The long-awaited return of the FIM Motocross World Championship to South African soil delivered unforgettable action as Lucas Coenen and Guillem Farres emerged victorious at the MXGP of South Africa in Johannesburg.
After an 18-year absence, thousands of passionate fans packed Terra Topia MX to witness world-class motocross under clear winter skies. The demanding high-altitude circuit produced spectacular racing throughout the weekend, rewarding riders who mastered both speed and consistency.
Lucas Coenen Completes Perfect MXGP Weekend
Lucas Coenen continued his sensational 2026 campaign by sweeping every race of the weekend for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing. The Belgian teenager converted superb starts into commanding victories in both motos to secure maximum points and strengthen his grip on the MXGP World Championship.
Jeffrey Herlings once again proved to be Coenen’s closest challenger. The Honda HRC Petronas rider pushed relentlessly in both races but had to settle for second overall after twice finishing runner-up.
Romain Febvre maintained his impressive consistency by taking third in both races to secure another podium finish for Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP.
Coenen’s flawless performance extends his championship advantage to 68 points heading into the mid-season break.
Thrilling Battles Define Both MXGP Races
Race one saw Coenen grab the Fox Holeshot before immediately coming under pressure from Tom Vialle and Herlings.
The Dutch veteran carved through the field with trademark aggression and eventually closed within striking distance before a small crash ended any realistic hopes of victory. Coenen remained composed to claim the opening race win ahead of Herlings and Febvre.
Race two delivered another intense battle as Vialle initially led before Coenen quickly reclaimed the advantage.
Herlings once again fought his way forward from outside the top five, eventually passing Febvre for second. Despite closing the gap late in the race, he could not deny Coenen a perfect weekend as the Belgian secured his 50th career GP race victory and 21st overall Grand Prix triumph.
Home Heroes Shine in Johannesburg
South African supporters had plenty to celebrate throughout the weekend.
Calvin Vlaanderen produced his strongest performance of the season for the Red Bull Ducati Factory MXGP Team, finishing fourth overall after an excellent fourth-place finish in race two that brought the local crowd to its feet.
Meanwhile, Triumph Racing Factory Team rider Camden McLellan delivered another impressive performance in MX2, claiming fifth overall with consistent rides in front of his home fans.
The successful event showcased South Africa‘s ability to host world-class motocross and was widely praised by riders, teams and spectators alike.
Farres Continues Remarkable MX2 Winning Run
Guillem Farres continued his incredible momentum in MX2 with another perfect weekend.
The Triumph Racing Factory Team rider dominated both motos to complete back-to-back weekends without dropping a race victory, significantly reducing Sacha Coenen‘s championship lead.
Farres controlled race one despite constant pressure from Coenen before repeating the feat in race two after grabbing another holeshot and immediately pulling clear of the field.
His ninth race victory of the season moves him to within just 14 championship points of Coenen.
Längenfelder Returns to the Podium
Defending World Champion Simon Längenfelder enjoyed his strongest weekend in months.
The Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider secured second overall after finishing third in race one and second in race two, ending a lengthy podium drought while strengthening his hold on third place in the championship standings.
Janis Reisulis continued his rapid development with another outstanding weekend for Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2.
The Latvian rookie claimed third overall after edging Camden McLellan in a dramatic late-race battle to secure his second consecutive Grand Prix podium.
Championship Battles Intensify
The South African round leaves both championships finely poised.
Lucas Coenen heads into the break with a comfortable 68-point advantage over Jeffrey Herlings in MXGP after another masterclass in race management and outright speed.
In MX2, however, the title fight has tightened dramatically. Sacha Coenen still leads the standings, but Guillem Farres has reduced the gap to just 14 points following consecutive perfect weekends.
With the championship now heading to the legendary Foxhills circuit in Great Britain, both title battles promise even more excitement as the second half of the 2026 FIM Motocross World Championship begins.
