MX2

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

BARILOCHE (Patagonia – Argentina) 6 March 2026 – The 2026 FIM Motocross World Championship is ready to ignite the new season as the MXGP paddock gathers in the breathtaking region of Patagonia for the YPF MXGP of Argentina, marking a historic return to the beautiful southern part of the country and the first-ever Grand Prix in Bariloche.

Following a thrilling 2025 campaign, teams, riders, manufacturers and officials have travelled across the globe to launch what promises to be a spectacular season of world-class motocross racing. The traditional Opening Press Conference officially kicked off the series and the traditional media day activities of the Friday.

Joining the press conference were Infront Moto Racing CEO & President David Luongo, FIM / CMS Commission Director Antonio Alia Portela, +Eventos Sports Director Pablo Eli, and FEEBA President Leonardo Marcasciano, who all expressed their excitement about beginning the new championship in this iconic region of Argentina.

Bariloche, known worldwide for its stunning natural landscapes, lakes and mountains, now adds a new chapter to its sporting history as it hosts the opening round of the 2026 championship on a brand-new circuit.

David Luongo, CEO and President of Infront Moto Racing: “After the Nations we always say winter is welcome, but the break is over now and we are all very happy to be back racing, especially here in Patagonia. It is a great pleasure for the whole MXGP paddock to start the season in such a beautiful region on a new track that the riders are discovering now. We come after a fantastic 2025 season where all the championships were decided at the final Grand Prix, and we are excited to begin another year of competition. The 2026 season is also special for us as it marks the 30th anniversary of our company promoting the Motocross World Championship – from Action Group in 1996 to Youthstream and today Infront Moto Racing. It has been a long journey shared with many of the same passionate people who are still part of the paddock today. On the sporting side the level will be incredible, with eight world champions competing in MXGP and almost everyone fit for the opening race. We will do our best to provide the best conditions, the best tracks and the best facilities for all stakeholders throughout the season. I would also like to thank the FIM for the strong collaboration we have shared for many years, as well as the local organisers here in Argentina who have done an incredible job to make this Grand Prix possible and to welcome the championship back to this amazing region.”

Antonio Alia Portela, FIM Motocross Commission Director: “It is an enormous pleasure to return to this region of the world and to open the season here in South America. A lot of work has gone into preparing this new venue and it shows the commitment of everyone involved, from Infront Moto Racing to the local organisers and FEEBA. Even with challenging weather conditions they have worked very hard to prepare the track and the venue, which gives us confidence for the future. From a sporting perspective the season ahead is extremely exciting, with many contenders for the world titles in both classes and a demanding global calendar that will take the championship around the world. We want to thank the teams for their continued effort and commitment, and we look forward to an incredible season starting here in Argentina.”

Pablo Eli, Sports Director of Mas Eventos: “For us it is a great pleasure to return to Patagonia, which is where MXGP Argentina was born, and especially here in Bariloche, a city with a strong history in Argentine motocross. I want to thank the government of Río Negro, the people of FEEBA and Infront Moto Racing for continuing to trust us as their representatives in Latin America. The riders who have already walked the track are talking about the magic of this circuit and its unique terrain, so we believe it will be an excellent weekend and a fantastic show for the fans.”

Leonardo Marcasciano, President of FEBA: “It is a great pleasure and a real pride for us to welcome MXGP to our city. Bariloche is known for its lakes and mountains, but motocross is also part of our DNA. Many years ago the first races of the Argentine championship were organised here, and today we are proud to see MXGP return to this region and bring this great event to Bariloche.”

The press conference also highlighted the anticipation surrounding the 2026 season, which features 19 Grands Prix across five continents, including the return of South Africa to the MXGP calendar and the Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations set to take place in Ernée, France.

YPF MXGP OF ARGENTINA OPENING PRESS CONFERENCE

*Main Photo (left to right): Leonardo Marcasciano, David Luongo,Pablo Eli, Antonio Alia Portela

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

BARILOCHE (Patagonia-Argentina) 6 March 2026 – Infront Moto Racing is proud to announce the release of the latest and last monthly edition of MXGP Magazine, a special issue dedicated to celebrating the remarkable legacy of Giuseppe Luongo, following the announcement of his retirement after more than three decades shaping the FIM Motocross World Championship.

This edition’s Cover Story pays tribute to Giuseppe Luongo, the visionary promoter whose leadership transformed the championship into the global platform it is today. From the early days of Action Group to Youthstream and later Infront Moto Racing, Luongo played a pivotal role in modernising and expanding the sport worldwide. The feature retraces his journey, highlighting the key milestones, innovations, and achievements that defined an era and helped elevate motocross into a truly international championship followed by fans across continents.

A Special Feature takes a look ahead to the upcoming season with a feature dedicated to the 2026 Officially Approved Teams (OAT) list. The article provides an overview of the teams that will line up on the MXGP and MX2 grids, showcasing the incredible line-up, diversity and competitiveness of the championship as it prepares for another exciting year of world-class racing.

In the Hall of Fame, the spotlight turns to one of the most iconic riders of Giuseppe Luongo’s era: Antonio Cairoli. With multiple world titles and countless unforgettable performances, Cairoli became one of the defining figures of modern motocross. This feature reflects on his extraordinary career and the impact he had during one of the most competitive and transformative periods in the sport’s history.

