For a slender rider on the smallest full-size bike you can buy, Joel Rizzi is having a heavyweight impact on racing in 2019. Last year he was quick but often struggled on his 125 Yamaha. But now he’s with the RFX KTM team, and being helped by former British champ Neil Prince, then the Northerner has really upped his game.

At the Hawkstone Park international, he took on all comers in the 125 class and was right at the front. In the British MXY2 opener at a wet FatCat, he used his tiny 125 against all the field on 250Fs and smoked them.

Then in the opening EMX125 European round at Valkenswaard, he came close to a shock victory. Rizzi, son of former top racer Tino, was third in the opener and running second in moto two until his bike broke and he had to retire.

We caught up with him after his FatCat win and talked to the man himself, and his coach Neil Prince.

Joel also went on to win both races at round 2 in Lyng, he’s definitely one to watch this coming weekend at Canada Heights.

By Adam Duckworth. Photos by Elliott Spencer