THE CLASS OF 2026 GATHERS AT BARILOCHE FOR MEDIA DAY AT THE YPF MXGP OF ARGENTINA

Bariloche (Patagonia-Argentina) 6 March 2026 – The teams and riders descended on Bariloche MX Track for the media day of the YPF MXGP of Argentina today, as the family of the MXGP Paddock re-united after the long winter. All riders did their media duties in their new kit and colours with photos and videos for MXGP-TV graphics, family photos on the Skybox podium, with the star men also attending a three-stage Press Conference.  The day was completed with a fantastic media event in the heart of Bariloche itself, as riders met fans in the Centro Civico, overlooking the shores of the Nahuel Huapi lake with the Andes in the background!

The new circuit on the outskirts of the city of Bariloche is still being prepared, and many riders looked favourably upon the spectacular layout, as one by one they were called into the Media Center for programme photographs and video shooting for the season ahead.

Many were surprised to see the unveiling of the complete new look and re-naming of the Red Bull Ducati Factory MX Team, as they completed a morning shoot in front of the Andes that border in Chile, as everyone’s new race kit and team clothing was given its first day of wear under the Argentina sunshine.

The Press Conference consisted of three groups of riders, such is the competition level of MXGP in 2026!  Romain Febvre, proudly displaying the #1 plate on his Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP machine, spoke of his decision to wear the Champion’s number:

“I had some regret from not wearing it the first time I was Champion, and the number three didn’t really mean that much to me, so why not run with the number 1, and I will try to defend it this season.”

Jeffrey Herlings spoke of his switch to the newly-christened Honda HRC Petronas squad:

“It’s a new adventure, a new challenge. I’ve got a lot of motivated people around me.  Even yesterday we had a meeting about how things work in race weekends and everything. The first month was a bit difficult for myself, it’s a major change after 17 years on one bike, but we’re in quite a good spot so I’m very excited to see where we are when we go racing.”

Also changing teams, Tim Gajser gave his view on the move to Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP:

“I’m super motivated you know, everything is new. Definitely, I would want to have more time on the bike, but we had a good two months. Physically I’m 100 percent and that’s the most important way to start the season.”

Lucas Coenen for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing and Calvin Vlaanderen, now with Red Bull Ducati Factory MX Team, also expressed their eagerness to get the season underway, with Calvin excited about the prospect of racing in South Africa this year:

“It’s a dream come true to have a South African GP. I was there in 2004 and 2005 as a little kid, watching my heroes race, so to be there and racing, having my family and friends watching in person rather than always on TV, is going to be something special and I can’t wait.”

The second set of riders came to the stage, with Andrea Adamo of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing set to make his MXGP class debut this weekend, which was a choice he made himself:

“The team didn’t oblige me to do 450, they left me free to choose. I felt it was the right decision to go 450, my learning curve with the 250 was coming to an end, and with the 450 everything is new!  I have changed my race mechanic to Jeffrey’s old one, but apart from this, and the bigger engine, everything is the same as before for me!”

Maxime Renaux, staying with Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP, was excited to return to the country of his most recent GP victory:

“We had a good winter, I treated all my injuries that I kind of forgot during the season, and now I’m close to 100%, I’m actually really good physically. We had some good changes on the bike, it was nice to have some improvements, we start from fresh and go with a new vision, a new bike and start from zero again!”

Tom Vialle, returning to the MXGP Paddock with Honda HRC Petronas, looks happy to be making his 450 debut in 2026:

“I’m pretty happy to be back. It’s been a great winter, learning the 450, we did a couple of pre-season races which were pretty good overall. I don’t know how this year will go, all the guys like Romain, Tim, and Jeffrey are older than me so I never used to race them, I don’t know where I am compared to them, so yeah let’s get it started!”

Jago Geerts, now with MRT Racing Team Beta, and Alberto Forato for Fantic Factory Racing MXGP expressed their satisfaction with their new Italian factory machinery, as did Andrea Bonacorsi as he starts his first year on the Red Bull Ducati Factory MX Team.

Then it was the turn of the top MX2 contenders to speak about the new season, and Simon Längenfelder, now with a different part of the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing family, was looking forward to running his own #1 plate into the new season:

“All the people around me are different, and I needed to adapt a little bit for sure, but it seems like now we found the groove, so we’re feeling quite confident. When you win the World Championship, I think you need to take the number one, it was a simple decision for me, and I try to keep it clean!”