The Bike section revisits a historic machine, celebrating the championship-winning Kawasaki of the 2025 season, a landmark victory that marked a significant moment for the manufacturer and added another chapter to MXGP’s rich technical heritage.

Rounding out this special edition, the Blog features a unique perspective from motocross legend Harry Everts, who reflects on the evolution of the sport throughout his riding time and then after. Drawing on decades of experience both on and off the track, Everts shares his thoughts on how motocross has developed into the modern global championship we see today.

All this and more awaits in the latest edition of MXGP Magazine, available FREE on the Apple Store and Google Play. Read it HERE.

Users who have already downloaded previous issues on iOS can find the new edition by opening the News Stand and tapping the latest cover. Android users can access the magazine for free via the Issuu app.

LINKS

Infront Moto Racing

FIM

MXGP Mag Issue 145

BARILOCHE (Patagonia-Argentina) 5 March 2026 – The 2026 MXGP FIM Motocross World Championship season is about to explode into life in South America, as the brand-new Bariloche MX Track hosts the YPF MXGP of Argentina for the very first time towards the southern end of the continent’s second-biggest nation!

The 2026 season sees a massively exciting line-up for the premier MXGP class, as defending World Champion Romain Febvre debuts the #1 plate on his Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP machine, with last year’s silver medallist Lucas Coenen sporting a new #5 plate on his Red Bull KTM Factory Racing steed.  All they have changed is their racing number, but there have been far more substantial shifts than that during the off-season!

Five-time World Champion Tim Gajser is the most successful rider in Argentina with three GP victories, but this year he starts in blue on his GP debut for Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP, his first change of brand for over a decade! His fellow five-time Champion Jeffrey Herlings has also moved camp, after 16 years with his previous team he makes his GP debut this weekend for Honda HRC Petronas, with an all-new look and title sponsor coming with him!

He is joined at Honda HRC Petronas by Tom Vialle returning to GP action to make his MXGP class debut.  Also moving up are Tom’s fellow former MX2 World Champions Kay de Wolf for Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing, and Andrea Adamo for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing! With last year’s Argentine MXGP winner Maxime Renaux returning for Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP, and Pauls Jonass, the two-time MX2 winner in Argentina, back for Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP, that makes an amazing eight World Champions on the line at the start of the season! That’s not even thinking about 2023 Argentina winner Ruben Fernandez, or even the Ducati Factory Racing MXGP trio of Calvin Vlaanderen, Andrea Bonacorsi, and Jeremy Seewer! Who knows what will happen when they all hit the track together?!

The MX2 World Championship begins with reigning World Champion Simon Längenfelder running the #1 plate for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, looking for his first GP win in this country, as is everybody in MX2 this weekend! Sacha Coenen came close last year, so he will be one to watch, and Liam Everts will look forward to starting the season in complete health to be a contender for Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing! Promising rookie Janis Reisulis starts his GP career for Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2, former EMX Champions Mathis Valin for Kawasaki Racing Team MX2, and Valerio Lata for Honda HRC Petronas, will also look to put in great starting performances! Triumph Racing Factory Team riders Camden McLellan and Guillem Farres are also urgently chasing the first GP win for the British brand as well.  The MX2 class will certainly be hot!

As always, MXGP’s TV partners across the globe will help us bring one of the most breath-taking line-ups in the sport’s history to a television near you, and with this weekend’s location sitting just four hours behind mainland Europe, it should be a prime-time TV spot for all European fans!

For the YPF MXGP of Argentina, FOX SPORTS Argentina will broadcast the event Live on Sunday with Live Commentary from the circuit itself!

Below you can find a list of TV channels that will air LIVE and delayed action of the YPF MXGP of Argentina, as well as the 26-minute Behind The Gate magazine show featuring the best moments from the races, exclusive interviews and more.  Saturday’s Time Practice sessions will also be broadcast live as the team of Paul Malin and Lisa Leyland bring all the action to uou as always, and all of this footage will be available on MXGP-TV.com and via our TV magazine partners following the Grand Prix.

As always, MXGP fans can follow the races LIVE throughout the weekend. All you need to do is log onto www.MXGP-TV.com Saturday and Sunday, from wherever you are in the world.  Come and join us for the start of the mouth-watering 2026 MXGP season!

USA CANADA

CBS Sports Network

Sunday 08 March 2026 – MX2 Race 2 – 00:00 ET – Delayed

Sunday 08 March 2026 – MXGP Race 2 – 01:00 ET – Delayed

ARGENTINA

Fox Sports

Sunday 08 March 2026 – MX2 Race 1 – 12:00 Local time – LIVE

Sunday 08 March 2026 – MXGP Race 1 – 13:00 Local time – LIVE

Sunday 08 March 2026 – MX2 Race 2 – 15:00 Local time – LIVE

Sunday 08 March 2026 – MXGP Race 2 – 16:00 Local time  – LIVE

BRAZIL

Bandsports

Sunday 08 March 2026 – MXGP Race 1 – 13:00 Local time – LIVE

Sunday 08 March 2026 – MX2 Race 2 – 15:00 Local time – LIVE

Sunday 08 March 2026 – MXGP Race 2 – 16:00 Local time  – LIVE

CENTRAL AMERICA

Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Panama and Mexico

FOX ONE  

Sunday 08 March 2026 – MXGP Race 1 – 13:00 Local time – LIVE

Sunday 08 March 2026 – MXGP Race 2 – 16:00 Local time  – LIVE

TUBI

Sunday 08 March 2026 – MXGP Race 1 – 13:00 Local time – LIVE Stream

Sunday 08 March 2026 – MXGP Race 2 – 16:00 Local time  – LIVE Stream

Tubi México

Sunday 08 March 2026 – MXGP Race 1 – 13:00 Local time – LIVE Stream

Sunday 08 March 2026 – MXGP Race 2 – 16:00 Local time  – LIVE Stream

LATIN AMERICA(Except Brazil)

