Photo credits: Infront Moto Racing
At the 2025 MXGP of Flanders, the final round of the EMX125 European Championship at Lommel brought everything fans could hope for: tension, chaos, and a champion crowned after a dramatic showdown.
EMX125
In the first race, Belgian rider Jarne Bervoets (#503 Yamaha) got off to a flying start and quickly took the lead. Right behind him, Frenchman Mano Fauré—who was just six points behind championship leader Nicolò Alvisi—moved up to second place in the first few corners. Alvisi, meanwhile, was caught in a mess at the start and found himself way back in 27th place.
From there, it was all about damage control for Alvisi. He worked his way through the pack, battling the brutal sand and trying to stay in touch with the points. He made it up to 17th before slipping back again to 22nd, then fought forward once more. Dutch rider Dani Heitink (#499 Yamaha) showed his skills in the sand, charging into third by the end. Jēkabs Kubulins (Latvia, Yamaha) also impressed with a strong ride to fourth after passing late in the moto. At the front, Bervoets controlled the race from start to finish, with Fauré second, Heitink third, and Alvisi crossing the line in sixth—just enough to stay ahead in the title chase.
That result meant Alvisi now held just a 1-point lead over Fauré going into the final race. The pressure was on.
In the second race, the stakes were sky-high. Fauré nearly took the holeshot but got tangled in the first corner and crashed. That opened the door for Italian Riccardo Pini, but it was Austria’s Ricardo Bauer who soon took over the lead. Alvisi had another rough start and sat just outside the top 10, while Fauré remounted and began working his way through the field—only to crash again while battling with Niccolò Mannini. He got going, then crashed once more, and his title hopes slipped away for good.
Alvisi, staying calm, kept making progress. He passed Kubuliņš, then Bervoets, and moved into second behind Bauer, who went on to win the race. When Alvisi crossed the line in second, it was enough. He had done it—Nicolò Alvisi was the 2025 EMX125 European Champion, beating Fauré by 11 points.
Although he didn’t win either race, his smart, steady riding under pressure made all the difference. Jarne Bervoets took the overall win for the weekend with 1st and 3rd, followed by Kubulins and Bauer on the podium. But it was Alvisi who walked away with the gold plate and the crown of champion.
EMXOpen
In the EMX Open class, the spotlight was on local hero Cedric Grobben (Belgium, GASGAS)—and he didn’t disappoint.
In the first race, Grobben didn’t lead from the start but quickly took over by lap three. Once in front, he pulled away and finished with a 13-second lead over Germany’s Peter Koenig in second, while Adrien Petit of France came home third. With that win, Grobben had one hand on the title.
Race two brought more excitement. Latvian Mairis Pumpurs (Husqvarna) stormed into the lead and held it to the finish. Grobben had to work for it but managed to get into third place, which was just enough to clinch the championship overall. Pumpurs took the race win, but Grobben’s 1-3 score sealed both the round victory and the 2025 EMXOpen title. Adrien Petit finished third overall with a solid weekend.
At Lommel, two titles were decided. One went to a rider who stayed cool through chaos—Nicolò Alvisi in EMX125—and the other to a Belgian who rose to the occasion on home ground—Cedric Grobben in the EMX Open. It was a weekend full of pressure, heart, and unforgettable rides.
You can watch race highlights here: