Published On: 7 maart 2026
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TVialle (Honda HRC PETRONAS) won the MXGP qualifying race in Bariloche in dominant fashion. The former two-time MX2 world champion led from start to finish. Lucas Coenen (Red Bull KTM) finished an impressive second, while Jeffrey Herlings fought back to twelfth after an early crash.

Vialle shot out of the starting blocks like a rocket, immediately taking the lead in the first corners. The Frenchman showed from the outset that he was the man to beat in Patagonia.

Herlings crashes while chasing Fernandez

Jeffrey Herlings initially ran around sixth place, chasing teammate Ruben Fernandez, but at the start of the second lap, "The Bullet" crashed. The Dutchman dropped to 22nd/23rd place and had to come back from the back of the field. Herlings eventually fought his way back to P12. Not ideal for "the Bullet," but it did limit the damage.

Febvre and Gajser in a duel

Further back in the field, Romain Febvre (Kawasaki Racing Team) and Tim Gajser (Monster Energy Yamaha) had a great battle. Gajser dove past on the inside, but Febvre retaliated a lap later on the outside and reclaimed sixth position.

Gajser was then held up by a backmarker in a spectacular crash, lost his rhythm and eventually dropped from P6 to P10.

Coenen: did what had to be done

At the front, Vialle had no trouble. Lucas Coenen came closest, but the Belgian ultimately lost more than five seconds to the winner. This was after Lucas launched a final offensive. Coenen took no risks, but he also commented afterward that the track was treacherous with only one fast line.

MXGP rookie Andrea Adamo was the second Red Bull KTM rider, followed by Renaux and Febvre. Calvin Vlaanderen finished ninth on his Red Bull Ducati, the second Dutchman in the top ten. Brent Van Doninck finished fifteenth on his Fantic, while Jago Geerts had to settle for 20th. Lars Van Berkel completed the Dutch lineup in 22nd.

The fastest lap was for Lucas Coenen: 1:56.366 in lap 2.

MXGP Qualifying Race

1. Tom Vialle (FRA, Honda), 25:22.564; 2. Lucas Coenen (BEL, KTM), +5.479; 3. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), +12.300; 4. Maxime Renaux (FRA, Yamaha), +14.278; 5. Romain Febvre (FRA, Kawasaki), +19.850; 6. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, Honda), +25.297; 7. Pauls Jonass (LAT, Kawasaki), +31.412; 8. Mattia Guadagnini (ITA, KTM), +40.323; 9. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, Ducati), +41.770; 10. Tim Gajser (SLO, Yamaha), +43.524; 11. Andrea Bonacorsi (ITA, Ducati), +49.517; 12. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, Honda), +57.499; 13. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, Honda), +58.622; 14. Oriol Oliver (ESP, KTM), +45.781; 15. Brent Van Doninck (BEL, Fantic), +1:05.054; 16. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Ducati), +1:05.962; 17. Alberto Forato (ITA, Fantic), +1:19.851; 18. Thibault Benistant (FRA, Honda), +1:24.764; 19. Kevin Brumann (SUI, Husqvarna), +1:27.211; 20. Jago Geerts (BEL, Beta), +1:29.227; 21. Jan Pancar (SLO, KTM), +1:44.812; 22. Lars Van Berkel (NED, Fantic), +1:45.877; 23. Joaquin Poli (ARG, Kawasaki), +1:59.717; 24. Marco Antezana (BOL, Yamaha), -1 lap; 25. Sergio Villaronga Muga (CHI, Honda), -1 lap; 26. Fermin Ciccimarra (ARG, Yamaha), -1 lap; 27. Carlos Badiali (VEN, Yamaha), -1 lap; 28. Agustin Carrasco (ARG, Yamaha), -1 lap; 29. ​​Tomas Montes Gadda (ARG, Kawasaki), -1 lap; 30. Santiago Montero (ARG, GASGAS), -1 lap; 31. Juan Ignacio Salgado (ARG, Fantic), -1 lap; 32. Flavio Nicolas Sastre (ARG, Honda), -1 lap; 33. Victor Francisco Garcia Hernandez (MEX, KTM), -9 laps.

Penalty: Oriol Oliver lost 3 positions for leaving the track and gaining an advantage.

Photo: JP Acevedo