The legendary Crossdromo Miravalle track was buzzing with excitement on the weekend of June 21, 2026, for the Italian MXGP. Amid sweltering heat and on an old-school “hard-pack” track (compact, slippery dirt), the world’s motocross elite put on a show of rare intensity. For the return of this legendary track to the calendar after a two-decade absence, the weather threw a wrench in the works with a summer shower between the two races, making the quest for traction particularly precarious. It was a major challenge that saw legend Jeffrey Herlings crowned champion in the premier class and young Sacha Coenen in MX2.
MXGP: Jeffrey Herlings’ Masterpiece at Montevarchi
In the premier class, Jeffrey Herlings (Honda HRC Petronas) once again showcased his racing prowess. With a solid weekend (1-2), “The Bullet” secured his fourth win of the season—and, more importantly, his 116th career Grand Prix victory, his 20th on Italian soil.
In the first race, the Dutchman claimed the Fox Holeshot before heroically holding off pressure from Maxime Renaux (Yamaha) and a furious charge by the championship leader, 19-year-old Belgian Lucas Coenen (KTM). Less than three seconds separated the magical trio as they crossed the checkered flag. Meanwhile, Tim Gajser (Yamaha), winner of the qualifying race the day before, saw his hopes dashed right at the first turn after a collision that damaged his footpeg and front wheel, forcing him to make a pit stop.
The second race sawAndrea Adamo (KTM) make a bold move, taking the holeshot in front of his ecstatic home crowd. But Tim Gajser, out for revenge, quickly took the lead, pulling away to claim his 99th career race victory. Behind him, Herlings showed immense aggression from the very first lap to shake off his rivals and break away into second place—enough to secure the overall win ahead of Lucas Coenen (3rd). Despite being in poor physical condition, Maxime Renaux clinched a superb third place overall, marking his second podium finish of the season.
MXGP Rider Statements
Jeffrey Herlings (1st): I had the speed to win all weekend. In the first race, I got the holeshot and was able to lead, but it’s never easy to ride under the constant pressure from Maxime [Renaux] and then Lucas [Coenen]. In the second race, I managed to keep Lucas behind me and secure the overall win. It’s another GP victory—our fourth of the season. The Honda HRC Petronas team has worked so hard. We had two rough weekends with retirements that cost us dearly, but we’re back in the running at the midseason mark!
Lucas Coenen (2nd): I’m thrilled to be on this podium. Coming from the U.S., I wasn’t quite sure what to expect here, and during the first practice session, I looked at the team and thought to myself that it was going to be tough. In the first race, I messed up my start—I was almost last—but I pulled off some great passes. In the second race, the battle with Jeffrey was intense. You have to race smart without making any major mistakes, and that’s exactly what I did.
Maxime Renaux (3rd): After the disappointment in Latvia and our technical issues, we wanted to bounce back. I’m struggling a bit with my health right now, so it was very tough physically in the heat. In the second race, I struggled starting on the fourth lap, but this podium finish feels really good. The battle with Jeffrey and Lucas was very entertaining—it’s the kind of race we love to put on for the fans.
Provisional MXGP Overall Standings at the End of the Weekend (TOP 10)
Check out the complete and detailed standings from the MXGP weekend on Motoplanete
MX2: Historic First for Sacha Coenen Against the Triumph Armada
The MX2 class delivered a memorable show in Montevarchi. While British manufacturer Triumph swept all the race wins, it was Sacha Coenen’s (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) consistent performance and maturity that ultimately paid off. With two magnificent second-place finishes (2-2), the young Belgian prodigy claimed the very first overall victory of his Grand Prix career and firmly retained his red plate.
In the first race, Germany’s Simon Längenfelder (KTM) took the holeshot, but it was Spain’s Guillem Farres (Triumph) who showcased his raw speed. Methodically working his way through the pack, Farres overtook Längenfelder under the brakes and sped away to his fifth race win of the season, ahead of a determined Sacha Coenen.
