Fantic coming back to off-road competition in 2020

Fantic is coming back to off-road competition in 2020 after a tie-up with Yamaha for engine supply of two-stroke motors.

Fantic Motor announced an extension of their collaboration with Yamaha and their return to competition at the Milan show.

Heading up the new team is Harry Edmondson, son of British Enduro legend Paul Edmondson. Harry will race with Jolly Enduro Team competing both in the UK and on the World stage.

A full press release form Fantic Motor reads:

Fantic Motor and Yamaha Motor Europe are bringing their industrial cooperation to the next level in an important industrial collaboration in the Off-Road sector.

It is a step further in collaboration for Fantic Motor and historic engine supplier Motori Minarelli S.p.a (owned by Yamaha Motor). This new cooperation will expand upon the existing supply of two-stroke 50cc and four-stroke 125cc engines, used in Fantic’s Motard and Enduro models.

The extended cooperation between Fantic and Yamaha starts with the supply of 125cc two-stroke, 250cc two-stroke and four-stroke engines as well as other chassis components. The collaboration marks the start of a long term strategy.

Unveiled in Milan at EICMA, were examples of the new Fantic XE125 Enduro and XX125 & XX250 MX models. These will be available for first viewing in the UK during Motorcycle Live.

All models will be designed, engineered and produced at Fantic’s facility in Italy, aiming to reach an ambitious goal from day one. Therefore, Fantic’s R&D have engaged two first-class engineers; Jann Witteveen and Gaetano Cocco.

The Dutch engineer, two-stroke motor master, former director of Aprilia’s racing department with which he won not less than 23 world titles with riders of the calibre of Valentino Rossi, Max Biaggi, Loris Capirossi.

Gaetano Cocco, former Enduro rider and great expert in vehicle dynamics, who worked also for a long time at Aprilia Racing, will be responsible for managing the racing department. Yamaha engines and all related components will always be updated to the last version.

Fantic Motor New Racing Era models, unveiled at Eicma 2019, will be available from summer 2020 and will be sold through Fantic Motor’s retail network (North America and Australia excluded). All Enduro models will be homologated Euro5. Retail prices will be released shortly.

From January, these models will be in competition at major Enduro and Motocross races across the World. Indeed, Fantic Motor will simultaneously announce its comeback to Off-Road racing through a major involvement aiming at promoting the all-new Off-Road range as well as the brand image among the racing world. Simultaneously, Fantic Motor Racing Department has been set-up around Witteveen and Cocco among others. Racing activities will be run by off-road most experienced teams.

In Motocross, Fantic Motor factory bikes will be run by Team Maddii Racing, contesting the Italian and European 125 Championship with two riders.

In Enduro Fantic will field two teams; Jolly Enduro Team of Franco Mayr and Team D’Arpa Racing, which will race the World and the Italian Championship with Fantic Motor Factory bikes.

British interest will be represented by Harry Edmondson, son of British Enduro legend Paul Edmondson. Harry will race with Jolly Enduro Team competing both in the UK and on the World stage.

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