Unbeatable Herlings goes one-one-one to secure another Dutch GP
ArnhemOnce again Honda HRC PETRONAS rider Jeffrey Herlings was perfect over the course of this weekend’s MXGP of the Netherlands, backing up his qualification victory yesterday with two hard-fought moto wins at the sandy circuit in Arnhem. The Dutch rider has now won the last 14 races in a row and has commanding 143-point lead in the 2026 MXGP Championship, with just three rounds remaining.
After his commanding 37 second win on Saturday, hopes were high for similar margins of victory, but instead he had to fight for the entirety of both motos, eventually persevering and forcing his nearest opponent into a mistake. Lapping up to eighth and seventh in the two races, Herlings had laptimes four seconds faster than the third fastest guy in what was an extremely impressive display of sand-surfing. And with the home crowd cheering his every move, he crossed the line to scenes of jubilation after what was his 17th home GP victory.
Joining him on the podium for the third time in four rounds was Tom Vialle, who got better and better throughout the weekend, going seven-four-three and fully deserving to stand up on the box. He definitely didn’t start off on Saturday looking capable, but as he has shown all season, he is fully determined to maximise every moto and he was delighted to a podium on a sand track, to add to his five visits on hard-pack terrain.
Ruben Fernandez rode valiantly once again and looked like he would be challenging the top five in both his races. Unfortunately a crash in race one when he was in fifth caused him to DNF, and although he was banged up, he was riding excellently in race two in sixth before a small crash dropped him to seventh. Still, he has a weekend off to recover now and prepare himself for the final three rounds in Turkey, China and Australia.
Despite being on an unfavourable sand-track, Valerio Lata had his best weekend since Germany, finishing fifth in the first race and challenging for fifth in race two, before a small mistake meant he finished eighth. It was an unfortunate turn of events, but the young Italian can still be proud of his efforts on this challenging Arnhem circuit.
Three rounds now remain in the championship, as the teams preparing for the gruelling triple-header that finishes off the campaign. Given the MXGP standings right now, the team know that Turkey could be where the title is decided, but they also know that they still need to finish the job off.
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MXGP Race 1
1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, Honda), 34:36.581; 2. Kay de Wolf (NED, Husqvarna), +0:03.773; 3. Tim Gajser (SLO, Yamaha), +0:44.802; 4. Tom Vialle (FRA, Honda), +1:00.724; 5. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), +1:28.247; 6. Ben Watson (GBR, Triumph), +1:29.725; 7. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, Yamaha), +1:31.734; 8. Roan Van De Moosdijk (NED, KTM), +2:00.674; 9. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, Honda), -1 lap(s); 10. Romain Febvre (FRA, Kawasaki), -1 lap(s);
MXGP Race 2
1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, Honda), 34:42.925; 2. Kay de Wolf (NED, Husqvarna), +0:13.663; 3. Tom Vialle (FRA, Honda), +0:54.948; 4. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, Yamaha), +1:14.778; 5. Romain Febvre (FRA, Kawasaki), +1:21.929; 6. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), +1:28.032; 7. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, Honda), +1:29.933; 8. Tim Gajser (SLO, Yamaha), -1 lap(s); 9. Roan Van De Moosdijk (NED, KTM), -1 lap(s); 10. Pauls Jonass (LAT, Kawasaki), -1 lap(s); 11. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, Ducati), -1 lap(s); 12. Jago Geerts (BEL, Beta), -1 lap(s); 13. Jorgen-Matthias Talviku (EST, Fantic), -1 lap(s); 14. Jan Pancar (SLO, KTM), -1 lap(s); 15. Maximilian Spies (GER, KTM), -1 lap(s); 16. Isak Gifting (SWE, Yamaha), -1 lap(s); 17. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, Honda), -1 lap(s); 18. Rick Elzinga (NED, KTM), -1 lap(s); 19. Boris Blanken (NED, KTM), -1 lap(s); 20. Lars van Berkel (NED, Honda), -1 lap(s);