The second race, contested on a track made even more treacherous by a brief downpour, saw Camden McLellan (Triumph) take the win. After a first race marred by a crash (7th), the South African rose to the occasion. Taking advantage of a minor slip by Sacha Coenen coming out of the waves, McLellan executed a textbook outside line to seize the lead and claim his second race win of the year. This one-two finish allowed Triumph to place both of its bikes on the GP podium (Farres 2nd, McLellan 3rd).
MX2 Rider Standings
Sacha Coenen (1st): It was a tough weekend, but the conditions were the same for everyone. Even though a few riders were a tad faster than me today, I managed to finish second twice and win the overall, which makes me really happy. In the first race, I made a mistake that cost me some positions, but I found a great rhythm toward the end. I tried to ride safely and smartly because there were a lot of tricky spots.
Guillem Farres (2nd): I had a great pace this weekend. In the first race, my start wasn’t ideal, but I made some superb passes to go on to win. Unfortunately, my start in the second race was terrible, and I crashed on the very first lap, dropping to last place. Climbing back up to 5th place allowed me to salvage the situation and take second place in the GP. It’s frustrating to make that mistake on my own, but the pace is there.
Camden McLellan (3rd): I was really annoyed after my first race and my crash. I knew I’d ruined my chances of winning the overall, but I felt physically very strong. In the second race, I was fired up and wouldn’t have settled for anything less than the win. Riding the Triumph gives you incredible confidence; we knew as early as Friday during track reconnaissance that the bike would perform wonderfully here.
Provisional MX2 Standings After the Weekend (TOP 10)
Check out the complete and detailed standings from the MX2 weekend on Motoplanete
World Championships: The Standings Are Tightening Up at the Midpoint of the Season
In the provisional standings for the 2026 season, the Coenen family and Austrian manufacturer KTM remain firmly in control of the world championship, but the gaps are shifting. In MXGP, Jeffrey Herlings has picked up a few precious points and is now 56 points behind leader Lucas Coenen. In MX2, the weekend’s standout performance goes to the official Triumph riders, Farres and McLellan, who have claimed second and third places in the world standings, pushing Längenfelder to the edge of the provisional podium.
MXGP World Championship Top 10
- Lucas Coenen (BEL, KTM) 449 points
- Jeffrey Herlings (NED, Honda) 393 pts.
- Romain Febvre (FRA, Kawasaki) 347 pts.
- Tim Gajser (SLO, Yamaha) 329 pts.
- Maxime Renaux (FRA, Yamaha) 305 pts.
- Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM) 281 pts.
- Kay de Wolf (NED, Husqvarna) 273 pts.
- Ruben Fernandez (ESP, Honda) 264 pts.
- Tom Vialle (FRA, Honda) 249 pts.
- Pauls Jonass (LAT, Kawasaki) 200 pts.
Follow the provisional MXGP overall standings as they update in real time
Top 10 MX2 World Championship
- Sacha Coenen (BEL, KTM) 431 points
- Guillem Farres (ESP, Triumph) 390 pts.
- Camden McLellan (RSA, Triumph) 373 points
- Simon Längenfelder (GER, KTM) 372 pts.
- Liam Everts (BEL, Husqvarna) 354 pts.
- Mathis Valin (FRA, Kawasaki) 352 pts.
- Janis Martins Reisulis (LAT, Yamaha) 310 pts.
- Karlis Alberts Reisulis (LAT, Yamaha) 244 pts.
- Valerio Lata (ITA, Honda) 241 pts.
- Kay Karssemakers (NED, Kawasaki) 181 pts.
Follow the live updates on the provisional MX2 overall standings
Next stop: The red dirt of Agueda
The bikes won’t have time to cool down. Starting next weekend, the riders will head to the legendary Agueda track for the MXGP of Portugal. Between the fervor of the Portuguese crowd and the red dirt renowned for offering spectacular racing lines, the next chapter in the duel between Herlings’ experience and the passion of the new generation led by Coenen is already shaping up to be spectacular!
News and photo credits: mxgp.com
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