HThe Brazilian MX1 championship is getting an absolute dream conclusion. During the double header in Santa Cruz do Capibaribe, Glenn Coldenhoff was the standout performer. The Dutchman won all four races held between Friday and Sunday and reduced his deficit in the standings from eighteen to just six points. Nevertheless, Honda rider Enzo Lopes remains the championship leader with his consistent performances, meaning the title will not be decided until September during the finale in Brumadinho.
Coldenhoff opens weekend with two convincing victories
The first half of the double race weekend was completed on Friday under warm conditions at the Santa Cruz do Capibaribe circuit. The track became increasingly challenging during the races and demanded a lot from the physical abilities of the drivers.
Glenn Coldenhoff immediately set the tone by winning both motos of the seventh round.
In the opening heat, Yamaha rider Fábio Santos took the holeshot, after which teammate Paulo Alberto quickly took the lead. Coldenhoff started third but didn't take long to make his move. The Dutchman quickly moved up to first place and then completely controlled the race. He rode to victory with a seven-second lead, while Santos finished third. Paulo Alberto seemed headed for a podium spot but crashed and did not finish.
In the second heat, Yamaha once again got off to an excellent start. Paulo Alberto led ahead of Fábio Santos and Coldenhoff, but the course of the race changed as the race progressed. With just over six minutes to go, Coldenhoff increased the pace, took the lead, and then convincingly pulled away from the competition. He won with a lead of no less than 26 seconds.
Afterwards, the Dutchman was particularly satisfied.
“I waited for the right moment. I knew I was faster, and when the leader started to get a bit tired, I launched my attack. After that, I drove a few fast laps to extend the lead. The weekend couldn't have started better.”
Thanks to both victories, Coldenhoff extended his winning streak to six races in a row and reduced his deficit in the championship from eighteen to twelve points.
Enzo Lopes remains consistent and retains the lead.
While Coldenhoff went for the maximum score, Enzo Lopes opted primarily for consistency. The Honda Racing rider finished second in both races on Friday, thereby holding firmly onto the red lead.
“I am happy that I remain the leader. It was a good match, but we know that we needed to find something extra for Sunday.” Lopes said afterwards.
After seven matches, the Brazilian was still at the top with 319 points, twelve more than Coldenhoff.
Van Horebeek sees weekend end early
For Jeremy Van Horebeek, the race weekend turned out to be a disappointment. The Belgian was battling for third place in the first heat when he was hit by a competitor after a jump. Due to the heavy fall, he had to retire from the race.
Van Horebeek proved not fit enough to start the second race, and as a precaution, Honda Racing decided to keep him sidelined for the rest of the weekend as well. As a result, he remained stuck at 187 points in the championship.
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Another dominant Sunday for Coldenhoff
During the eighth round on Sunday, too, no one proved a match for the Dutchman.
In the first heat, Paulo Alberto once again took the holeshot, followed by Fábio Santos, Vitor Borba, and Coldenhoff. Early in the race, Coldenhoff worked his way to the front and took the lead. He then rode unchallenged to his third victory of the weekend with a lead of about fifteen seconds.
In the final race, the scenario largely repeated itself. Paulo Alberto was once again first off the line, while Coldenhoff only came through in fourth place. However, it didn't take long before the Yamaha rider worked his way to the front again. He took the lead and once again built up a lead of about fifteen seconds.
With that, Coldenhoff remained undefeated all weekend with four wins out of four races.
Lopes limits the damage and keeps the red plate.
Despite Coldenhoff's perfect score, Enzo Lopes continued to perform excellently. On Sunday, the Honda rider finished second twice as well, collecting many points once again.
After eight games, Lopes remains the leader with 363 points, while Coldenhoff has moved up to 357 points thanks to his perfect weekend.
It was a good weekend. I remain the leader and will work even harder towards the final. All focus is now on the last match.” according to Lopes.
The Brazilian is also second in the standings of the South American championship.
Everything is decided in Brumadinho
While Enzo Lopes was comfortably in the lead just a few weeks ago, Glenn Coldenhoff has brought the suspense back completely. Since the race in Palmas, the Dutchman has won every heat he has started and has emerged as the man in form.
The gap is now only six points, making the final race in Brumadinho in September a direct duel between Honda and Yamaha. Moreover, the objective for Coldenhoff is clear: if he wins both motos of the final, he will claim the 2026 Brazilian MX1 title.
Article photo: Yamaha Racing Brasil
Podium Photo: Gabi Almeida – MundoPress