MXGP Overall
1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, HON), 50 points; 2. Kay de Wolf (NED, HUS), 44 p.; 3. Tom Vialle (FRA, HON), 38 p.; 4. Tim Gajser (SLO, YAM), 33 p.; 5. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, YAM), 32 p.; 6. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), 31 p.; 7. Romain Febvre (FRA, KAW), 27 p.; 8. Roan Van De Moosdijk (NED, KTM), 25 p.; 9. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KAW), 21 p.; 10. Jago Geerts (BEL, BET), 16 p.; 11. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, HON), 16 p.; 12. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, DUC), 15 p.; 13. Maximilian Spies (GER, KTM), 15 p.; 14. Ben Watson (GBR, TRI), 15 p.; 15. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, HON), 14 p.;
MXGP Championship
1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, HON), 795 points; 2. Romain Febvre (FRA, KAW), 652 p.; 3. Tim Gajser (SLO, YAM), 611 p.; 4. Lucas Coenen (BEL, KTM), 566 p.; 5. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), 522 p.; 6. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, HON), 502 p.; 7. Tom Vialle (FRA, HON), 496 p.; 8. Maxime Renaux (FRA, YAM), 449 p.; 9. Kay de Wolf (NED, HUS), 428 p.; 10. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KAW), 333 p.;
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MX2 Race 1
1. Camden Mc Lellan (RSA, Triumph), 35:22.958; 2. Sacha Coenen (BEL, KTM), +0:07.494; 3. Guillem Farres (ESP, Triumph), +0:22.014; 4. Liam Everts (BEL, Husqvarna), +0:27.548; 5. Valerio Lata (ITA, Honda), +0:39.367; 6. Janis Martins Reisulis (LAT, Yamaha), +0:43.692; 7. Simon Längenfelder (GER, KTM), +0:58.525; 8. Karlis Alberts Reisulis (LAT, Yamaha), +1:03.984; 9. Scott Smulders (NED, Husqvarna), -1 lap(s); 10. Noel Zanocz (HUN, KTM), -1 lap(s);
MX2 Race 2
1. Liam Everts (BEL, Husqvarna), 35:26.168; 2. Camden Mc Lellan (RSA, Triumph), +0:00.766; 3. Guillem Farres (ESP, Triumph), +0:23.720; 4. Sacha Coenen (BEL, KTM), +0:31.201; 5. Karlis Alberts Reisulis (LAT, Yamaha), +0:38.289; 6. Simon Längenfelder (GER, KTM), +0:43.711; 7. Janis Martins Reisulis (LAT, Yamaha), +0:58.006; 8. Valerio Lata (ITA, Honda), +1:41.097; 9. Kay Karssemakers (NED, Kawasaki), +1:46.300; 10. Scott Smulders (NED, Husqvarna), +1:58.731;
MX2 Overall
1. Camden Mc Lellan (RSA, TRI), 47 points; 2. Liam Everts (BEL, HUS), 43 p.; 3. Guillem Farres (ESP, TRI), 40 p.; 4. Sacha Coenen (BEL, KTM), 40 p.; 5. Karlis Alberts Reisulis (LAT, YAM), 29 p.; 6. Simon Längenfelder (GER, KTM), 29 p.; 7. Janis Martins Reisulis (LAT, YAM), 29 p.; 8. Valerio Lata (ITA, HON), 29 p.; 9. Scott Smulders (NED, HUS), 23 p.; 10. Noel Zanocz (HUN, KTM), 21 p.;
MX2 Championship
1. Guillem Farres (ESP, TRI), 749 points; 2. Sacha Coenen (BEL, KTM), 724 p.; 3. Camden Mc Lellan (RSA, TRI), 712 p.; 4. Simon Längenfelder (GER, KTM), 674 p.; 5. Liam Everts (BEL, HUS), 648 p.; 6. Janis Martins Reisulis (LAT, YAM), 587 p.; 7. Karlis Alberts Reisulis (LAT, YAM), 473 p.; 8. Valerio Lata (ITA, HON), 414 p.; 9. Mathis Valin (FRA, KAW), 352 p.; 10. Julius Mikula (CZE, KTM), 352 p.;
Proud of my effort today, although disappointed not to be able to finish off both races as well as I would have liked. I really feel like my sand riding has improved a lot this year and I wanted to show that again this weekend and I think I was doing a good job. Just a couple of mistakes, which was very easy to do on this track. Big thanks for the help I got to be able to race in the second moto, and now the aim to rest up and get ready for Turkey.
