantage, he suddenly found himself on the ground, flipping over in a chaotic moment before remounting in 5th place. Despite the setback, he staged an impressive comeback, fighting through the pack to eventually secure 4th place by the finish.
At the front, Mantovani capitalised on Katona’s misfortune and regained control of the race. He fended off a late challenge from Mannini, maintaining a solid lead in the final laps to claim the first victory of the season. The battle for the podium was intense, with Bervoets making a last-minute push to secure 3rd place.
The second EMX125 race in Cozar was filled with unpredictable action. Charging into the first turn, Jekabs Kubulins from Yamaha Europe EMX125 MJC took the holeshot, while his teammate Dani Heitink and MCV Motorsport-TM Moto’s Riccardo Pini positioned themselves in just behind. However, problems unfolded in the first corner, as multiple riders, including Levi Townley, were caught up in an early crash.
As the race progressed, Mantovani, coming off his win in Race 1, made rapid progress and moved into third after a strong inside pass on Pini. But disaster struck as Mantovani tipped over, losing positions to Pini and Bervoets, who quickly capitalised on the mistake. Meanwhile, Mannini had a rough race, crashing from seventh place and dropping back to ninth, forcing him to fight his way through the pack.
With just a few laps remaining, Mantovani's race took another turn for the worse when he collided with a backmarker, forcing him off-track. A lengthy recovery saw him rejoin in 16th place, but his struggles weren’t over as he was eventually forced to retire.
At the front, Kubulins put on a dominant display, securing his first-ever EMX125 race victory with a margin of over one minute ahead of Bervoets, who finished second. The battle for third place saw Pini managing to stay 3rd to secure the final podium spot, while MCV Motorsport-TM Moto’s Gennaro Utech and Heitink completed the top five.
With a third-place finish in Race 1 and a second-place finish in Race 2, Jarne Bervoets took the overall victory in Cozar, a well-earned triumph for the Belgian rider. Niccolo Mannini finished second overall, showing consistency despite his struggles in Race 2. Riccardo Pini rounded out the podium, securing third place overall after strong rides in both race.
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Top Photo: Jarne Bervoets
Bottom Photos: 1. EMX125 Start; 2. EMX125 Podium
EMX125 – Race 1 - Top 10 Classification: 1. Filippo Mantovani (ITA, KTM), 32:47.512; 2. Niccolo Mannini (ITA, TM), +0:05.055; 3. Jarne Bervoets (BEL, Yamaha), +0:05.788; 4. Áron Katona (HUN, KTM), +0:18.789; 5. Francesco Bellei (ITA, Fantic), +0:19.490; 6. Riccardo Pini (ITA, TM), +0:35.732; 7. Dani Heitink (NED, Yamaha), +0:56.556; 8. Douwe Van Mechgelen (BEL, Fantic), +1:12.437; 9. Vencislav Toshev (BUL, Fantic), +1:20.113; 10. Ryan Oppliger (SUI, KTM), +1:25.337
EMX125 – Race 2 - Top 10 Classification: 1. Jekabs Kubulins (LAT, Yamaha), 32:39.758; 2. Jarne Bervoets (BEL, Yamaha), +1:03.082; 3. Riccardo Pini (ITA, TM), +1:32.415; 4. Gennaro Utech (ITA, TM), +1:59.415; 5. Dani Heitink (NED, Yamaha), +2:00.909; 6. Cole McCullough (IRL, Fantic), +2:27.543; 7. Niccolo Mannini (ITA, TM), +2:29.669; 8. Áron Katona (HUN, KTM), +2:45.223; 9. Tyla Van de Poel (BEL, Yamaha), -1 lap(s); 10. Ian Ampoorter (BEL, GASGAS), -1 lap(s)
EMX125 Overall - Top 10: 1. Jarne Bervoets (BEL, YAM), 42 points; 2. Niccolo Mannini (ITA, TM), 36 p.; 3. Riccardo Pini (ITA, TM), 35 p.; 4. Áron Katona (HUN, KTM), 31 p.; 5. Dani Heitink (NED, YAM), 30 p.; 6. Francesco Bellei (ITA, FAN), 26 p.; 7. Jekabs Kubulins (LAT, YAM), 25 p.; 8. Filippo Mantovani (ITA, KTM), 25 p.; 9. Douwe Van Mechgelen (BEL, FAN), 22 p.; 10. Cole McCullough (IRL, FAN), 21 p
EMX125 Championship - Top 10 Classification: 1 1. Jarne Bervoets (BEL, YAM), 42 points; 2. Niccolo Mannini (ITA, TM), 36 p.; 3. Riccardo Pini (ITA, TM), 35 p.; 4. Áron Katona (HUN, KTM), 31 p.; 5. Dani Heitink (NED, YAM), 30 p.; 6. Francesco Bellei (ITA, FAN), 26 p.; 7. Jekabs Kubulins (LAT, YAM), 25 p.; 8. Filippo Mantovani (ITA, KTM), 25 p.; 9. Douwe Van Mechgelen (BEL, FAN), 22 p.; 10. Cole McCullough (IRL, FAN), 21 p.
EMX125 Manufacturers - Top 10 Classification: 1. Yamaha, 45 points; 2. TM, 42 p.; 3. KTM, 38 p.; 4. Fantic, 31 p.; 5. GASGAS, 20 p.;
All the photos from the MXGP of Castilla La Mancha will be available HERE.
You can find the complete results HERE.
MXGP OF CASTILLA LA MANCHA:
Circuit length: 1800m
Type of ground: Hard Pack
Temperature: 7°
Weather conditions: Rainy
LINKS
Infront Moto Racing
FIM
FIM Europe
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