Lorenzo Pritelli (Moto4 European Cup): Growth, success and confidence

Motorsport fans who also follow FIM MotoJunior have been able to witness the rapid rise of Lorenzo Pritelli, a young Italian rider who has already shown he can win races, claim podiums and fight for the title in his first year in the Moto4 European Cup.

Born in 2010, Pritelli has been shining with Team Echovit Pasini Racing and is going through a very important period in his career. After becoming Italian PreMoto3 Champion in 2025, the rider from Cattolica has enjoyed an extremely successful 2026 season on the European stage, alongside two other crucial milestones in his career: joining Valentino Rossi's VR46 Riders Academy and, more recently, being selected for the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup, where he will make his debut in 2027.

Palmen in Motorradsport had the opportunity to interview Lorenzo Pritelli to get to know him and his story.

Lorenzo, did you expect to fight for the Moto4 European Cup title straight away?

Yes, I did. Since last winter, I have believed in myself and how I can achieve good results, and I worked hard at home alongside everyone at the VR46 Riders Academy and the Talenti Azzurri programme of the FMI (the Italian Motorcycling Federation, ed). I therefore expected to be fast right from the start. We worked hard, and it's paying off.

How did you feel when you got selected for the 2027 season of the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup?

It's a fantastic opportunity for me. Honestly, I didn't expect to be selected, because many riders apply every year and they take only few of them. They don't select riders based on speed alone, but also consider other aspects (such as their progression  throughout the Selection Event, ed). In the end, though, they choose the strongest ones, and I am really happy to be one of them.

If someone had told you a few years ago that you would join both the VR46 Riders Academy and the Rookies Cup, would you have believed them?

As a person, I really believe in my goals. I had imagined that I would make it this far. 

Taking a much bigger step back in time, can you tell us how you first started racing?

It all started when I was two and a half years old. Even before I was born, my father had a Polini minimoto with the livery of Loris Capirossi's Ducati. He had built it gradually, using parts that were sold every week at the newsagent's. The minimoto had no engine, but when I was born, he decided to fit one in it and take me riding. The first time I rode, my father followed me with a rope tied to the bike. To keep me moving slowly and safely, the throttle was restricted and the bike had training wheels. From there, I started competing in my first races. I raced minimotos, then moved to the Ohvale and to the Italian CIV Championship in the PreMoto3 class. And now, here we are.

The 2025 season was incredible for you, becoming Italian Champion and scoring a podium on your European Talent Cup (former name of the Moto4 European Cup, ed) debut at Misano. What are your best memories from that year?

Winning the title itself. I had never managed to win an Italian championship before, so I had kind of imposed myself to finally make it. I could have won a few more races, but in some occasions I settled for less than I could have achieved. However, I won six out of 12 races, and the most important thing was bringing home the championship.

Is there a victory that you consider particularly special?

Race 1 at the final round of the season at Mugello. I was really motivated and I even managed to win with an advantage of 20 seconds. It was a fantastic victory, tfollowing which I clinched the title.

You also made your European Talent Cup debut at Misano, immediately finishing on the podium.

And yeah, that was unexpected! Coming from the CIV, I found myself in an even more competitive championship, with riders from all over the world. My goal was therefore to finish in the top 10 or top 15. I certainly didn't expect to finish second straight away.

At this stage of your career, where do you need to improve as a rider, in your opinion?

There's always something to learn. We never reach a point where we know everything. For example, I feel I still need to work on myself and on how I manage my emotions in certain situations. Sometimes, as happened during the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup selection process, I get a little too carried away and end up making some serious mistakes. It is something I need to work on, and I am already doing so.

What are your passions outside of motorcycling?

I enjoy fishing with my friends and watching tennis. I am not very good at playing it, but I really enjoy following Jannik Sinner, among others. I also love alpine skiing. I have even met Kristian Ghedina (former skier who won three World Championship medals and 13 World Cup races, mainly in downhill, ed). He was at an event I attended in Livigno and there he performed a jump where he spread his legs at 170 km/h. He's crazy, and a legend!

Who are your favourite riders?

The greatest of all time, in my opinion, is Valentino Rossi. I also really like Marco Bezzecchi, because he's aggressive and has a great personality. I quite like Pedro Acosta too. He didn't have the money to race, but he managed to make it to MotoGP by doing some incredible stuff. And he's still doing incredible things today.

Going back to you joining the VR46 Riders Academy, how did you feel during your first training sessions with them?

I now feel more comfortable with them, but when I first joined, I could hardly believe it. Suddenly finding myself surrounded by such important riders and alongside Valentino Rossi, when I was still a nobody, was an incredible feeling. But, at the same time, it felt a bit hesitant. Now, as I said, I feel great with having them around, although I don't get to see Valentino very often, because he is busy racing cars.

How else do you prepare for races?

I work out at the gym, and I enjoy running. When I go running, though, I like to keep a relaxed pace and enjoy the surroundings. In my case, the main surroundings is the sea, since I live in Cattolica.

Finally, here is the "Thank You Moment". 

First of all, I have to thank my parents, my grandparents and my entire family, because I would not be here without them. My parents have always believed in my journey, and both they and my brother have made many sacrifices and given up a lot to support me throughout my career. I would also like to thank the FMI and its Talenti Azzurri programme. When I joined them between 2023 and 2024, I was still lacking some money I needed to race, and they helped me so I could continue.

I also want to thank Claudio and Chiara from the Bucci Moto team, for believing in me in 2025. I had finished third in the FIM MiniGP Italian Series and second in the World Series on the Ohvale 190cc, but I could not train on 17-inch-wheel bikes, which meant I only got to ride one during race weekends. They believed in me anyway, and together we became Italian PreMoto3 champions. Finally, I would like to thank the VR46 Riders Academy and everyone who has helped me get this far.

Palmen in Motorradsport would like to thank Lorenzo Pritelli for his time and availability, as well as Stefano Ambrosi (Team Echovit Pasini Racing Press Officer) for making this interview possible. Best wishes to both the rider and the team for the next chapters of their stories.