Herlings win Belgium qualification to gain more points in championship standings
LommelVictory in the MXGP of Flanders (Belgium) qualification race meant that Honda HRC PETRONAS rider Jeffrey Herlings saw his lead in the 2026 MXGP Championship grow to 59-points, but with second-place withdrawing from the GP, he could easily see that grow to over 80 points if he has a successful day tomorrow.
Fastest in free and timed practice, the #84 got off to a great start in the qualifying race, moving into second after the second bend, before quickly making his move to take the lead. From then on he controlled the race, taking the chequered flag by 14 seconds in a comfortable display of sand-riding on the treacherous Lommel circuit.
Tom Vialle also showed he hasn’t lost any of his sand-surfing abilities, despite not needing them for a few seasons. The Frenchman won twice here in his MX2 career so knows what it takes, and he had an excellent fifth place with the potential for even more in the two longer Sunday motos.
Ruben Fernandez and MX2 rider Valerio Lata finished eighth and 10th respectively, grinding out two hard fought top 10 results on a track that definitely isn’t either of their favourite places to ride. The hope is the try and find a smooth, consistent flow around the deep-sandy terrain, but that is easier said than done.
With temperatures increasing by a few degrees tomorrow, the challenge will be even tougher for all the riders, but the Honda HRC PETRONAS are all motivated to put on a good showing.
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MXGP Qualification Race
1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, Honda), 24:25.951; 2. Kay de Wolf (NED, Husqvarna), +0:14.080; 3. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), +0:36.879; 4. Tim Gajser (SLO, Yamaha), +0:39.911; 5. Tom Vialle (FRA, Honda), +0:41.219; 6. Isak Gifting (SWE, Yamaha), +0:56.865; 7. Romain Febvre (FRA, Kawasaki), +1:07.257; 8. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, Honda), +1:10.487; 9. Andrea Bonacorsi (ITA, Ducati), +1:14.031; 10. Jago Geerts (BEL, Beta), +1:14.777; 1
MXGP Championship
1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, HON), 625 points; 2. Lucas Coenen (BEL, KTM), 566 p.; 3. Romain Febvre (FRA, KAW), 545 p.; 4. Tim Gajser (SLO, YAM), 496 p.; 5. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), 419 p.; 6. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, HON), 417 p.; 7. Maxime Renaux (FRA, YAM), 408 p.; 8. Tom Vialle (FRA, HON), 373 p.; 9. Kay de Wolf (NED, HUS), 301 p.; 10. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KAW), 273 p.;
MX2 Qualification Race
1. Camden Mc Lellan (RSA, Triumph), 25:22.582; 2. Simon Längenfelder (GER, KTM), +0:08.378; 3. Guillem Farres (ESP, Triumph), +0:32.316; 4. Sacha Coenen (BEL, KTM), +0:43.354; 5. Liam Everts (BEL, Husqvarna), +0:44.223; 6. Janis Martins Reisulis (LAT, Yamaha), +1:01.251; 7. Karlis Alberts Reisulis (LAT, Yamaha), +1:12.678; 8. Kay Karssemakers (NED, Kawasaki), +1:15.964; 9. Julius Mikula (CZE, KTM), +1:24.790; 10. Valerio Lata (ITA, Honda), +1:31.511;
Lommel is always a tough GP, and this was no different. I kept fighting through the whole day and managed to get up into eighth a couple of laps from the end so that was good. Tomorrow will be even hotter and the motos are longer so it’ll be even tougher, but I’m excited for the challenge and to try and get my best results here.
Lommel is always a tough GP, and this was no different. I kept fighting through the whole day and managed to get up into eighth a couple of laps from the end so that was good. Tomorrow will be even hotter and the motos are longer so it’ll be even tougher, but I’m excited for the challenge and to try and get my best results here.
A bit annoyed to make that small mistake near the end to drop down into fifth place, but other than that, very happy with the day and my riding in general. Another good start and my pace was solid all race long, with third place just in front of me, but I couldn’t quite get the gap close enough to make a pass. Overall, to come back to Lommel and be ‘disappointed’ with a fifth is okay so I’ll keep working hard and try and get even more out of tomorrow’s motos.
A bit annoyed to make that small mistake near the end to drop down into fifth place, but other than that, very happy with the day and my riding in general. Another good start and my pace was solid all race long, with third place just in front of me, but I couldn’t quite get the gap close enough to make a pass. Overall, to come back to Lommel and be ‘disappointed’ with a fifth is okay so I’ll keep working hard and try and get even more out of tomorrow’s motos.
It was a good day really. Fastest in each of the practice sessions and then leading the qualifying race from midway through the first lap. My pace was good and I think we had a good setup with the bike. The crash on the last lap wasn’t ideal but other than that, a perfect day and I’m looking forward to even more tomorrow. We’re in a good place with the championship, but the work doesn’t stop now.
It was a good day really. Fastest in each of the practice sessions and then leading the qualifying race from midway through the first lap. My pace was good and I think we had a good setup with the bike. The crash on the last lap wasn’t ideal but other than that, a perfect day and I’m looking forward to even more tomorrow. We’re in a good place with the championship, but the work doesn’t stop now.
I can’t say that this is my favourite GP, but I hoped I would be able to be a bit nearer to the top five. I had a decent start, but if you don’t find a good rhythm, you really lose time quickly and that happened a couple of times and I just dropped down a few spots as a result. Hopefully tomorrow I won’t be fighting as much and I’ll find a good flow.
I can’t say that this is my favourite GP, but I hoped I would be able to be a bit nearer to the top five. I had a decent start, but if you don’t find a good rhythm, you really lose time quickly and that happened a couple of times and I just dropped down a few spots as a result. Hopefully tomorrow I won’t be fighting as much and I’ll find a good flow.
Jeffrey looked really good all day, and although he had pressure in the first half of that qualifying race, you could tell he looked comfortable. We’ll make sure he is still looking that good in the two Sunday races and then we’ll really enjoy looking at the championship standings. Tom was also positive this weekend, because it is a tough place to come when you haven’t really ridden much deep sand in the last few years. Ruben fought hard in his race and Valerio also gave everything, and hopefully we can make them feel even better tomorrow.
Jeffrey looked really good all day, and although he had pressure in the first half of that qualifying race, you could tell he looked comfortable. We’ll make sure he is still looking that good in the two Sunday races and then we’ll really enjoy looking at the championship standings. Tom was also positive this weekend, because it is a tough place to come when you haven’t really ridden much deep sand in the last few years. Ruben fought hard in his race and Valerio also gave everything, and hopefully we can make them feel even better tomorrow.