Youtube “Somos FOX”

Sunday 08 March 2026 – MXGP Race 1 – 13:00 Local time – LIVE Stream

Sunday 08 March 2026 – MXGP Race 2 – 16:00 Local time  – LIVE Stream

EUROPE

Eurosport 1

Sunday 08 March 2026 – MX2 Race 1 – 20:00 CET – Delayed

Sunday 08 March 2026 – MXGP Race 1 – 21:00 CET – Delayed

Sunday 08 March 2026 – MX2 Race 2 – 22:00 CET – Delayed

Sunday 08 March 2026 – MXGP Race 2 – 23:00 CET  – Delayed

MAX

Andorra, Belgium, Bosnia Herzegovia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech republic, Denmark, Faroe Islands, Finland, France, Hungary, Kosovo, Macedonia, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden.

Sunday 08 March 2026 – MX2 Race 1 – 20:00 CET – Delayed

Sunday 08 March 2026 – MXGP Race 1 – 21:00 CET – Delayed

Sunday 08 March 2026 – MX2 Race 2 – 22:00 CET – Delayed

Sunday 08 March 2026 – MXGP Race 2 – 23:00 CET  – Delayed

BELGIUM 

PLAY SPORTS 3

Sunday 08 March 2026 – MX2 Race 1 – 16:00 CET – LIVE

Sunday 08 March 2026 – MXGP Race 1 – 17:00 CET – LIVE

Sunday 08 March 2026 – MX2 Race 2 – 19:00 CET– LIVE

Sunday 08 March 2026 – MXGP Race 2 – 20:00 CET – LIVE

ESTONIA

Go3 Sport Open

Sunday 08 March 2026 – MX2 Race 1 – 16:00 CET – LIVE

Sunday 08 March 2026 – MXGP Race 1 – 17:00 CET – LIVE

Sunday 08 March 2026 – MX2 Race 2 – 19:00 CET– LIVE

Sunday 08 March 2026 – MXGP Race 2 – 20:00 CET – LIVE

Go3

Sunday 08 March 2026 – MX2 Race 1 – 16:00 CET – LIVE Stream

Sunday 08 March 2026 – MXGP Race 1 – 17:00 CET – LIVE Stream

Sunday 08 March 2026 – MX2 Race 2 – 19:00 CET– LIVE Stream

Sunday 08 March 2026 – MXGP Race 2 – 20:00 CET – LIVE Stream

FINLAND

MTV MAX 

Sunday 08 March 2026 – MXGP Race 2 – 21:00Finnish timing  – LIVE

FRANCE

LA CHAINE L’EQUIPE

Sunday 08 March 2026 – MX2 Race 1 – 16:00 CET – LIVE Stream

Sunday 08 March 2026 – MXGP Race 1 – 17:00 CET – LIVE Stream

Sunday 08 March 2026 – MX2 Race 2 – 19:00 CET– LIVE Stream

Sunday 08 March 2026 – MXGP Race 2 – 20:00 CET – LIVE Stream

Eurosport 2

Sunday 08 March 2026 – MX2 Race 1 – 20:00 CET – Delayed

Sunday 08 March 2026 – MXGP Race 1 – 21:00 CET – Delayed

Sunday 08 March 2026 – MX2 Race 2 – 22:00 CET – Delayed

Sunday 08 March 2026 – MXGP Race 2 – 23:00 CET  – Delayed

AUTO MOTO TV

Sunday 08 March 2026 – MX2 Race 1 – 16:00 CET – LIVE

Sunday 08 March 2026 – MXGP Race 1 – 17:00 CET – LIVE

Sunday 08 March 2026 – MX2 Race 2 – 19:00 CET– LIVE

Sunday 08 March 2026 – MXGP Race 2 – 20:00 CET – LIVE

GREAT BRITAIN

TNT Sports 8

Sunday 08 March 2026 – MX2 Race 1 – 15:00 GMT – LIVE

Sunday 08 March 2026 – MXGP Race 1 – 16:00 GMT – LIVE

Sunday 08 March 2026 – MX2 Race 2 – 18:00 GMT – LIVE

Sunday 08 March 2026 – MXGP Race 2 – 19:00 GMT – LIVE

ITALY

RAI Sport

Sunday 08 March 2026 – MX2 Race 2 – 00:15 CET – Delayed

Monday 09 March 2026 – MXGP Race 2 – 01:15 CET  – Delayed

RAI PLAY

Sunday 08 March 2026 – MX2 Race 2 – 18:00 GMT – LIVE Stream

Sunday 08 March 2026 – MXGP Race 2 – 19:00 GMT – LIVE Stream

LATVIA

Go3 Sport Open

Sunday 08 March 2026 – MX2 Race 1 – 16:00 CET – LIVE

Sunday 08 March 2026 – MXGP Race 1 – 17:00 CET – LIVE

Sunday 08 March 2026 – MX2 Race 2 – 19:00 CET– LIVE

Sunday 08 March 2026 – MXGP Race 2 – 20:00 CET – LIVE

Go3

Sunday 08 March 2026 – MX2 Race 1 – 16:00 CET – LIVE Stream

Sunday 08 March 2026 – MXGP Race 1 – 17:00 CET – LIVE Stream

Sunday 08 March 2026 – MX2 Race 2 – 19:00 CET– LIVE Stream

Sunday 08 March 2026 – MXGP Race 2 – 20:00 CET – LIVE Stream

LITHUANIA

Go3 Sport Open

Sunday 08 March 2026 – MX2 Race 1 – 16:00 CET – LIVE

Sunday 08 March 2026 – MXGP Race 1 – 17:00 CET – LIVE

Sunday 08 March 2026 – MX2 Race 2 – 19:00 CET– LIVE

Sunday 08 March 2026 – MXGP Race 2 – 20:00 CET – LIVE

Go3

Sunday 08 March 2026 – MX2 Race 1 – 16:00 CET – LIVE Stream

Sunday 08 March 2026 – MXGP Race 1 – 17:00 CET – LIVE Stream

Sunday 08 March 2026 – MX2 Race 2 – 19:00 CET– LIVE Stream

Sunday 08 March 2026 – MXGP Race 2 – 20:00 CET – LIVE Stream

NETHERLAND

NOS

Sunday 08 March 2026 – MXGP Race 1 – 17:00 CET – LIVE Stream

