The fifth round of the Rotax Max Challenge Italia, held at the technical Leopard Circuit in Viterbo, confirmed Matteo Natino‘s talent with a weekend full of positive signs in the Senior MAX category.
Competing in only his second race of the season, without following the full championship, Matteo set the pace from qualifying, claiming an impressive pole position, a prestigious result considering it was also just his second race in the Senior class, one of the most competitive in the Rotax scene.
The pole carries even more weight given the context: Natino arrived at this round with a reduced racing schedule compared to his main rivals and limited track mileage. The lack of continuity in racing and training didn’t stop him from showing top-level pace right away, proving his talent and adaptability.

2026 also marks a major technical shift: after several seasons with another manufacturer, Matteo switched to Intrepid chassis, a new challenge that takes time to fully master. The pole in Viterbo shows that the work put in is already paying off.
The technical package played a key role too: the engine prepared by IRT proved extremely strong, as did the solutions developed by OnionST, while the BS Racing team delivered flawless kart setup work.
After pole, Natino kept a strong pace all weekend: fifth in Heat 1, sixth in Heat 2, fourth in the Prefinal, staying in the fight with the top riders. The Final was tougher: limited training and accumulated fatigue took their toll, and he finished 14th — a result that doesn’t reflect the potential shown across the weekend.
Beyond the final result, the overall balance is clearly positive. Taking pole, running consistently at the front, and posting strong results against drivers racing the full championship all confirm Matteo Natino’s growth. With better training continuity, growing confidence with the Intrepid chassis, and the technical support of IRT, onionST and BS Racing, the foundations for future success are already solid.