Afyon: Jeffrey Herlings (Honda) is the 2026 MXGP World Champion ahead of schedule

First race of the MXGP class in Afyonkarahisar (Turkey): Dutch HRC works rider Jeffrey Herlings made no mistakes whatsoever, took the holeshot and led from the first to the last lap. Jeffrey Herlings won and, as a result, extended his lead in the World Championship standings to 151 points. As a maximum of 145 points can be awarded in the second race and the final two Grands Prix, Herlings has thus secured the title in the premier MXGP class ahead of schedule. It is the sixth World Championship title in Jeffrey Herlings’ long and successful career.

Herlings takes the holeshot

Initially, Herlings didn’t get off to a good start, but at the end of the start straight he kept the throttle open the longest and crossed the holeshot line ahead of his team-mate Tom Vialle, Tim Gajser (Yamaha) and Andrea Adamo (KTM). Tim Gajser, for his part, held off Vialle to move into second place. The Yamaha works rider managed to keep up with Herlings, but was unable to close the gap on the leading rider by the finish. In the end, Jeffrey Herlings won with a lead of 3.6 seconds over Gajser.

Jeffrey Herlings ist MXGP Motocross-Weltmeister 2026

Foto: MXGP-TV

Febvre wins the French duel

On lap 13, Romain Febvre (Kawasaki) capitalised on a mistake by his compatriot Tom Vialle to move into third place. Febvre crossed the line 18 seconds behind the winner.

Jeremy Seewer in 8th place

Jeremy Seewer managed to overtake his former Ducati team-mate Calvin Vlaanderen on the second lap and finished in 8th place behind Alberto Forato (Fantic).

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MXGP Race 1, Afyonkarahisar

1. Jeffrey Herlings (NL), Honda, 34:27.218

2. Tim Gajser (SLO), Yamaha, +3.637

3. Romain Febvre (F), Kawasaki, +18.321

4. Tom Vialle (F), Honda, +24.478

5. Andrea Adamo (I), KTM, +51.370

6. Pauls Jonass (LV), Kawasaki, +56.371

7. Alberto Forato (I), Fantic, +59.218

8. Jeremy Seewer (CH), KTM, +1:05.096

9. Calvin Vlaanderen (NL), Ducati, +1:06.311

10. Kevin Horgmo (N), Honda, +1:08.424

11. Jan Pancar (SLO), KTM, +1:22.495

12. Ruben Fernandez (E), Honda, +1:27.707

13. Jago Geerts (B), Beta, +1:30.613

14. Rick Elzinga (NL), KTM, +1:46.798

15. Andrea Bonacorsi (I), Ducati, +1:57.948

16. Yigit Ali Selek (TR), GASGAS, 4 laps

17. Jörgen-Matthias Talviku (EST), Fantic, 17 laps

World Championship Standings

1. Jeffrey Herlings (NL), Honda, 830 points, crowned 2026 World Champion ahead of schedule

2. Romain Febvre (F), Kawasaki, 679, (-151)

3. Tim Gajser (SLO), Yamaha, 641, (-189)

4. Lucas Coenen (B), KTM, 566, (-264)

5. Andrea Adamo (I), KTM, 544, (-286)