The moment has arrived. On Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th March, the Ottobiano Motorsport International Circuit will host the opening round of the 2026 Italian Pro-Prestige MX1-MX2 Championship. It is a highly anticipated event — and even on paper alone, it already has all the ingredients for drama, spectacle and a few surprises.
The most significant change in 2026 concerns the race format: the championship adopts a structure concentrated into a single day of top-level competition. Sunday will be the heart of the action — official practice, qualifying and the MX1 and MX2 races all taking place on the same day, making every minute on track count. Saturday, meanwhile, will be dedicated to the support classes, highlighted by the absolute debut of the Trofeo Italia — a brand-new competition for Expert and Fast category riders — which at Ottobiano will feature both MX1 and MX2 fields.
MX1: wounded champions, hungry rivals
Isak Gifting (Yamaha) arrives at Ottobiano as defending MX1 champion, but his build-up to the season opener has been far from straightforward: a winter training injury has disrupted his preparation, and the Swede lines up on the gate without having raced once in 2026. His ability is beyond question, but ring rust will be a real factor on Sunday.
The challengers are ready to pounce. Jan Pancar (KTM) heads the list — the Slovenian is a former MX2 champion (2022) and three-time runner-up across MX2 and MX1, and rarely drops below the very top. The Italian contingent arrives with serious firepower: Mattia Guadagnini (KTM – Gaerne) returns to the Prestige after a six-year absence, bringing with him the hunger and credentials of a double champion (2019, 2020). Then there is Alessandro Lupino (Ducati – Fiamme Oro), the most decorated rider in championship history — six titles and 49 podiums make the case for him better than any introduction could.
Ivo Monticelli (Kawasaki – Fagioli) was the strongest Italian in MX1 throughout 2025 and intends to be firmly in the mix again, while two-time Prestige champion Nicholas Lapucci (Honda – Castel San Pietro Terme) is another name to circle. Frenchman Cedric Soubeyras (Honda), a seasoned international campaigner, has already shown he can run with the best in this series. Rounding out the field are two riders stepping up from MX2 who are well worth watching: Brian Hsu (Honda – Mcv Motorsport) and Alessandro Manucci (GasGas – Ravenna).
MX2: Lata aims to keep dominating, but the competition is growing
Valerio Lata (Honda – Fiamme Oro), bidding for a third consecutive MX2 title, also arrives at Ottobiano carrying some uncertainty: an incident at the MXGP of Argentina forced him into a recovery period in the weeks leading up to the round. His talent and competitive instincts are in no doubt, however — Lata is the man to beat in MX2 and will remain so until proven otherwise.
Chasing him down is a pack of young riders with serious potential. The most eagerly awaited is Simone Mancini (Ducati – Fagioli), chosen by Ducati to carry their colours to the top step in the junior class as well, following Lupino’s MX1 title in 2024 — a bold and entirely Italian ambition. Alongside him, European 125 champion Nicolò Alvisi (Honda – Amx Maddii Racing) makes his MX2 debut: an unknown quantity at this level, but one arriving with impressive credentials.
The international flavour is strong: Frenchmen Alexis Fueri (Beta) and Maxime Grau (Honda), Latvian Jekabs Kubulins (Yamaha) and Austrian Maximilian Ernecker (KTM) all bring European-level quality to the class. And then there are the veterans who always command attention: David Philippaerts (Yamaha – Mv Gallarate), a former world champion, takes to the track on a 250 two-stroke — as romantic a choice as it is technically intriguing — while Stefano Pezzuto (Honda – Gaerne) returns to the smaller class after years as a frontrunner on the 450.
How to follow the event
Sunday’s races will be broadcast exclusively via live stream on FedermotoTV. The stream is free for FMI licence holders; non-members can purchase a single-event pass for €8, or the Full Season package for €30 — exceptional value for a championship that delivers at every round.
For those planning to be trackside, Ottobiano Motorsport is ready to welcome riders and fans across the weekend of 14th and 15th March. The season begins here.