Sunday 08 March 2026 – MXGP Race 2 – 20:00 CET – LIVE Stream

SLOVENIA

Sport TV1

Sunday 08 March 2026 – MX2 Race 1 – 16:00 CET – LIVE

Sunday 08 March 2026 – MXGP Race 1 – 17:00 CET – LIVE

Sunday 08 March 2026 – MX2 Race 2 – 19:00 CET– LIVE

Sunday 08 March 2026 – MXGP Race 2 – 20:00 CET – LIVE

SPAIN

TVG2

Sunday 08 March 2026 – MXGP Race 1 – 17:00 CET – LIVE

Sunday 08 March 2026 – MXGP Race 2 – 20:00 CET – LIVE

Agalega.gal

Sunday 08 March 2026 – MXGP Race 1 – 17:00 CET – LIVE Stream

Sunday 08 March 2026 – MXGP Race 2 – 20:00 CET – LIVE Stream

ASIA

Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand
 

EUROSPORT ASIA

Sunday 08 March 2026 – MX2 Race 1 – 20:00 CET – Delayed

Sunday 08 March 2026 – MXGP Race 1 – 21:00 CET – Delayed

Sunday 08 March 2026 – MX2 Race 2 – 22:00 CET – Delayed

Sunday 08 March 2026 – MXGP Race 2 – 23:00 CET  – Delayed

JIOSTAR  - Jio Cinema

Sunday 08 March 2026 – MX2 Race 1 – 16:00 CET – LIVE

Sunday 08 March 2026 – MXGP Race 1 – 17:00 CET – LIVE

Sunday 08 March 2026 – MX2 Race 2 – 19:00 CET– LIVE

Sunday 08 March 2026 – MXGP Race 2 – 20:00 CET – LIVE

AUSTRALIA

STAN SPORTS

Monday 09 March 2026 – MX2 Race 1 – 02:00 AEDT – LIVE

Monday 09 March 2026 – MXGP Race 1 – 03:00 AEDT – LIVE

Monday 09 March 2026 – MX2 Race 2 – 05:00 AEDT – LIVE

Monday 09 March 2026 – MXGP Race 2 – 06:00 AEDT  – LIVE

All races on VOD

26min Behind-the-Gate Magazine Partners:

AMERICA

Latin America              You tube Somos FOX              Thursday after each MXGP 8:30pm

Mexico                        FOX ONE                                 Thursday after each MXGP 8:30pm

Central America          FOX Tubi                                  Thursday after each MXGP 8:30pm

                                    FOX ONE                                 Thursday after each MXGP 8:30pm

USA                             RACER                                     tba

EUROPE

Albania                        GP1                                         Thursday after each event at 20:15

Austria                        GP1                                         Thursday after each event at 20:15

Baltics                          TV3 Sport Open                      Thursday after each MXGP

Belgium                       Play sports                              tba

Bosnia                         GP1                                         Thursday after each event at 20:15

Croatia                        GP1                                         Thursday after each event at 20:15

Finland                        MTV MAX                                Wednesday after each event 18:00                                                               Finnish timing

Hungary                      GP1                                         Thursday after each event at 20:15

Kosovo                        GP1                                        Thursday after each event at 20:15

Montenegro                GP1                                         Thursday after each event at 20:15

Northern Macedonia  GP1                                         Thursday after each event at 20:15

Portugal                      SPORT TV                                Tuesday after the event        

Romania                      Look Sport                               Wednesday after each event

Serbia                          GP1                                         Thursday after each event at 20:15

Slovenia                      Sport TV                                  Thursday after each event at 20:15 

Turkey             TRT                                          tba

INDIA and Subcontinent (Bhutan, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Maldives)
 

JIOSTAR                                                                       Wednesday after the event

INDONESIA                  Champions TV

AUSTRALIA

Australia                      Stan Sport                               Wednesday after each event

WORLDWIDE

Worldwide                  YouTube – MXGP TV               16 days after the event.