One of his leading rivals for the season, Liam Everts, is in his best shape for a few years as the sole MX2 rider for Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing:

“It’s nice to line up here fully fit and with a nice, good winter under my belt. I’m feeling confident and good with the bike and having a blast so far!”

After Sacha Coenen gave a short but positive indication of his hopes for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, Mathis Valin entertained the gathered journalists with his new bright hairstyle for Kawasaki Racing Team MX2!

“Something went wrong with my shampoo, so, this is how it is! We had a good winter, some changes on the bike, I feel really good on it, so we’re looking forward!”

Guillem Farres, looking forward to his second year with Triumph Factory Racing, joked about his rivalry with teammate Camden McLellan as they each strive to be the first to win a Grand Prix overall for the British manufacturer:

“Everything is competitive with me and Camden. When we go to the supermarket, we’re racing with the trolley cars, you know?! Everything is a competition between us. I would say that the winter for me was perfect.”

Reigning EMX250 Champion and MX2 rookie Janis Reisulis was keen to start his first campaign alongside his brother Karlis for Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2:

“I have a really good relationship with my brother so yeah he has already told me how it feels at this level. I’m trying not to think about it and get rid of those pre-race nerves, then everything should be OK!”

Finally, Cas Valk expressed his excitement at lining up for a factory team as he starts a new adventure with CRD Motosport TM Moto.

WATCH THE FULL RIDERS PRESS CONFERENCE HERE 

From the Press Conference, the riders made their way to the Skybox for each class to have their “family photo” taken with David Luongo and Antonio Alia Portela.  Then for the first time, the MXGP class OAT riders lined up their bikes on the start straight for a fantastic group shot which truly emphasised the depth in this class for 2026!  Both Champions then got together for a further set of fantastic images to follow.

On to Bariloche we went, as the Centro Civico filled up with eager South American fans keen to meet their heroes, and the riders didn’t disappoint! Renaux and Honda HRC Petronas rider Ruben Fernandez spoke to the crowd in their native Spanish tongue, and the group photo was taken while DJ Jeili (@aka.jeili) kept the atmosphere buzzing with tunes both old and new!

Fans clamoured over the riders, as the Coenen brothers, Reisulis brothers, Herlings, Gajser, Vialle, Adamo, Längenfelder, Farres, McLellan, Valin, Bonacorsi and Vlaanderen were joined by Valerio Lata from Honda HRC Petronas, Kay Karssemakers from Dixon Racing Kawasaki, Jeremy Seewer from Red Bull Ducati Factory MX Team, Julius Mikula from Osička KTM, Pauls Jonass from Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP, Kevin Brumann from MX-Handel Husqvarna Racing, plus the Team Honda Motoblouz SR Motul squad of Thibault Benistant and Kevin Horgmo. Even Lars van Berkel, wildcarding this weekend for Fantic Argentina, got in on the fun with a unique hand-made promo poster!

To close the show, the fantastic BBR Brigade Monster Energy Freestyle Motocross Show, featuring Brazilian rider Nico Ferreira and Chilean Marcos “Tino” Gonzalez, amazed the crowd with their aerial tricks, including heart-stopping Tsunami backflips and amazing Hart Attack stunts!

The scene has been set, the atmosphere is ready to pop, and the YPF MXGP of Argentina weekend has begun in earnest, so tomorrow we get down to the on-track action on the spectacular new Bariloche circuit – you do not want to miss this!

TIMETABLE (Local Timing UTC-3)

SATURDAY: 09:15-09:45 Blåkläder Start Practice MX2, 09:50-10:20 Blåkläder Start Practice MXGP, 10:45 MX2 Free Practice, 11:15 MXGP Free Practice, 13:20 MX2 Time Practice, 14:00 MXGP Time Practice, 15:25 MX2 Qualifying Race, 16:10 MXGP Qualifying Race.

SUNDAY: 10:25 MX2 Warm-up, 10:45 MXGP Warm-up, 12:15 MX2 Race 1, 13:15 MXGP Race 1, 15:10 MX2 Race 2, 16:10 MXGP Race 2.

LINKS

Infront Moto Racing

FIM

YPF MXGP of Argentina