Jeffrey Herlings Wins Sixth World Championship in Türkiye
Jeffrey Herlings has added another chapter to motocross history, clinching his sixth FIM World Championship at the MXGP of Türkiye in Afyonkarahisar.
The Dutchman delivered a perfect 1-1 weekend at the Afyon Motor Sport Centre, securing his third premier-class title and first with Honda HRC Petronas. His latest achievement makes him only the fourth rider in motocross history to win six world championships.
And he did it in typically ruthless fashion.
The Pressure Behind the Perfect Weekend
Herlings arrived in Türkiye with a commanding championship lead, but the prospect of losing the title through injury weighed heavily on him.
“I was really stressed the last couple of weeks, because I knew the only thing that could possibly ruin my championship was an injury,” .
Herlings admitted after the opening race
The pressure was real. The 31-year-old revealed that he had slept for only three hours before race day, running through every possible scenario in his head.
Yet once the gate dropped, the nerves disappeared.
Herlings powered to the Fox Holeshot in race one and never looked back. He controlled the hardpack circuit, set the Acerbis Fastest Lap of the day and crossed the line more than three seconds ahead of Tim Gajser.
The result was enough to secure the championship with a race still remaining.
For Herlings, though, the job was not finished.
Six Championships and Counting
The second race was another demonstration of his determination.
Herlings again took the holeshot and led every lap, despite intense pressure from Honda teammate Tom Vialle. The Frenchman pushed hard throughout the race, keeping the champion honest until the chequered flag.
Herlings eventually took the win by just over two seconds, completing his fifth perfect weekend in succession and extending his winning streak to 17 individual races.
Six world championships. Three in the premier class. One more record for “The Bullet.”
The numbers are staggering. Herlings now has 123 Grand Prix victories and 233 individual race wins, both records in the sport.
But the latest title carries particular significance.
After years of injury setbacks and seasons disrupted by crashes, Herlings has returned to the top with Honda HRC Petronas. His ability to maintain speed, manage risk and remain mentally composed through a championship campaign has been central to his success.
Vialle and Febvre Complete the Podium
Tom Vialle finished second overall with a 4-2 result, earning his third consecutive podium. His second-race challenge showed the speed and confidence developing in his first year back in the premier class.
Romain Febvre claimed third overall with a 3-3 scorecard, securing his ninth podium of the season.
The Frenchman remains locked in a battle for second in the championship standings, with two rounds still to come in Australia and China.
Farres Turns the MX2 Championship Around
While Herlings celebrated his title, Guillem Farres delivered a crucial victory in the MX2 championship.
The Triumph Racing Factory rider took his sixth Grand Prix win after a strong weekend that saw him win the qualifying race and recover from a difficult run of races.
Farres finished second in race one behind reigning champion Simon Längenfelder before dominating the second race, winning by more than six seconds.
The victory gives Farres an important 50-point championship advantage over teammate Camden McLellan.
McLellan, racing for Triumph Racing Factory, finished fourth overall with a 3-4 result. The South African rider remains firmly in the title fight, but his five-GP podium streak came to an end in Türkiye.
The championship now moves to Shanghai for the penultimate round, with Farres leading McLellan and Sacha Coenen.
The Final Two Rounds
The 2026 FIM Motocross World Championship is far from finished.
Herlings has already secured the premier-class crown, but his unbeaten run could continue through the final rounds. Vialle and Febvre will be chasing race wins, while McLellan faces a critical challenge in the MX2 championship.
For now, though, Türkiye belongs to Jeffrey Herlings.
The Bullet has his sixth world title. And he is not done racing.