Worldwide                  Fuel TV                                   

LIVE TIMING – WEEKEND SCHEDULE

SATURDAY – March 7

SUNDAY – March 8

Catch all the racing LIVE on MXGP-TV! 

Saturday’s Time Practice (MXGP/MX2), the Qualifying Races (MXGP/MX2), and Races from all classes will be broadcasted LIVE on MXGP’s streaming service www.MXGP-TV.com, while results throughout the weekend will be available  HERE.

LINKS

Infront Moto Racing

FIM

MXGP Argentina

BARILOCHE (Patagonia - Argentina) 4 March 2026 – Infront Moto Racing is pleased to announce the renewal of its long-standing collaboration with Pirelli, confirming the Italian manufacturer as an Tyre Partner of the FIM Motocross World Championship in a new three‑year agreement running through the end of 2028.

Pirelli’s connection with the MXGP spans several decades, during which the series has served as a vital environment for the development and validation of tyres that are not prototypes, but standard products available to riders worldwide. This philosophy continues to underline the brand’s approach to motocross competition at the highest level.

The performance of the SCORPION™ MX32™ Mid Soft tyre (see photos), alongside the SCORPION™ MX32™ Soft, has demonstrated Pirelli’s competitive strength throughout the championship. During the 2025 season, riders equipped with SCORPION™ MX32™ tyres claimed victory in 16 of the 20 Grands Prix, secured 17 pole positions and won 30 of the 39 races contested.

Over its rich history in the discipline, Pirelli has accumulated an impressive 83 FIM Motocross World Titles from 1980 to today, achieved together with some of the sport’s most iconic names, including Stefan Everts, Antonio Cairoli, André Malherbe, Eric Geboers, Joël Smets, David Thorpe, Jeffrey Herlings, Romain Febvre, Tim Gajser and Jorge Prado.

The continued partnership reflects a shared commitment between Infront Moto Racing and Pirelli to push performance standards while ensuring that innovations developed on the world stage translate directly to products available for everyday riders.

With the renewed agreement in place, Pirelli will remain a key technical partner in MXGP’s ongoing evolution, supporting teams and riders as the championship continues to grow worldwide.

LINKS

Infront Moto Racing

FIM

Pirelli

BARILOCHE (Argentina – Patagonia) 3 March 2026 – At last – it’s here!  The long-anticipated first round of the 2026 FIM Motocross World Championships takes place this weekend as the YPF  MXGP of Argentina hits the new venue of the Bariloche MX Race Track!  With more GP winners than ever before lining up for the premier MXGP class, the excitement and intrigue as to who will emerge victorious at each and every round is set to make this an explosive season of racing at its very best!

For the very first time since both classes were conceived, both MXGP and MX2 World Champions will be easily identifiable with the #1 plates that they will be looking to defend, but for just how long will they stay on those shiny new red backings?  There are many out to dethrone them!

The new venue sits just 85km south of the old Villa La Angostura circuit, in the Patagonia region near the border with Chile. The nearby city of San Carlos de Bariloche lies on the south shore of the Nahuel Huapi glacial lake which laps the feet of the Andes Mountains. It is doubtlessly one of the most outstanding areas of natural beauty on the planet.

The city itself is the third most visited city in all of Argentina, relying on tourism thanks to its legendary hiking trails, ski resorts and water sports facilities.  It is also famous for its chocolate, so many of the team members’ families will have placed their orders for gifts already! It becomes the sixth circuit to host Grand Prix Motocross in the South American nation, which hosts its 18^th MXGP event, and the season opener for the sixth time.

After last year’s event was held in sweltering conditions, this more southern region is much further from the equator, promising a milder climate and a softer surface than in Córdoba.  The track plan and images suggest a similar fast layout with elevation changes, and will hopefully be just as popular as the previous Argentine circuits we have enjoyed!

As the season opener in a time zone just four hours ahead of mainland Europe, there should be a huge demand for coverage on MXGP-TV with a perfect prime-time viewing schedule to kick start the 2026 World Championships!

The line-up for the MXGP class is simply breath-taking in 2026.  To summarise, there are eight World Champions with 18 titles between them.  15 of the riders have got Grand Prix winner’s trophies in their cabinets, with a total of 317 victories to their names – enough for nearly 16 full seasons of GP wins!

There are incredible stories wherever you look in 2026.  So let’s start at the top!  Reigning World Champion Romain Febvre will brandish the well-earned #1 plate on his Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP machine, after taking his second world title a record ten years after his first in a consistent season that saw him hold back his chasing rivals from round seven onwards.  Although he has liked both of the Argentine circuits he’s raced on, he has won only one Qualifying Race and one GP race in his eight trips to the country, finishing second overall at each of the last two visits. Do not put it past the crafty Frenchman to go one better and keep his #1 on a shiny red plate!

