Here we go. On 8th and 9th March, the Ottobiano Motorsport International Circuit opens its doors for the opening round of the 2026 Italian Motocross Prestige Championship Ufo Plast – 24MX. And if the rider line-up already confirmed is any indication of what we will witness on track, the fans making the journey to Ottobiano are in for a weekend to remember.
Italy’s premier national motocross championship has grown enormously in quality and spectacle over recent years, and the 2026 edition promises to raise the bar even further. It is no coincidence that riders of genuine international standing keep choosing the Prestige as their competitive arena. As two-time Italian champion and MX1 frontrunner Mattia Guadagnini put it: “the level of the races has risen enormously, the tracks are beautiful, the prize money is good”. An endorsement that speaks louder than any lap time.
MX1: a grid to make your head spin
The premier class looks set to be a genuine festival of talent. The winter’s headline development is the return of 24-year-old Mattia Guadagnini to the Prestige after a six-year absence. The Veneto-born KTM rider, a two-time champion in this series (2019 and 2020), comes back under the Gi Cross team awning with a clear and unambiguous goal: winning the MX1 title. “The objective is the MX1 title,” he stated without hesitation — about as direct as a holeshot.
He will face some formidable opposition. Jan Pancar and Isak Gifting, the two dominant forces of the 2025 MX1 season, return to the championship having both found that Prestige success translates into momentum on the world stage. As Guadagnini himself noted, “the good results at the Prestige last year helped both Gifting and Pancar on the world circuit”. Then there is Alessandro Lupino, the most decorated rider in championship history with 34 race wins and 6 titles — a benchmark that borders on the mythical. Names such as Lapucci, Monticelli and Soubeyras complete a picture that Guadagnini himself described as “absolutely epic”.
MX2: the reigning king and the season’s biggest question mark
If MX1 already looks explosive on paper, MX2 carries the biggest mystery heading into the opener. Valerio Lata — reigning champion, official Honda rider, and the championship’s standard-bearer — has yet to announce which class he will race in 2026. The choice is between defending his MX2 crown, where he has dominated with 11 wins from 12 races across the past two seasons, or stepping up to MX1 for the most exciting challenge of his young career. “The decision will be made jointly between myself, the team and the Japanese HRC technicians,” he said. The verdict is imminent.
Whatever class he chooses, his ambition is crystal clear. Lata has openly stated his desire to one day surpass Lupino’s legendary records in this series, and intends to remain a fixture at the Prestige “for as long as possible”. He brings with him the winning mindset and quality that have made him the face of the championship.
Should Lata opt for MX2, the class remains stacked: Simone Mancini on the Ducati, the Maddii team duo, and Dutch rider Valk on the TM are among the names in the mix. Guadagnini described the 2026 MX2 field as “excellent training for the world championship” — which, from a rider of his experience, is high praise indeed.
Ottobiano: home of Italian motocross
Opening the season at Ottobiano is not merely a scheduling detail — it reflects something fundamental about this circuit’s place in the sport. The Ottobiano Motorsport International Circuit is one of the most respected venues in European motocross, delivering an experience for riders and spectators alike that consistently transcends the scoreboard. The characteristic Lomellina soil, the sweeping berms and rhythm sections make it the ideal stage on which to ignite a season that promises to be historic.
