Fantic next year in EMX125 with Corrado Maddii
Fantic surprised at the Eicma in Milan with the announcement to compete again in motocross and enduro. After years, the Italian Fantic is once again making a spirited and passionate start in the off-road sector. The Italians, who rose to fame in the 80s thanks to their red enduro and trials motorcycles, have been particularly active in the enduro sector in recent years. Now they have announced a more intense collaboration with Yamaha in Milan.
The Japanese had already become owners of Minarelli engines. The latter was a subsidiary of Fantic. The Italians have been using Minarelli engines for years in their 50cc and 125cc models. With the expansion of the joint venture, Fantic would again supply competition models for enduro sports and motocross in collaboration with Yamaha. This would involve two-strokes for the 125cc and 250cc and a four-stroke for the 250cc class. The Italians made a tentative attempt to get a foot in the door in motocross at the end of the 70s, but that did not really work. In 1980 they rode one or two GPs in the 125cc and faded into the background again without breaking much ground.
motocross
In Milan, former Italian motocross rider Corrado Maddii was present at the Fantic stand. The two-time 125cc vice world champion will run the team with Fantic engines in the future. After his active career, Maddii proved to be a talented team manager and brought talents such as Alessio Chiodi to the top. Corrado Maddii will participate in the EMX 2020 and national competition with his Fantic Team in 125. To be clear: it is a separate team and not to be confused with that of his son Marco who runs a separate motocross team with Alberto Forato, among others. Without a doubt, the Fantic will carry almost all the genes of the Yamaha YZ125.
Enduro
In enduro, Fantic won an Italian title in the 250cc two-stroke class last year. In 2019 it was a second and third place for the Fantic drivers. In enduro, the D'Arpa Racing team remains the spearhead and the team also participates in the world championship. Harry Edmondson will ride a Fantic 250cc Enduro in Franco Mayr's Jolly Team. Edmondson is the son of British enduro legend Paul Edmondson.
One of the engineers at Fantic is the former Dutch and Aprilia race director Jan Witteveen, who built the two-cylinder 125-Gilera for Michele Rinaldi before his Aprilia career. The Fantic off-road motorcycles will be available from dealers from the summer of 2020.
Photos: Fantic Engine
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