Edoardo Colombi: His time in the BSB, his dreams for the future

Since making his debut in the CIV and stepping into high-level motorcycle racing, Edoardo Colombi has enjoyed a very interesting career, which also saw him compete in the Yamaha R3 BLU CRU European Cup (now known as the World Cup) and, above all, in the BSB paddock.

His experience in Great Britain, in particular, saw Colombi fight for the title in the Sportbike class, against more experienced Richard Cooper, and it then came to an end following a difficult time in Supersport. Nevertheless, the rider born in Milan had a very formative experience, after which he opted to return to Italy and compete in the Italian CIV Supersport Championship with the Promodriver Organization team, to relaunch his career on a Yamaha R9.

Palmen in Motorradsport had the opportunity to interview Edoardo Colombi to discuss his recent seasons, with a particular focus on his years in the BSB, as well as his goals for the future.

Edoardo, did you enjoy your first races in CIV Supersport?

I did, also because the team works very well and they welcomed me with open arms. I joined the team from the fourth round, which was the Racing Night at Misano, and despite not knowing the bikes and the tyres, we did quite well. In those races, my goal was to perform well and get used to the bike ahead of 2027, without worrying too much about the results.

What are your plans for 2027?

We haven't thought much about it, but I wouldn't mind staying in the CIV Supersport Championship.

Let's look back at the last few years of your career before 2026, starting with your season in the Yamaha R3 BLU CRU European Cup in 2021. How did that experience, in the WorldSBK paddock, contribute to your growth?

It definitely helped me a lot. It was the first season of the series, and everything was new to me, from the circuits to the bike (he had previously raced in the CIV PreMoto3 Championship, ed). Racing there helped me a lot, because there were many strong riders and, since all the bikes were identical, there was often a large group fighting at the front. It pushed me to improve and develop some kind of "killer instinct". In the end, I scored a podium (3rd in Race 1 at Donington Park, ed) and I was often fighting for top positions, so it went quite well.

You then returned to Italy, first competing in the CIV Supersport 300 Championship and then in the Aprilia RS660 Cup.

The year in Supersport 300 was quite unusual. I struggled to adapt to the Kawasaki (the Ninja 400 machine entered by the GP Project team, ed), but right at the end of the season, in Imola, I finally found the feeling I had been looking for and became competitive. The only shame was that we only managed at the final round.

With the RS660, we started without any major expectations, as both the bike and the category were new to me. However, we were already very fast during our testing sessions and then we won the very first race. From there, we were strong throughout the year and we ended up winning the title. This helped me make the move to the British National Sportbike Championship for the 2024 season, competing within the BSB with GradaraCorse (the same team he had won the Aprilia RS660 Cup with, ed).

How did you get the opportunity to move to the BSB paddock?

When I won the Aprilia RS660 Cup, I had a meeting with Massimo Rivola, and he made me that offer. I was excited about the idea of experiencing something new, so I accepted without thinking twice. Moving from Italy to England is not easy at all, both logistically and because you have to speak another language and understand how things work in the BSB. We weren't expecting any major results, because we didn't know the tracks, but we were surprisingly fast right from the start. When I saw that I was second in free practice at the first round, I couldn't believe it!

We were then extremely fast throughout the year and we fought for the title until the very end against Richard Cooper, who has a lot of experience. It was a shame what occurred at the final round...

What happened there?

It had started raining before Race 1. As soon as we went to the grid, the rain stopped, and we didn't know which tyres to use. Instead of looking at what our rival was doing, we decided to go our own way. And it didn't work out: the track dried out, I was on wet tyres and I finished only 14th. To become champion, I needed to win Race 2, with Cooper finishing no higher than fourth. And I did win, but Cooper finished third. I narrowly missed out on the title.

You then moved to the British Supersport Championship in 2025. How did things go there?

Towards the end of the 2024 season, the owner of the Cheshire Mouldings Team contacted me, and we started negotiating until we reached an agreement. I therefore raced with them in Supersport on a Ducati in 2025. It was my first year with a proper contract as a professional racer, and we even had Ducati UK and Monster Energy behind us, providing great support. Having so many things happening at once, along with some problems and me lacking experience, meant that the season didn't go as well as it could have.

On top of that, British Supersport is an extremely difficult and competitive championship, featuring highly experienced riders such as Jack Kennedy. Nevertheless, it was a constructive year that taught me not to get discouraged when going from winning races and fighting for a title, like in 2024, to experiencing a difficult season immediately afterwards.

Then came 2026, which didn't go as hoped?

I had signed to compete for another year in Supersport, this time with the MMB Racing Team. Shortly afterwards, we completed our first tests and our first race, but there I found myself in a similar situation as in the previous season. I therefore decided, together with my manager and my parents, to part ways with the team. I was unhappy with not having a seat, and I wanted to get back to racing. So I was very pleased when the Promodriver team called me and offered me the opportunity to return to the CIV.

Going back to your experience in Great Britain, how did you find the BSB circuits?

At first, it was strange. When I saw Oulton Park for the first time, I wondered, "Where on earth have I ended up?" Different asphalt, bumps, narrow tracks, jumps...everything was different from what I had got used to. At the same time, though, it gave me a real adrenaline rush and a lot of motivation, and I enjoyed it. I particularly like Brands Hatch, and I even got the track layout tattooed in a tent at the circuit.

Why Brands Hatch?

Both because it's a historic track and because it's genuinely beautiful and fun to ride, while also not being as extreme as, for example, Cadwell Park.

Speaking of Cadwell Park, I have to ask you a question: did you jump at the Mountain?

I tried, but then decided not to, also because jumping there actually costs you time.

One interesting thing is that you raced in Great Britain, without ever moving there. Why didn't you go live in the UK?

Because when I moved to the National Sportbike Championship, I was still at school, and when I moved to British Supersport in 2025 I had to pass my final school exams. I considered moving there after my exams, but then we realised it was cheaper to fly back and forth, so I continued doing that.

Would you return to the BSB, if you had the opportunity?

Yes, because I think it's a really great championship. The teams are extremely professional, at a level comparable to the Superbike World Championship, and I also really liked how the people in the paddock are. In other championships, people can be very jealous when a foreign rider is particularly fast, but there I was welcome and treated very well. It's also common to see teams and riders joking with one another. And then, the sight of all those people at the circuit...is absolutely amazing!

At this point, what are your goals for the future?

I'd like to reach the Supersport World Championship. But, right now, the most important thing for me is to become competitive again and make a living out of motorcycle racing.

To conclude, it's time for the "Thank You Moment". Who would you like to thank?

First of all, I want to thank my family, my manager Mirko Colombi and Yamaha and the Promodriver Organization team for the opportunity they gave to me. I'd also like to thank the people from BSB, who have always supported me and helped me whenever I needed it.

Palmen in Motorradsport would like to thank Edoardo Colombi for his time and availability. Best wishes to him and the Promodriver Organization team for the next chapters of their stories.