Netherlands beckons as Honda HRC PETRONAS gear up for the final push
ArnhemArnhem, the Netherlands hosts the 16th round of the 2026 MXGP World Championship, with Honda HRC PETRONAS ready to embrace the challenge that the sandy terrain brings, for what will be the home GP of championship-leader Jeffrey Herlings.
The Dutchman has won the last four GPs one-one, plus the last three qualification races, so he is undefeated in 11 gate-drops and in one of the best veins of form, of his highly-decorated career, and having won the last two editions of this Arnhem GP one-one as well, he is full of confidence for the weekend ahead. There is also the small matter of the #84 closing in on his sixth world-title, with him currently 116-points ahead of his nearest competitor and just four rounds remaining. A good round in front of his passionate home crowd will seem him tighten his grip even more, as the series heads into the final three rounds in Turkey, China and Australia.
Also in a good run of form is Tom Vialle, who has podiums in two of the last three rounds and would love to add another in the Dutch sand. He came close at Lommel and with this circuit being the last sandy one of the calendar, he wants to show that he can get on the box in the soft stuff, as well as on hard-pack terrain.
Ruben Fernandez would love to join his teammates on the podium, as he is also showing a really good run of speed and consistency. The Spaniard hasn’t quite been able to challenge the leaders, but is always around the top five and hasn’t made any mistakes in what have been some tough GPs. He knows that the rounds are running out, but is still confident he can get the job done and enjoy some champagne before the season comes to a close.
MX2 rider Valerio Lata is also looking to finish this season off with some good results, in what has been a difficult period for the Italian. He hasn’t been able to push-on as he would have liked and found himself battling for top 10s, rather than the top fives that he hoped and expected. There is still time though and the first opportunity is this weekend in Arnhem.
I’ve been riding well now for the last few GPs, so I’m feeling good and I’m happy with our setup and just everything in general. The only thing I’d like to do is to get up onto the box and we have four rounds until the end of the season to make that happen. Arnhem will be a tough one, because sand isn’t my favourite surface but I think I showed in Lommel that I have good speed and I am much more comfortable than before. I will definitely give it everything I have make it happen this weekend!
I’ve been riding well now for the last few GPs, so I’m feeling good and I’m happy with our setup and just everything in general. The only thing I’d like to do is to get up onto the box and we have four rounds until the end of the season to make that happen. Arnhem will be a tough one, because sand isn’t my favourite surface but I think I showed in Lommel that I have good speed and I am much more comfortable than before. I will definitely give it everything I have make it happen this weekend!
I was close to the podium in Lommel so I know that my sand riding is at a good level. I also know that with podium performances in Loket and Uddevalla in recent weeks that I’m in good form and that this weekend would be a perfect chance to show everyone that I can reach as high a level in the sand as on the hard-pack. I think we are close, so I’m feeling good about this weekend.
I was close to the podium in Lommel so I know that my sand riding is at a good level. I also know that with podium performances in Loket and Uddevalla in recent weeks that I’m in good form and that this weekend would be a perfect chance to show everyone that I can reach as high a level in the sand as on the hard-pack. I think we are close, so I’m feeling good about this weekend.
I’ve won the last two Arnhem GPs one-one, and I’ve won the last three GPs one-one so I’ve got a good run going the goal is to add to that at my home GP this weekend. Of course, the championship is close but I don’t want to change my mindset now. I want to go out there and try and win the GP and if I can keep doing that, the championship will fall into place. I can’t be thinking about this or that happening, especially at my home GP where I really just want to put on a good show for all the home crowd who will cheering me on.
I’ve won the last two Arnhem GPs one-one, and I’ve won the last three GPs one-one so I’ve got a good run going the goal is to add to that at my home GP this weekend. Of course, the championship is close but I don’t want to change my mindset now. I want to go out there and try and win the GP and if I can keep doing that, the championship will fall into place. I can’t be thinking about this or that happening, especially at my home GP where I really just want to put on a good show for all the home crowd who will cheering me on.
I haven’t had the best of luck the last few rounds, so Arnhem is a good chance to turn that around. Expectations aren’t too high, so the pressure is off and I just hope I can go out there and perform to the level that I’m happy with.
I haven’t had the best of luck the last few rounds, so Arnhem is a good chance to turn that around. Expectations aren’t too high, so the pressure is off and I just hope I can go out there and perform to the level that I’m happy with.
We’ve had a good last few weeks with wins for Jeffrey, and podiums for Tom as well. The team are in a good place and we have a lot of momentum going, in what has been a brutal run of races recently. Now we have Jeffrey’s home GP so a lot of pressure to perform for him and us, but I am confident we can keep the level as high as we have the last few rounds and come out successful. We are also going to try and make sure Ruben, Tom and Valerio are right up there as well, so it’ll be a lot of work, but nothing we’re not used to.
We’ve had a good last few weeks with wins for Jeffrey, and podiums for Tom as well. The team are in a good place and we have a lot of momentum going, in what has been a brutal run of races recently. Now we have Jeffrey’s home GP so a lot of pressure to perform for him and us, but I am confident we can keep the level as high as we have the last few rounds and come out successful. We are also going to try and make sure Ruben, Tom and Valerio are right up there as well, so it’ll be a lot of work, but nothing we’re not used to.
