Published On: 8 maart 2026
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DThe second MXGP round of the Argentine Grand Prix got off to a particularly chaotic start. After a false start, which wasn't called until the riders were already eight minutes into the race, everything had to be restarted. Maxime Renaux took the holeshot at the restart, but it was Jeffrey Herlings who ultimately struck in the closing stages, securing both the race win and the Red Plate.

The second moto of the MXGP class in Argentina began with a false start that was only called after the riders had already completed eight minutes of racing. Not exactly a model of decisive action. Fortunately, the second start went smoothly, and French Yamaha rider Maxime Renaux took the holeshot.

On the opening lap, it felt like we were watching a French championship. Behind Renaux were fellow Frenchmen Tom Vialle and Romain Febvre, giving three French riders the top three spots. However, that order didn't last long. Vialle briefly took the lead, but quickly relinquished it after a crash. This meant Romain Febvre inherited the lead.

Febvre seized his opportunity and immediately began to build a lead on the chasing group behind him, which included Maxime Renaux, Tom Vialle, Jeffrey Herlings, Ruben Fernandez and Tim Gajser.

The Frenchman pulled away to a gap of around seven seconds and seemed firmly on his way to victory. But with Jeffrey Herlings behind you, a lead is rarely secure. The Dutchman began closing the gap lap by lap in the final part of the moto.

With just a few laps remaining, Herlings had worked his way into Febvre's rear wheel. The attack wasn't long in coming: Herlings launched the decisive overtaking maneuver and took the lead. This secured the Dutchman his second moto victory of the day and the coveted Red Plate.

Behind the leading duo, Tim Gajser rode to a strong third place. Tom Vialle, despite a tough final stage, held on to finish fourth. Ruben Fernandez completed the top five, giving no fewer than three HRC Honda riders a top-five finish.

Lucas Coenen rode a strong race and finished sixth. The other Belgian, Brent Van Doninck, finished eleventh. Calvin Vlaanderen finished twelfth, while Lars van Berkel just managed to score points in twentieth place. Jago Geerts did not start after his crash in the first moto.

Photo: MXGP.com

MXGP – Grand Prix Race 2

1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, Honda), 34:32.280; 2. Romain Febvre (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:04.674; 3. Tim Gajser (SLO, Yamaha), +0:08.103; 4. Tom Vialle (FRA, Honda), +0:27.977; 5. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, Honda), +0:30.711; 6. Lucas Coenen (BEL, KTM), +0:37.758; 7. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), +0:40.360; 8. Maxime Renaux (FRA, Yamaha), +0:43.051; 9. Thibault Benistant (FRA, Honda), +0:52.620; 10. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, Honda), +0:54.669; 11. Brent Van doninck (BEL, Fantic), +1:03.628; 12. Calvin Flanders (NED, Ducati), +1:09.572; 13. Pauls Jonass (LAT, Kawasaki), +1:20.801; 14. Mattia Guadagnini (ITA, KTM), +1:23.484; 15. Alberto Forato (ITA, Fantic), +1:27.116; 16. Oriol Oliver (ESP, KTM), +1:40.978; 17. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Ducati), +2:17.555; 18. Jan Pancar (SLO, KTM), -1 lap(s); 19. Joaquin Poli (ARG, Kawasaki), -1 lap(s); 20. Lars van Berkel (NED, Fantic), -1 lap(s); 21. Marco Antezana (BOL, Yamaha), -1 lap(s); 22. Carlos Badiali (VEN, Yamaha), -1 lap(s); 23. Fermin Ciccimarra (ARG, Yamaha), -1 lap(s); 24. Tomas Montes Gadda (ARG, Kawasaki), -1 lap(s); 25. Juan Ignacio Salgado (ARG, Fantic), -2 lap(s); 26. Flavio Nicolas Sastre (ARG, Honda), -2 lap(s); 27. Agustin Carrasco (ARG, Yamaha), -7 lap(s); 28. Santiago Montero (ARG, GASGAS), -8 lap(s); 29. Andrea Bonacorsi (ITA, Ducati), -10 lap(s); 30. Sergio Villaronga Muga (CHI, Honda), -12 lap(s);

MXGP – Grand Prix result

1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, HON), 50 points; 2. Romain Febvre (FRA, KAW), 42 p.; 3. Tom Vialle (FRA, HON), 40 pts.; 4. Tim Gajser (SLO, YAM), 35 points; 5. Lucas Coenen (BEL, KTM), 33 pts.; 6. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, HON), 27 pts.; 7. Maxime Renaux (FRA, YAM), 27 pts.; 8. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), 24 p.; 9. Thibault Benistant (FRA, HON), 24 p.; 10. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KAW), 24 p.; 11. Calvin Flanders (NED, DUC), 22 points; 12. Brent Van doninck (BEL, FAN), 18 pts.; 13. Kevin Horgmo (NORTH, HON), 16 p.; 14. Mattia Guadagnini (ITA, KTM), 13 p.; 15. Oriol Oliver (ESP, KTM), 12 p.m.; 16. Jan Pancar (SLO, KTM), 12 p.; 17. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, DUC), 8 pts.; 18. Alberto Forato (ITA, FAN), 7 p.; 19. Joaquin Poli (ARG, KAW), 5 pts.; 20. Lars van Berkel (NED, FAN), 3 pts.; 21. Marco Antezana (BOL, YAM), 0 pts.; 22. Carlos Badiali (VEN, YAM), 0 pts.; 23. Fermin Ciccimarra (ARG, YAM), 0 points; 24. Tomas Montes Gadda (ARG, KAW), 0 p.; 25. Juan Ignacio Salgado (ARG, FAN), 0 p.; 26. Flavio Nicolas Sastre (ARG, HON), 0 p.; 27. Agustin Carrasco (ARG, YAM), 0 pts.; 28. Santiago Montero (ARG, GAS), 0 p.; 29. Andrea Bonacorsi (ITA, DUC), 0 p.; 30. Sergio Villaronga Muga (CHI, HON), 0 p.; 31. Jago Geerts (BEL, BET), 0 points; 32. Kevin Brumann (SUI, HUS), 0 points; 33. Victor Francisco Garcia Hernandez (MEX, KTM), 0 p.;

MXGP – World Championship standings

1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, HON), 50 points; 2. Tom Vialle (FRA, HON), 50 p.; 3. Romain Febvre (FRA, KAW), 48 p.; 4. Lucas Coenen (BEL, KTM), 42 pts.; 5. Tim Gajser (SLO, YAM), 36 pts.; 6. Maxime Renaux (FRA, YAM), 34 pts.; 7. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), 32 pts.; 8. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, HON), 32 points; 9. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KAW), 28 p.; 10. Calvin Flanders (NED, DUC), 24 p.; 11. Thibault Benistant (FRA, HON), 24 p.; 12. Brent Van doninck (BEL, FAN), 18 pts.; 13. Mattia Guadagnini (ITA, KTM), 16 p.; 14. Kevin Horgmo (NORTH, HON), 16 p.; 15. Jan Pancar (SLO, KTM), 12 p.; 16. Oriol Oliver (ESP, KTM), 12 p.m.; 17. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, DUC), 8 pts.; 18. Alberto Forato (ITA, FAN), 7 p.; 19. Joaquin Poli (ARG, KAW), 5 pts.; 20. Lars van Berkel (NED, FAN), 3 pts.;