Proud of my effort today, although disappointed not to be able to finish off both races as well as I would have liked. I really feel like my sand riding has improved a lot this year and I wanted to show that again this weekend and I think I was doing a good job. Just a couple of mistakes, which was very easy to do on this track. Big thanks for the help I got to be able to race in the second moto, and now the aim to rest up and get ready for Turkey.
It’s amazing to be on the podium here, because in the first session of the weekend I was off the pace but every time I got on the track, I improved and I think it shows the work we’ve done to be standing on the box next to Jeffrey. This track is a lot different that Lommel, and initially I couldn’t get to grips with it, but I kept working and it’s great to be up here and to make the podium a regular place.
It’s amazing to be on the podium here, because in the first session of the weekend I was off the pace but every time I got on the track, I improved and I think it shows the work we’ve done to be standing on the box next to Jeffrey. This track is a lot different that Lommel, and initially I couldn’t get to grips with it, but I kept working and it’s great to be up here and to make the podium a regular place.
I definitely had to work today in both races. It was tough out there, but I got the job done and it was really great to win this 17th home GP. It’s been a stressful weekend, with all the fans, the media, all the sponsors but to take the victory is what we are all about. The team have been working extremely hard and the bike was great all weekend so we’re just in a really good place right now. Obviously the championship is close now, so we just want to keep doing what we’re doing and try to finish the job off in Turkey.
I definitely had to work today in both races. It was tough out there, but I got the job done and it was really great to win this 17th home GP. It’s been a stressful weekend, with all the fans, the media, all the sponsors but to take the victory is what we are all about. The team have been working extremely hard and the bike was great all weekend so we’re just in a really good place right now. Obviously the championship is close now, so we just want to keep doing what we’re doing and try to finish the job off in Turkey.
Very happy with my riding after what has been a tough period. It would have been great to have finished off with a five-five but I couldn’t quite make that happen so I have to be happy with the five-eight. A big thanks to the team for all their work, and it feels good to ride like I know I can here and prove I can do well on sand.
Very happy with my riding after what has been a tough period. It would have been great to have finished off with a five-five but I couldn’t quite make that happen so I have to be happy with the five-eight. A big thanks to the team for all their work, and it feels good to ride like I know I can here and prove I can do well on sand.
It was definitely tough, watching Jeffrey fighting hard to win this weekend. He didn’t have it easy in the slightest, but we also know that he was extremely determined to take the victory in front of his home fans. This run he’s on is incredible and we hope that he can keep it going for as long as possible. Tom was also impressive today because he didn’t give up and showed that he can get on the podium in the sand as well. Tom and Jeffrey also split the holeshots which is becoming a very regular and welcome occurrence! Ruben and Valerio did great as well and could easily be celebrating top fives, so overall it was a very successful MXGP of the Netherlands.
It was definitely tough, watching Jeffrey fighting hard to win this weekend. He didn’t have it easy in the slightest, but we also know that he was extremely determined to take the victory in front of his home fans. This run he’s on is incredible and we hope that he can keep it going for as long as possible. Tom was also impressive today because he didn’t give up and showed that he can get on the podium in the sand as well. Tom and Jeffrey also split the holeshots which is becoming a very regular and welcome occurrence! Ruben and Valerio did great as well and could easily be celebrating top fives, so overall it was a very successful MXGP of the Netherlands.