Second in 2026 was the rider who has won more GPs than anyone over the last two seasons on his way to the silver medal in first the MX2 class, then MXGP!  Lucas Coenen has changed nothing but his number for 2026, as he now runs with the #5 on his Red Bull KTM Factory Racing steed, and the Belgian will look for nothing less than title success in his final campaign as a teenager! However, his three visits to Argentina have not been too kind to him, with an MX2 Qualifying Race win in 2024 giving him his only career red plate so far, but a crash on race day took it away from him instantly. Will he get another this time around?

    
1.Romain Febvre; 2. Lucas Coenen (Credit: KTM)

Last year’s top two have stayed in their previous teams, but their challengers with the biggest reputations have both undergone a massive change in programme for the first time in over a decade!  Both five-time World Champions in the field, Dutchman Jeffrey Herlings and Slovenian Tim Gajser, have switched teams for the first time in their long MXGP careers, and a massive part of the intrigue this season is just how well they will cope with the different landscapes they have put themselves in.

Herlings, the GP win record holder at 112 victories and counting, is now with the new-look Honda HRC Petronas outfit, after sixteen years of being on Austrian machinery, and it will take some getting used to when the #84 hits a GP track on a Japanese bike for the first time. Only two of the 31-year-old’s victories have come in Argentina, with 2018 being his only success in the MXGP class after he enjoyed a perfect MX2 weekend in 2016.

Gajser has left HRC after 12 years to join the Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP squad, and he lines up with the best record of anybody in Argentina with three GP wins, seven podiums, five race wins and three Qualifying race wins! After injury derailed his 2025 title challenge, he is just as hungry as Herlings for his sixth world title, and has looked fantastic in preseason races. The only GP winner ever to hail from Slovenia, Tim will be tough to beat despite the change to blue as he prepares to turn 30 in September.

    
Photos: 1. Jeffrey Herlings; 2. Tim Gajser

There is yet more mystery on the horizon as no less than THREE former World MX2 Champions join the MXGP class for their first year on 450 machinery!  2024 Champion Kay de Wolf, 2023 Champion Andrea Adamo, and double Champ Tom Vialle from 2020 & ’22 all enter the fray, making it the single biggest influx of dazzling talent to come into MXGP since the class was conceived in the early 2000s!

De Wolf has spent his entire professional career with the Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing team, and has been playing on their 450 for the last two years at least, so the tall Dutchman will be very used to the bigger bike from the very first gate drop. A preseason hand injury might be the biggest obstacle in his path, but he will be looking forward to not being at such a disadvantage off the start line as he was in MX2. He has come away with the winner’s trophy, and MX2 red plate, after both of the last two trips to South America.

Adamo takes the place of Herlings for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, and has been instantly fast on the SX-F 450.  After a Qualifying Race win last year, his 2025 Argentine GP was sabotaged by a mechanical issue in race one before he took second in race two, wondering what might have been.  He is something of an underdog amongst this level of competition, but that is a position in which the gutsy Italian tends to thrive!

Vialle has been absent from the GP scene altogether since he took the 2022 MX2 crown at the very last gasp, but he has also looked great in preseason as he joins the Honda HRC Petronas team alongside Herlings.  With his new #16 plate, the 25-year-old Frenchman could also be an underdog, even though he won at Neuquen in his last visit to Argentina.  His performance in 2026 is possibly one of the most difficult to predict.

     
1. Tom Vialle;  2. Kay de Wolf (Credit: Husqvarna);

The rider who took the MX2 crown between Vialle’s two titles is the one who took the red plate home from last year’s journey to this country, his compatriot Maxime Renaux.  Staying with Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP, for whom he took that 2021 title and won overall at Córdoba last year, will be keen to show himself as an equal to his new teammate Gajser and get off to just the sort of start he did in 2025.  A strong opening round will be the perfect fuel for the French 25-year-old’s confidence to put himself amongst the top runners!

Another with new teammates to deal with is Ruben Fernandez, who lines up again for Honda HRC Petronas after claiming fourth in the world for the team last year.  His sole GP victory came in the Argentine round in 2023, and he would dearly love to upstage his more heralded teammates as well as every other contender as he heads to his home GP for round two!

Also staying with his previous team is 2017 MX2 World Champion Pauls Jonass, back with Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP for his eighth season in the class. Having won two MX2 GPs in Argentina in 2017 & ’18, he also took his only ever Qualifying race win in the MXGP class back in 2022, so the South American air has usually done him a power of good.  Determined to stay healthy for an entire season, he could be a surprise podium contender at Bariloche.

With two new riders alongside their most successful rider to date, Ducati Factory Racing MXGP will be looking to make further progress after they shocked the field with multiple holeshots in Argentina last year!  With Calvin Vlaanderen and Andrea Bonacorsi joining Swiss veteran Jeremy Seewer, they have riders who were sixth, eighth, and tenth in the final 2025 MXGP standings, with a great mix of youth and experience to drive the Italian manufacturer forward in its second full season of dirt bike racing.

Two further Italian manufacturers head to Bariloche with completely new line-ups in their hopes for further success.  Fantic Factory Racing MXGP, after taking the 2025 MXGP bronze medal with Glenn Coldenhoff, have now come under the management of former World Champion Jacky Martens, and bring Alberto Forato and Brent van Doninck onto factory machinery for the first time in their careers. Both have suffered recent disappointment in Argentina and will be hoping for a safe weekend.

