Andrea Uccellini will step up to the MX2 World Championship after his time in EMX125, while Niccolò Mannini will get another opportunity in EMX250 with KTM Racestore. Both Italian riders will join the team for the 2027 season.
KTM Racestore has confirmed its rider line-up for the 2027 season, with Andrea Uccellini and Niccolò Mannini joining the Italian outfit. The team is backing two young talents with different objectives: Uccellini will make his full-time debut in the MX2 World Championship, while Mannini will look to establish himself in the EMX250 European Championship.
The announcement confirms Uccellini’s next move after he recently announced his departure from TM at the end of the 2026 season. It also marks a fresh start for Mannini, who will have the opportunity to return to the European paddock with greater consistency.
Andrea Uccellini straight up to MX2
At just 16 years old, Uccellini is set to take on one of the biggest challenges of his career by moving directly from EMX125 to the MX2 World Championship, bypassing the EMX250 category.
The Italian contested the 2026 EMX125 European Championship with TM, where he showed considerable potential and sat sixth in the standings after the fifth round. However, an injury brought his season to an early end, interrupting his progress at a crucial stage of his development.
Uccellini already gained his first taste of MX2 competition this year when he made his World Championship debut at his home Grand Prix in Montevarchi. That experience provided an early introduction to a category that will demand a significant step forward.
His programme with KTM Racestore will include both the MX2 World Championship and the Italian Prestige Championship, giving him the opportunity to measure himself against some of the world’s best riders while continuing to develop his skills.
«For me, it will be a season full of new experiences and certainly a very challenging one, but we are ready as a team and cannot wait to get started,» Uccellini explained. «In both the World Championship and the Prestige Championship, I want to get as close as possible to the top riders, continue to improve and match their pace.»
The young Italian also confirmed that his recovery is progressing well and that he expects to be back on the bike soon. He will then follow a winter training programme with Jacky Vimond, aiming to arrive at the start of the new season in the best possible shape.
Uccellini’s main objective will be to gain experience in an especially demanding category, adapt to the KTM MX2 machinery and continue developing the potential he demonstrated in EMX125. It is an ambitious move, but one that could accelerate his progression through the ranks.
Niccolò Mannini targets EMX250
KTM Racestore will also field Niccolò Mannini, who is set to contest the EMX250 European Championship in 2027.
The Italian had initially planned to make his EMX250 debut in 2026 after signing with Maddii Honda. However, he parted ways with the team before the opening round, leaving his plans for the season uncertain. He subsequently joined an Italian Triumph outfit, although changing circumstances limited his participation in the championship and prevented him from racing as regularly as he had hoped.
His move to KTM Racestore now offers a more stable environment in which to resume his EMX250 campaign and demonstrate the ability he has shown in previous seasons.
Mannini will approach this new chapter aiming to become one of the leading contenders in the category, while also competing in the Italian Championship.
«It has been a few years since I was last with Racestore. During that time, I have matured, developed a strong desire to succeed, and I feel I have the right people around me,» Mannini said.
The Italian also highlighted his long-standing relationship with Paolo Mencacci and the importance of working again with people close to him, including Alessandro Pagliacci and Daniele Salucci.
«I want to be a leading contender this season, both in the European and Italian Championships,» he added.
