First podium for the Desmo250 MX at the Internazionali d’Italia

A weekend affected by adverse weather conditions greeted the Ducati riders competing in the first round of the 2026 Internazionali d’Italia Pro Motocross Championship. The rain, which fell until the first timed practice sessions, turned the Lazzaretto track in Alghero into a morass of sand and mud, transforming it into a tough test for the men and bikes competing in their first outing of the season on the technical Sardinian track.

Eighth and ninth at the end of the timed practice session, Calvin Vlaanderen and Andrea Bonacorsi lined up for the start of the first race aboard their Desmo450 MX. A complicated start saw the Dutch rider finish the first lap in 10th place, while Bonacorsi, struck by a rival, rejoined in 17th place with a damaged bike and missing a rear brake. He was determined to get some good training in ahead of the first Grand Prix of the season, which will be held in Argentina in just over a month and having climbed to tenth place in five laps with excellent pace, he managed to finish the first race in ninth place, while a technical problem forced Calvin to retire early. Vlaanderen had a better start in the second race, finishing eighth after one lap, while the Italian, who started in front, was caught up in a group crash and retired due to a severe blow to his right leg following contact with an opponent’s bike. The Ducati Factory Racing MXGP Team’s number 10 rider also ended the race prematurely, heading to the pits after a few laps.

Andrea Bonacorsi: “This start was a shame because we’ve had a good feeling with the bike all winter. Unfortunately, in race one I didn’t get a great start, and on the first lap, while I was recovering, a rider hit me and damaged the rear brake and a footpeg. I restarted, putting in some good laps despite the damaged bike; then, without the rear brake, it was a bit more difficult to pass the faster riders and I finished 9th. In race two I got a better start, but on the first corner I had a contact with a rider who lost control in front of me and blocked me, then someone ran over my left leg. I preferred to stop immediately because the bike was damaged and I didn’t want to risk worsening my condition. It’s a pity because I was hoping to immediately show how good my bike is, but we’ll make up for it soon.”

Calvin Vlaanderen: “First race is done, is behind us. It was nice to be back racing again and to feel the nerves, I definitively missed it. I had a good feeling with the bike this morning and also in the races. It’s just a shame that we had some bike issues; something that we will fix for the GP’s: this is why we’re here, to get informations and data for the bike, so we will go back, analyze and see what we can do better for the next race.”

It was a positive day for the Beddini Racing Ducati Corse Factory MX2 Team, which fielded the two Desmo250 MX of Ferruccio Zanchi and Simone Mancini in Alghero. After posting the seventh-fastest time in his group in timed practice, Zanchi came out of the gate in race one with a great start, cornering in third place, immediately taking second, and battling throughout the race with the top riders of the group, setting excellent lap times and finishing second. Mancini’s first race, however, was more complicated. He got off to a slow start after posting the ninth fastest time in his group in the morning practice sessions, held in pouring rain, and crashed on the first lap, restarting last. After gaining nearly 20 positions, the number 97 managed to finish 19th, earning two points. Race two got off to a less impressive start, with Zanchi seventh after the first lap and Mancini quickly climbing into the top 10 from fifteenth, managing to finish eleventh. Sixth place earned “Ferro” the third step of the podium, taking home his first trophy of the season and an excellent test ahead of the first round of the world championship.

Ferruccio Zanchi: “It was a good first weekend of the season. I struggled a bit in qualifying due to the very unusual track conditions. I had a great start in race one, where we proved that the bike starts really well. I had a good, solid pace and didn’t make too many mistakes, bringing home a smart race. In race two, I didn’t get a great start; I had a problem with my goggles during the heat and I made some gains, but towards the end, my vision was really bad and I finished sixth. It was a positive first weekend with the team, with a good result. There’s still a long way to go, but it’s off to a good start.”

Simone Mancini: “It was nice to be back in the starting gates after almost seven months of inactivity. The first race after such a long time was also emotionally impactful. In the first race, I got a good start, but on the second corner, I came into contact with a rival and got stuck in the mud, restarting last; I still had a good race, making up several positions. In race two, I started a bit worse, around fifteenth place, and climbed up to ninth, before finishing eleventh. I had two good, solid races, bringing home some good training ahead of the next race in Mantova.”