    
1. Andrea Adamo (Credit: KTM); 2. Calvin Vlaanderen (Credit: Ducati)

MRT Racing Team Beta have brought in four-time MX2 silver medallist Jago Geerts, who is looking for a career resurrection after two tough years in the premier class. Jago has won two GPs, three races, and two Qualifying races in Argentina, and will be hoping to rediscover his MX2 speed in 2026.  He is joined by Dutchman Rick Elzinga, the former EMX250 Champion who is making his MXGP debut in 2026.  The team are quietly hopeful for a solid season from their new recruits.

The privateer charge is led by Team Honda Motoblouz SR Motul, as they have brought in another fast MXGP rookie in the shape of Thibault Benistant, ready to hit a GP track on a bike that isn’t blue for the first time, and a potential force if he gets out of the gate well. Hard-charging Norwegian Kevin Horgmo is back for his third year with the team, and could be another surprise package. The pair were third and fourth in the 2023 Argentine MX2 GP, and will likely push each other up the order through the year.

Jan Pancar is still with his own TEM JP253 KTM Racing outfit, and hoping to break the top ten of the series after finishing 11^th in the Championship last year. Venrooy KTM Racing have picked up Mattia Guadagnini for 2026, and the 23-year-old Italian took a fine fourth in Argentina last year, so watch for another fast start for the #101.  Isak Gifting returns for a third year with JK Racing Yamaha, while Kevin Brumann makes the trip for MX-Handel Husqvarna Racing.  Finally, two more privateers make their MXGP debut in the shape of Spaniard Oriol Oliver for Gabriel SS24 KTM, and Swede Leopold Ambjornsson for Team Leoparden Racing.

With plenty of fast South Americans ready to join the fun, including fast Brazilian Nations veteran Enzo Lopes, the start line will be packed for the first gate drop of what promises to be an enthralling season of MXGP racing!  Who will emerge triumphant is literally anyone’s guess!

15 Grand Prix Winners entered in MXGP for Argentina:

• Jeffrey Herlings – 112 GP Wins
• Tim Gajser – 52 GP Wins
• Romain Febvre – 26
• Jago Geerts – 24
• Tom Vialle – 24
• Lucas Coenen – 16
• Kay de Wolf - 15
• Jeremy Seewer – 13
• Pauls Jonass – 12
• Maxime Renaux – 9
• Andrea Adamo – 6
• Thibault Benistant – 3
• Calvin Vlaanderen – 2
• Mattia Guadagnini – 2
• Ruben Fernandez – 1

MX2 Start 2025 Cordoba

Reigning World Champion Simon Längenfelder starts the season as favourite in an MX2 class full of youthful expectations and hungry warriors out to establish their reputations in the Motocross world as the next big things, and as always the action will be frantic as ambition outweighs experience and desire pushes personal limits!

The German #1 plate holder, only the third World Champion from his country in Motocross history, stays on familiar Red Bull KTM Factory Racing machinery, but switches to the KTM Austria awning as a replacement for Andrea Adamo.  Simon has tasted podium success in Argentina for the last two years, but despite a race win in 2024 he has yet to hit the top spot overall. He will be happy that the temperatures should be cooler in Bariloche than the punishing heat of Córdoba last year.

Simon Längefelder (Credit: KTM )

Sacha Coenen improved his consistency last year to reach fourth in the MX2 World Championship, and continues with the Davide de Carli-ran Red Bull KTM Factory Racing squad that helped him get there.  The Belgian teenager is always the favourite for the Fox Holeshot Award, and he used those starts to take a solid second overall in Argentina last year with a race two victory. He will be confident of starting a season well as he looks to challenge for the title from the very outset.

For the last two MX2 seasons, the top non-Austrian manufacturer has come from the UK, and the Triumph Racing Factory Team will be out to get even higher in 2026 than the fifth position they achieved with Camden McLellan in 2025 and Mikkel Haarup in 2024.  The South African has a home GP to look forward to this season and will surely look to move up from the single GP race win and four podium results currently next to his name. 

Camden is again teamed up with Guillem Farres, who also took a race victory last year on his way to eighth in the series, and is set up well for his last year in the MX2 category. 

One rider who will be happy to head to Argentina at 100% fitness will be Liam Everts, as the sole representative for Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing in MX2 has started both of his last two seasons in recovery from injury.  Fourth and sixth in the last two campaigns and with six GP wins to his name, albeit with only five race wins, the 21-year-old from the most legendary family in World Motocross will have his jaw set to be a title contender from the outset.

Two second-year former European Champions lead the charge for the Japanese manufacturers in MX2, as 20-year-old Valerio Lata takes the reins again at Honda HRC Petronas after finishing 2025 with a fine podium at the final round in Australia. The Italian will be looking to improve his form on softer tracks to strengthen his campaign this time.

Lata’s former EMX rival Mathis Valin will be back for Kawasaki Racing Team MX2, and though he dazzled with his speed at Córdoba last year, he also crashed spectacularly out of contention.  A calmer approach could see the 19-year-old Frenchman as a serious title threat in 2026.

    
1. Liam Everts; 2. Mathis Valin

Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2 bring Valin’s successor as EMX250 Champion, Janis Reisulis, into the MX2 class for the first time. The 17-year-old kid they call “The Killer” is used to battling at the front, and will expect no less in the World Championship!  Don’t expect a smile, even if he does win! He joins his elder brother Karlis Reisulis on the squad, and the Latvian pair will seek to put the blue crew back to the top of an MX2 class they used to dominate in the days of Renaux and Geerts.

