Camden McLellan has kept his MX2 World Championship hopes alive with a hard-fought victory at the Oriental Beauty Valley MXGP of China, but Guillem Farres remains firmly in control of the title race heading into the final round.
The Triumph Racing Factory Team teammates delivered another thrilling chapter in their championship battle at the Shanghai International Off-Road Circuit, where McLellan claimed his fourth Grand Prix victory of the season with a 1-2 result.
Farres finished second overall after winning the second race, while Liam Everts secured third for Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing.
With one round remaining, Farres leads McLellan by 48 points.
McLellan Refuses to Let the Title Go
The pressure was on McLellan in China.
The South African needed a strong result to prevent Farres from potentially clinching the championship, and he delivered when it mattered most.
Despite admitting that he was far from 100 per cent, McLellan produced one of his most determined performances of the season.
In race one, he battled through the opening laps before launching a charge that took him past Guillem Farres and Sacha Coenen. He then hunted down Simon Längenfelder, eventually taking the lead with three laps remaining.
The victory was his sixth race win of the season and gave him a crucial opportunity to carry the title fight into Australia.
“The plan was to take it to Australia, not because I think I can win the championship, but because that would mean that I have done a good weekend, and I have.” .
McLellan said
That mindset tells the story of his weekend: focused on execution, rather than the impossible task of controlling every point in the championship.
Farres Answers With a Race Two Win
Farres entered the second race knowing that a strong result could put the title within reach.
He got the better start, settled into his rhythm and took control of the race.
McLellan, meanwhile, had to work through the pack again, eventually moving into second place behind his teammate.
The South African made a late push, closing the gap to Farres in the final minutes, but the Spaniard held on to win by just over a second.
Farres’ victory prevented McLellan from closing the championship gap significantly, but it also confirmed the strength of the Triumph Racing Factory Team, which has now produced its fourth 1-2 finish of the season.
Farres’ consistency has been the defining factor in his campaign, and his ability to respond under pressure has placed him in a commanding position heading into the final round.
The Championship Goes Down Under
Farres now holds 859 points to McLellan’s 811, with Sacha Coenen third on 775.
That means Farres can clinch the MX2 World Championship as early as Saturday’s qualifying race at the MXGP of Australia, depending on the results.
McLellan will need a near-perfect weekend and a major points swing to overturn the deficit.
But the South African has already shown that he can perform under pressure.
The final round will be held at Darwin’s Hidden Valley Raceway, where the championship will be decided.
Herlings Keeps the MXGP Streak Alive
While the MX2 title fight dominated the headlines, Jeffrey Herlings continued his extraordinary run in the premier class.
The newly crowned World Champion delivered another perfect 1-1 weekend, winning every practice and race session at the Shanghai circuit.
His victory extended his streak to 38 consecutive sessions at the top of the time sheets and gave him his 124th career Grand Prix victory.
Romain Febvre pushed him harder than he has all season, finishing second overall, while Tom Vialle completed the podium in third.
Herlings’ 12th GP win of the year further underlined his dominance, but the final round in Australia will offer one more opportunity for his rivals to end the unbeaten run.
One More Round. One More Chance.
The 2026 FIM Motocross World Championship now heads to Australia for its final showdown.
For McLellan, the challenge is simple: win, score heavily and force Farres to keep fighting.
For Farres, the opportunity is even clearer: finish the job.
The MX2 championship is still alive, and the final chapter will be written Down Under.
