Maddii, after Ducati, seeks redemption: youth projects in motocross with Honda

Maddii Racing turns the page. After a two-year period representing Ducati as a Factory Team, from the Italian MX1 Championship to its debut in the MXGP World Championship, Corrado and Marco Maddii’s outfit will return to the Honda cause in 2026. In fact, the Italian team will become the Honda HRC Junior Team, fielding entries in the MX2 World Championship and the EMX250 European Championship, betting on young motocross riders (including Italians).

According to Marco Maddii himself, the goal is to settle a few scores after the end of the partnership with Ducati. After 23 years, they will once again collaborate with Honda, aiming to add to a team trophy cabinet that already includes 6 world titles, 10 European titles, and over 40 national titles.

Under the Honda Maddii Racing banner, the team will compete in MX2 and EMX250 with the CRF250R, backed by a direct contract with Honda Motor Europe and a direct line to the Honda HRC team led by Giacomo Gariboldi. Also involved in the project is ABF Italia, one of the key partners in this operation.

"We are very happy to return to racing with Honda, a manufacturer with which we achieved great results in the past," admitted Marco Maddii. "This is a new beginning with young and talented riders who will surely prove up to the task in this new adventure. I want to thank Giacomo Gariboldi, Honda Motor Europe, and Fabiano from ABF Italia, who gave us the opportunity to build this structure. Thanks to our experience, we will do our best to offer our riders the best equipment to compete at the top."

While Honda HRC will line up in MX2 with only Valerio Lata, Maddii Racing will be the structure dedicated to promoting riders with a promising future. "This new collaboration with Team Maddii opens a new chapter for Honda, which also wants to focus on scouting the best young talents who, if deserving, can one day join Team HRC," explained Giacomo Gariboldi. "Over many seasons, Team Maddii has proven better than anyone at nurturing young talent, so we are excited to see these new youngsters grow under Maddii’s guidance on our CRF250R."