The 2025 MXGP of Castilla La Mancha will be remembered as a historic milestone for both Fantic and the FIM Motocross World Championship, as Glenn Coldenhoff and Andrea Bonacorsi secured the first-ever MXGP podium finishes for the Italian brand. Brian Bogers added to a remarkable team performance, with all three Fantic Factory Racing MXGP riders finishing second, third, and fourth in the final moto of the day.
Heavy rain in the days leading up to the first European GP of the season made for challenging track conditions in Cózar, Spain, but the Fantic Factory Racing MXGP riders rose to the occasion. A double top-5 finish in Saturday’s qualifying race – Brian Bogers in fourth and Glenn Coldenhoff close behind in fifth – set the stage for a stellar race day at the MXGP of Castilla La Mancha.
More rain created a real mudder, making starts more crucial than ever. Glenn Coldenhoff nailed his launch aboard the Fantic XXF 450, even briefly taking the lead on the opening lap of race 1 before settling into third. “The Hoff” had to surrender one position in the final stages but still secured a strong fourth-place finish.
Brian Bogers looked confident on the tricky track – third in free practice, fifth in the warm-up, and fourth in the qualifying race – but his hopes took a hit at the start of moto 1 when he was caught in a turn-one crash. He put his head down and charged through the pack from the back of the field to finish 11th despite a mistake, not too far behind his teammate Andrea Bonacorsi. “Bona” ran inside the top 10 throughout the race, eventually crossing the line in eighth.
The fight for the podium spots came down to race 2, and the Fantic Factory Racing MXGP trio delivered a dream start, with all three XXF 450 machines running inside the top six from the get-go. But this was just the beginning. Andrea Bonacorsi, Glenn Coldenhoff, and Brian Bogers stormed to second, third, and fourth, respectively – securing Fantic’s best-ever moto result and making history in Cózar with the Italian brand’s first-ever MXGP podiums. Coldenhoff took the second step on the podium, Bonacorsi joined him in third, and Brian Bogers was seventh overall.
Glenn Coldenhoff:
“Fantic made a big step, and they have worked so hard over the last year. I feel like we are working really closely together, and we have some really motivated people behind us. I get a lot of energy from them. Our bike is really good, and I took three really good starts; that was the key this weekend. It was very, very difficult out there, but we made it happen. Second overall and my first podium in two years – that feels good. I am happy for the whole Fantic team, with Bona being on the podium together with me, and also Brian – he finished fourth in race 2 and has the pace. I think it will be a nice year for Fantic. I am thankful for the whole team, also the mechanics who are the real winners this weekend here.”
Andrea Bonacorsi:
“I don’t really know what to say, it is just amazing. It was a really tough day for everyone, but in the end, hard work pays off. A 2-3 for Fantic is cool. I just feel really good with them. I am in a really good spot with the whole team. Also, having Glenn and Brian by my side – they are so experienced, and I can learn a lot from them. Everyone at Fantic and the team are working hard. They are amazing, and it feels like being home again. Thank you all!”
Brian Bogers:
“I am really happy with the weekend, especially with my riding on Saturday, finishing fourth in the qualifying race on a track that was still in good condition. It was good to show some solid speed. I know I can ride well in the mud, and I proved it again today with fourth in race 2. In the first moto, I got caught up in a start crash, managed to recover to ninth, but then went down again and finished eleventh. It is a bit of a shame because with two good starts, my overall result could have been much better. But it definitely feels good to be back up front.”
