Martin Alejandro Cisella is the surprise winner at the top of the Italian Cross Country Championship
As expected, the triple coefficient of the Italian Baja has reshaped the standings of the 2026 Italian Cross Country Championship. But perhaps few would have bet a cent on the leadership achieved by Martin Alejandro Cisella (Can Am Maverick, T4), now leading the overall standings with 272 points, compared to the 240 of Andrea Schiumarini (Century Cr6, T1), first in Pordenone; the 234 of Alessandro Trivini Bellini (Can Am Maverick, T4), first in Sardinia; the 225 of Andrea Castagnera (Can Am Maverick, T3), who is paying for the disappointment suffered at the Artugna race earlier in the season when he seemed on the verge of victory; and the 200 of the resilient Alfio Bordonaro (Suzuki Grand Vitara, T1). Following the same pattern as last year and the previous year, two-time defending champion Manuele Mengozzi (Toyota Hilux Overdrive, T1) was also expected to be in the running, but instead he was relegated to a rearguard role by a fatal gamble at Artugna, which cost him a retirement, severe damage to his vehicle, and forced him to abandon the race in Sardinia. The Romagnola native, returning to the Italian Baja, finished a solid fourth, but his current 115 points make a hat-trick of championships purely theoretical.
For clarity, a maximum of 168 points are still up for grabs (56 at the Baja dello Stella and 112 at the Raid of the Champions), which would bring him to a total of 283, but his rivals won't stand still. Kevin Manocchi (Yamaha YXZ 1000R, T4) is another matter entirely. He's no longer a child prodigy, but a solid asset, were it not for the fact that he's riding a bike that's lacking (his words), meaning it's no longer up to the competition. Of course, had he not been disqualified at the Artugna, he'd have 55 points more than his current 181, and the outlook would be decidedly different.
An abstract picture, to which other hypothetical brushstrokes can be added, in no particular order. Andrea Tomasini (Polaris RZR Pro, T4) now has 103 points: first at the Artugna, surprising his rivals with a consistent pace, he didn't score much in Sardinia, and practically nothing at the Italian Baja, where he was on the verge of a big win and harbored prodigious ambitions. Riccardo Benettolo (Taurus Max, T3), who has 192 points, can complain about his bad luck in Olbia with a double engine failure.
And what about GZ? It's true that "ifs and buts don't make history." However, a perfect storm would have struck the Italian cross-country championship if Christine Giampaoli Zonca (Polaris RZR Pro, T4) had duly entered the championship. First in the Sardegna Rally Raid (112 points) and third in the Italian Baja (138), she would have a total of 250 points and would have taken them away from her opponents: we would be here, reflecting on her record, dwelling on her class and talent combined with charm and beauty. Not only that, but a whole host of spotlights would have been turned on the Italian cross-country championship with a woman "incredibly at the top," especially Christine GZ, the face of Dazn Spain for Formula 1. All this being said, abandoning flights of fancy, at least until September 25th, the eve of the Rivignano-Teor challenge, the "gaucho" Cisella is keeping everyone lassoed.
Martin, curiosity is a must. Tell me a little about yourself.
"I was born in San Juan, Argentina, in 1985. My grandfather Mario was from Breme, in the province of Pavia, and had emigrated with his family. He dreamed that at least one of his grandchildren would return to Italy, and that was my turn. However, I was already commuting across the Atlantic to see my father, who had been separated from my mother, who remained there with "Monona," my grandmother Marta. I settled here at 17 with a degree from the agricultural technical school. But I did something completely different, and today I live in Varese. I manage numerous parking lots, including those at airports and shopping centers, through my companies. I am married to Paola and have two sons, Gonzalo and Santiago. We are particularly down right now; our Argentina team lost the final to Spain, amen."
At forty, you suddenly appeared in the Italian Cross Country Championship, September 2025, Baja dello Stella.
"I didn't get here by chance. I've had a passion for motorsports since I was a boy; I've ridden motorbikes and autocross, and I won an off-road title. Last year I came to Pordenone to watch the Italian Baja, to closely follow my friend Juan Cruz Iacopini. By the way, he's doing better, recovering from the very serious accident he suffered in January. The important thing is to regain the use of his legs; the rest will follow. However, watching the race, something clicked inside me. In the following weeks, I bought a Can Am Maverick from a dealer in Pavia and signed up for the Stella. Incredibly, everything went almost perfectly; I finished third overall, navigated by Roberto Briani, and without a penalty, I would have even finished second."
No one expected it. A complete unknown beating so many experienced riders.
"For that matter, I didn't expect it either. It was my first time on a Can Am, and we knew it was a high-performance bike, prepared by South Racing. But getting immediate confirmation of my performance was incredibly exciting, and I immediately wanted to see if I could prove myself in a longer race. Unfortunately, in Hungary I crashed and we had to retire. I think I paid the price for my inexperience, but it gave me the energy to dive headfirst into a new adventure."
Several changes to tackle this season. First and foremost, the right-hand seat.
"I wanted to try something different. I did a test with Erika Mingozzi in a quarry, and we hit it off right away. She's from Turin, like Amerigo Ventura; they raced together with Yamaha, but this year she was free. So we talked, got to know each other, and started a project that didn't immediately have such a positive outlook. We're actually leading the championship, and Erika is also very happy. Mind you, the credit goes also to the great work of the RPM Garage Racing Team in Cairate. Thanks to Lorenzo Vianello and his team."
How did you approach the races, which were all new to you until now?
"The rally-like Baja dello Stella was perfect to start with. I recommended not to push too hard, following the advice of Riccardo Ambrosetti and others who were close to me. In off-road speed, you drive aggressively for 10 minutes. In cross-country, you have to use your head and manage your strength; the races are long and demanding. I discovered I have good stamina."
Dear "gaucho," you can joke about your size. You're not exactly a figure.
"Of course, I'm a very heavy burden for the side-by-side, leaning toward the left. The idea would be to prepare as best I can for 2027. I know that adequate physical work would yield immediate results, but with my job, I don't have a fixed schedule, I have so much responsibility, I can't go to the gym. I play the odd game of soccer, padel, I don't spare myself, but not even at the table (laughs, ed.)."
Italian Baja Press Office
