Preview and schedule: Grand Prix of Flanders in Lommel

Loket is now traditionally followed by the World Championship round in Lommel, and alongside the well-known challenges of the deep sand, there are further special features to contend with this year.

Ideal weather conditions

With temperatures around 26 degrees and sunshine, current forecasts suggest that Lommel will enjoy ideal weather conditions this coming weekend. At night, temperatures will drop to 12 degrees, so don’t forget your jacket for the evening barbecue.

Fence height lowered

The organisers have lowered 300 metres of the track boundary fence to a height of 1.40 metres to give spectators a better view of the racing action.

In Lommel wurde ein über 300 Meter langer neuer Zaun errichtet

Foto: Grand Prix of Flanders

‘Spruce mopeds’ banned in Lommel

You won’t see scenes like those in the Talkessel in Lommel, because the organisers have banned the use of the ‘Fichtenmopeds’ (modified chainsaws) that are so popular among MX fans. The fact is: these machines can be brutally loud and can cause permanent hearing damage. The noise level of chainsaws without silencers is likely to significantly exceed the permitted noise level for competition motorbikes. Anyone exposing themselves to this noise without protection is putting themselves at risk. However, anyone who goes to a motocross race usually knows what to expect and what they’re getting themselves into. There is good, effective noise protection that almost everyone carries in their pocket these days: In-ear headphones (e.g. AirPod Pro with active noise cancellation) are a good solution for protecting your own health. At the Munich Supercross, earplugs used to be handed out. This raises the question of whether bans are always the best solution to a problem.

In Lommel sind Fichtenmopeds verboten

Foto: Grand Prix of Flanders

How fit is Simon Längenfelder?

German fans are naturally keen to know: how fit is Simon Längenfelder following his crash at Loket? As a reminder, the defending champion had to retire in the pits after his crash in the early stages of the second race because, having landed on his forearms, he could no longer grip the handlebars properly. Naturally, there’s a fair bit of cautious optimism coming from all sides in the run-up to the race, but we won’t know the reality until Saturday.

Can Sacha Coenen still turn the tide?

Question number two is of particular interest to Belgian fans: can Sacha Coenen (KTM) turn the tide once again in the MX2 World Championship, three weeks after breaking his collarbone? After 13 of 19 rounds, his deficit to class leader Guillem Farres (Triumph) has grown to 33 points, which brings us straight to question number 4: How does Guillem Farres fare on sand? The Spaniard feels more at home on hard ground, but one of the architects of this success is Clement Desalle, and the Belgian has drilled his protégés in sand riding until the spokes fell out of their wheels. Will the run of four consecutive Grands Prix come to an end in Lommel?

MX2 World Championship standings after round 13 of 19

1. Guillem Farres (E), Triumph, 618 points

2. Sacha Coenen (B), KTM, 585, (-33)

3. Camden Mc Lellan (ZA), Triumph, 548, (-70)

4. Simon Längenfelder (D), KTM, 547, (-71)

5. Liam Everts (B), Husqvarna, 520, (-98)

6. Janis Martins Reisulis (LV), Yamaha, 476, (-142)

Lucas Coenen: 6 consecutive zero-point rounds

The drama surrounding Lucas Coenen has given the MXGP a surprising twist, but nobody is happy about it – not even Jeffrey Herlings (Honda), who will be competing in Lommel with the World Championship leader’s red plate. Lucas has been undergoing physiotherapy this week for his pinched sciatic nerve. Lucas will do everything he can to line up at the start in Lommel. Whether and how he manages it is the big question.

Jörgen Matthias Talviku has been signed by Jacky Martens and the JM Fantic Factory Team as a replacement rider for Alberto Forato. Forato suffered a fractured shoulder blade at Foxhills.

World Championship standings after round 13 of 19:

1. Jeffrey Herlings (NL), Honda, 615 points

2. Lucas Coenen (B), KTM, 566, (-49)

3. Romain Febvre (F), Kawasaki, 541, (-74)

4. Tim Gajser (SLO), Yamaha, 489, (-126)

5. Ruben Fernandez (E), Honda, 414, (-201)

6. Andrea Adamo (I), KTM, 411, (-204)

EMXOpen

Former Grand Prix winner Ken de Dycker is set to make a comeback at Lommel, competing in the EMXOpen class. But it won’t be a walk in the park: riders such as Micha-Boy de Waal (GASGAS), Jere Haavisto (KTM), Nicholas Lapucci (Honda) and a handful of other riders also have World Championship experience and are, in some cases, significantly younger than the 42-year-old giant. But as Antonio Cairoli’s story shows, age is neither a reason nor an obstacle.

EMX250: Francisco Garcia will not be starting

The European Championship’s EMX250 class is set to contest its ninth of twelve rounds in Lommel. In fact, the championship seemed to have been decided long ago in favour of the Spaniard Francisco Garcia (Bud Racing Kawasaki), but now he too has been injured in practice and will be unable to compete at Lommel. As the Spaniard has a lead of over 100 points and a maximum of 50 points are up for grabs, Garcia has nothing to worry about, provided he is fit again two weeks later in Unadilla (Sweden). For the Australian Jake Cannon and the Dane Nicolai Skovbjerg, the race in Lommel is an opportunity to make the EMX250 title race a little more exciting again.

EMX250 after round 8 of 12

1. Francisco Garcia (E), Kawasaki, 352 points

2. Jake Cannon (AUS), Kawasaki, 248, (-104)

3. Nicolai Skovbjerg (DK), Husqvarna, 231, (-121)

4. Gyan Doensen (NL), KTM, 203, (-149)

5. Mads Fredsøe (DK), KTM, 183, (-169)

6. Nicolo Alvisi (I), Honda, 163, (-189)

Saturday, 1 August 2026

Sunday, 2 August 2026

*) All times are in CEST and subject to change