News MXGP Turkey: the final sprint is on!

This weekend, the Motocross World Championship comes to Turkey for the penultimate round of the season. In Afyonkarahisar, all three categories (MXGP, MX2 and WMX) are on the alert, with world titles hanging by a thread. The confrontation promises to be electric on the Afyon track, which has already hosted the championship eight times since 2009.

MXGP: Febvre under threat from Coenen

The suspense is at its height in the premier class. While Romain Febvre (Kawasaki) still holds the red plate, his lead has melted like snow in the sun after a difficult weekend in the Netherlands. With a 31-point deficit, young Belgian prodigy Lucas Coenen (KTM) has not said his last word. The pressure is on the shoulders of the Frenchman, winner here in 2022 and 2023, who will have to resist the teenager's urge to ensure a serene end to the season.

In the race for bronze, Glenn Coldenhoff (Fantic) has a healthy 94-point lead over Ruben Fernandez (Honda), but the latter, more at ease on hard tracks, could well make up some of his deficit. Jeffrey Herlings (KTM), Afyon's most successful rider (4 wins), will also be on the lookout for a strong comeback. Having missed out on selection for the Motocross of Nations, "The Bullet" may well want to prove that he's still a formidable opponent.

MX2: three men in a handkerchief

The situation is even tighter in MX2. Reigning champion Kay de Wolf (Husqvarna) took advantage of his home win to close to within 15 points of Simon Längenfelder (KTM). The German, who has often shone on hard tracks, is hoping to regain the upper hand over his Dutch rival. But there's a third man in the mix: Andrea Adamo (KTM), just 23 points behind De Wolf. The Italian, also at ease on the Turkish hardpack, has the opportunity to completely revitalize his title challenge.

Beyond the three leaders, the battle for the top 5 is equally exciting. Thibault Benistant (Yamaha) is under threat from Camden McLellan (Triumph), who is just 27 points behind. And what can we say about Liam Everts (Husqvarna), winner of last year's qualifying race, who could take advantage of his fluid style to make it onto the podium.

WMX and EMX250: the final before time

The Turkish GP will also see the penultimate round of the Women's World Championship (WMX) and the grand finale of the European Championship (EMX250).

In the women's race, defending champion Lotte van Drunen (Yamaha) has a 20-point lead over six-time champion Kiara Fontanesi (GASGAS), who won her first race as a mother here in 2021. Daniela Guillen (Honda) is just one point behind the Italian. The battle for second place promises to be intense.

In EMX250, the title will be decided between Latvian Janis Reisulis (Yamaha) and Hungarian Noel Zanocz (Honda). With a 38-point lead, Reisulis could seal the championship in the very first race by finishing in the top 8.

The heat and physical demands of the Afyon track will only add spice to a weekend that promises to be a decisive turning point in the title race.

Photo credits: mxgp.com