The 2026 FIM Motocross World Championship roared into life yesterday as racing got underway at the brand-new Bariloche MX Race Track for the YPF MXGP of Argentina, with large crowds lining the hillsides to witness the opening action of the season.
Words and Images by Infront Moto Racing
The new venue has already earned positive feedback from both riders and spectators, continuing the tradition of popular South American rounds. As the day progressed, the fast layout evolved with rougher lines forming through the sweeping turns and straights, creating a demanding track for the Qualifying Races and delivering plenty of dramatic moments for fans trackside and viewers tuning in via MXGP-TV.
The much-anticipated MXGP class saw many surprises, including that of Tom Vialle launching his new Honda HRC Petronas machine into the lead from the very drop of the gate, and holding off the challenges of Lucas Coenen to win by over five seconds at the flag! The Red Bull KTM Factory Racing pairing of Coenen and Andrea Adamo rounded out the top three finishers, meaning that in the Battle of the Ages so far, the advantage has definitely swung in the younger generation’s direction!
It was an impressive start for the new Honda HRC Petronas duo of Jeffrey Herlings and Tom Vialle, as they blasted around Bariloche to take a 1-2 in Free Practice, ahead of early pace-setter Lucas Coenen. The Belgian managed to split the two red bikes in Time Practice, but on his blistering second flying lap “The Bullet” put in a time that was over a second faster than the teenager’s best!
From that third gate pick, Vialle took a commanding Holeshot at the first time of asking in MXGP, as the Red Bull KTMs of Coenen and Adamo disputed second place. The Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP pairing of Maxime Renaux and Tim Gajser were also giving chase early ahead of Herlings, but the Dutchman slid to the ground at the start of the first full lap, his back wheel sliding out as he asked for the power heading back onto the start straight!
Having to pick it up from there, Herlings had to charge back through the pack, but couldn’t pull the trigger on the Red Bull Ducati Factory MX Team bike of Andrea Bonacorsi, and those two would finish just outside the points in 11th and 12th.
Meanwhile, reigning World Champion Romain Febvre launched his Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP machine around the outside of a downhill section to pass Gajser for sixth on lap two, and gave chase after the Honda HRC Petronas rider Ruben Fernandez, who had slotted into fifth after the crash for his teammate.
The #1 plate holder was able to move past the Spaniard along the Pit Lane straight, and in chasing Renaux, both Frenchmen closed in on Adamo for third. The roost from the rear wheels of the 450s was painful for any riders who stayed close to those in front, however, and neither man was able to pull the trigger on the Italian, who took a fine third in his first Qualifying Race in the MXGP class!
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On lap eight, there was a scary moment for Gajser, who had committed, as usual, to the big uphill triple jump, only to find a lapped rider in his path exactly where he was set to land! The collision could have been a lot worse as only Tim hit the floor, but he has escaped with minor bruises, recovering to finish tenth at the flag.
This left Renaux and Febvre to come home fourth and fifth, with Fernandez sixth, and Pauls Jonass putting in a great rider to claim seventh. Mattia Guadagnini claimed points for eighth on his debut for Venrooy KTM Racing, with Calvin Vlaanderen taking the only two points for Red Bull Ducati Factory Racing in ninth, ahead of Gajser.
Vialle held off a late charge from Coenen with some fine technical lines, looking smooth and in control of his new machine, and picked up his first ever Qualifying Race win in Argentina, the seventh of his career. He will wear the red plate on Sunday for the first time since July 2022, and take full confidence into his first MXGP Grand Prix Sunday as the series leader!
The Battle of the Ages has begun, and none of us can wait for the next clash to come today.
Tom Vialle: “Feels nice to be back. First Quali Qace. I win, so it was really nice. The track is actually pretty sketchy, but my first thought is I want to thank the team, everyone who believe in me, my mechanics, my trainer, my family of course, everyone around me, close to me, I just want to thank them for trusting me. It’s a long season, but it’s nice to start with a P1.”
Results
FIMMWC_MXGP_QR_RaceClassification-4101_1_9_323_1_65AC7EB055ACF917B786C2969262049ATIMETABLE (Local Timing UTC-3)
SUNDAY: 10:25 MX2 Warm-up, 10:45 MXGP Warm-up, 12:15 MX2 Race 1, 13:15 MXGP Race 1, 15:10 MX2 Race 2, 16:10 MXGP Race 2.
