Fantic Factory Racing MXGP Begins 2026 Season with 12th and 18th Overall in Argentina
Fantic Factory Racing MXGP riders Brent Van doninck and Alberto Forato finished 12th and 18th overall, respectively, in the season-opening MXGP of Argentina.
12th
18th
What Happened
The 2026 FIM Motocross World Championship season opened with the MXGP of Argentina in Bariloche. Fantic Factory Racing MXGP riders Brent Van doninck and Alberto Forato finished 12th and 18th overall, respectively, marking the start of a new chapter under team principal Jacky Martens.
Van doninck took a calm approach, finishing 13th and 11th in the two races for 12th overall. He avoided crashes on a busy weekend and said the results provide a solid foundation to build on.
Forato faced multiple setbacks, including visibility issues from roost, a damaged front brake, and crashes at the starts. Despite these, he managed to score points with a 20th and 15th place, ending 18th overall.
“A solid start to the season – nothing very special, but two solid races with good points and, most importantly, no crashes, because it was a pretty eventful weekend for many riders. Personally, I am happy, we definitely have something to build on.”
“It was a pretty unlucky weekend, but I am healthy, and I guess that is a big positive… Actually, on Saturday I felt pretty good, until the qualifying race, when something hit my left eye and I couldn’t see properly from that eye for the entire race – it was a very tough one.”
Why this matters
The results give Fantic a solid baseline to build on under new team leadership, as they aim to improve throughout the long MXGP season.
Terms in This Story
- MXGP
- Motocross Grand Prix, the premier class of the FIM Motocross World Championship.
- FIM
- Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme, the international governing body for motorcycle racing.
- roost
- Debris, such as dirt or rocks, thrown up by a motorcycle's rear tire, often impairing vision for following riders.
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