With just over a month to go until the FIM EnduroGP World Championship opener, Fantic Factory Racing Enduro is all set to kick off the 2026 season at the opening round of the Assoluti d’Italia, marking the first official outing for Théo Espinasse, Thibault Giraudon and Riccardo Pasquato in their new look.
The Assoluti d’Italia, taking place this weekend in Viareggio-Massarosa (Lucca), will see the all-new Fantic Factory Racing Enduro line-up appear together for the first time and provide the perfect stage to debut the 2026 livery: a bold design that reflects Fantic’s blue and red colour scheme, in line with the latest production models as well as the Fantic Factory Racing MXGP team in the FIM Motocross World Championship. A strong visual identity that creates continuity across Fantic Racing’s programmes and reinforces the Italian brand’s racing DNA.
Following a winter of intense preparation, development and testing, it is finally time to get back between the tapes. “It has been a positive winter with focused testing and long training sessions. I am very pleased with how far we have come with the bike and with the new riders,” says Antonio Specia, Fantic Factory Racing Enduro Team Manager. “We are proud to be Fantic’s reference team in Enduro and we are putting in our maximum effort to be as ready as we can be. I have seen the riders working well together, and they seem very happy with where we are at right now: there is a good feeling within the group and we hope the hard work put in by everyone will pay off. We have strong riders and we expect to be fighting for the positions that matter in the standings.”
Encouraging feedback was gathered already at the Bassella Race, an iconic Spanish event, where Théo Espinasse secured third place in his first-ever race on the Fantic XE 300 with Minarelli engine. The Assoluti will provide a further benchmark ahead of the EnduroGP campaign, which gets underway in Custonaci, Sicily, from 10–12 April.
At the opening rounds of the Assoluti, Espinasse will be joined by Fantic Factory Racing Enduro’s second new entry from France, Thibault Giraudon. Both aboard the Fantic XE 300, they will use the Italian races to build rhythm ahead of the World Championship, where they will compete in the E3 and Junior classes, respectively.
In the 125 category, Fantic confirms its commitment to supporting young talent by backing Italian prospect Riccardo Pasquato. Having grown within the Specia Academy and aboard the Fantic XE 125, the 19-year-old is ready for his first season in Fantic’s factory colours. At the Assoluti d’Italia, Team Specia’s factory-supported rider Matteo Pavoni will complete the line-up. The reigning Italian 300 champion, Pavoni will contest the prestigious Italian series aboard the Fantic XEF 450 this year.
“We will field our full Fantic Factory Racing Enduro line-up at the first two rounds of the Assoluti d’Italia, which is something we are very happy about. Afterwards, the riders will split their commitments between the Assoluti and the French Championship,” adds Alex Salvini, Fantic Racing’s Enduro Manager. “The main focus will be on the World Championship. We are already at a good point, but we will use these two races to assess our form and confirm the development of the bikes, so that we can work on the final details ahead of the first EnduroGP. I would like to thank the whole team and the riders for their hard work over the winter – now it’s time to get on track and make it fun!”
Théo Espinasse:
“I had a good winter. Overall, both physically and on the bike, we worked well with the team so I feel better and better on my new Fantic. We have already done a first test race of the season at Bassella, and I had a good feeling. I am looking forward to the first important race of the season. We put in the work with the whole team, and we will keep doing so to be fully ready for the first EnduroGP in April. And alongside that, I am also very happy to participate in the French championship this year. Being French, it is super important to ride in front of the French public.”
Thibault Giraudon:
“Winter preparation went very well with my new Fantic Factory Racing Enduro team. We spent quite some time in Spain together and the bike is now set up to suit my riding style, with even more engine power. I am very happy with this setup, and I am ready to attack this new season this weekend at the first Assoluti event in Italy. It will help us prepare for the opening EnduroGP in just over a month, and I am also eager to show off this Italian bike in the French championship.”
Riccardo Pasquato:
“Winter preparation has gone well and I am happy with how I feel on my Fantic, which also looks great – I really like this year’s colours. I am motivated and ready for this first round of the Assoluti, and I am confident that we will be even more prepared for the opening round of the World Championship.”