The Beddini Racing Ducati Factory MX2 Team will bring the new Desmo250 MX into its first season of World Championship racing, with Italian Ferruccio Zanchi at the handlebars for his third and final year in the class.  Sixth overall in his first appearance in Patagonia, and a race winner in the deep mud of Cozar last year, it will be fascinating to see what he can do on the brand-new machine.

Dutchman Cas Valk moves to his first full factory ride with TM Moto CRD Motosport, and the 21-year-old scored his best race finish of the year in Argentina last year, with third place in a muddy first outing. Although his 2025 campaign tailed off, he will be out to challenge his former EMX rivals Valin and Lata as they all make a push towards the front in their second full season!

Another former EMX Champion leads the privateer efforts as Hungarian Noel Zanocz debuts for Venrooy KTM Racing, and the 19-year-old who took Janis Reisulis all the way for the EMX250 title last year is keen to establish himself as a future star in the making.  Czech star Julius Mikula returns to the Osicka MX Team from his home country, also on KTM machinery.  The Maddii Racing Honda ABF Italia squad bring Maxime Grau to his first Grand Prix in Argentina, while Dutch privateers Kay Karssemakers, for DRT Kawasaki, and Scott Smulders for the SixtySeven Racing Team all aim for the top ten in the ultra-competitive MX2 class!

    
1. Camden Mc Lellan (Credit: Triumph);  2. Sacha Coenen

The stage is set, the machines are prepared, and the athletes are ready to start what should be a landmark year in World Championship Motocross racing, spanning 19 rounds across 17 countries and five continents, the biggest global series in the sport is set to excite, delight, and astound fans in 2026! Do not be missing a single wheel churning the dirt! Here we go! 

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.

Saturday’s Time Practice, the Qualifying Race, and all four GP races will be broadcasted LIVE on MXGP’s streaming service www.MXGP-TV.com, while results throughout the weekend will be available HERE.

LINKS

Infront Moto Racing

FIM

YPF MXGP of Argentina

CORDOBA (Argentina) 2 March  2025 – The 2026 FIM Motocross World Championship is about to kick-off as MXGP lands to San Carlos de Bariloche in Patagonia - Argentina for what is going to be the most anticipated season in MXGP  history! The Bariloche MX Race Track  is welconing the first Grand Prix of the season on 7-8 March 2026!

Check out the full timetable and entry lists for the YPF MXGP of Argentina below.

TIMETABLE

MXGP ENTRY LIST

MX2 ENTRY LIST

Motocross Grand Prix and the country of Argentina have created a very strong relationship over the last decade, with the MXGP Championship returning there in 2015 and running nearly every year since then, apart for those tough years of Covid in 2020 and 2021.

While the last 11 visits to Argentina have really surprised and excited the MXGP paddock, it was way back in 1985 that the first ever Grand Prix was held in the country. Finnish rider Pekka Vehkonen won the 125cc Grand Prix at the Salta circuit and a year later it was Dutchman Dave Strijbos who stood on top of the podium in Argentina.

In 1987 American Rodney Smith won the 250cc Grand Prix of Argentina, held at the Salta track. Smith went 1-1 to lead on Jorgen Nilsson and Rob Herring. A year later, little known Giuseppe Andreani also won on Argentine soil, also at the Salta circuit. It was the last of four Grand Prix wins for the Italian, a rider who was a regular top ten guy in his career and took out that victory in Argentina with 4-1 results in the 250cc GP, beating better-known riders Vehkonen and American Ricky Ryan. That win in Argentina was something of a surprise as the aging Andreani was edging close to the end of his career and actually finished 12th in the Motocross World Championship in 1988.

In 1989 another American stood on top of the podium as Trampas Parker won at the Cosquin circuit, taking 3-1 results to finish ahead of countryman Mike Healey and Italian Alessandro Puzar. Parker also went on to win the 125cc Motocross World Championship in that 1989 season.

The Grand Prix series didn’t return to Argentina for a handful of years, but in 1994, yet another American won there with Bobby Moore finishing with the victory in the 125cc Grand Prix. Moore went 1-2 to lead home his compatriot Bader Manneh with 3-1 and future 125cc World Champion Alessio Chiodi, who scored 2-3 scores.

Chiodi set to become a three-time Motocross World Champion a few years later, was becoming hard to beat and in 1995, again at the Cosquin track, the Italian finished first with 1-4 scores. Second on that day was American Jimmy Button and third Frenchman Mickael Maschio (another future World Champion).

As we all know, the Motocross World Championships didn’t return to Argentina for 20 years and in 2015 German rider Max Nagl took the victory from Clement Desalle and Antonio Cairoli. Nagl was on fire in 2015 and finished with 3-1 results, while Desalle came home with 1-3 and Cairoli 2-2. A handful of races later and all three riders were out of championship running with injuries.

In another surprising win, Dylan Ferrandis won the MX2 GP in 2015, beating Pauls Jonass and Jeremy Seewer, two riders from the current list of elite MXGP riders. It was Tim Gajser, who finished in fifth place in this race that would go on to win the MX2 World Championship and his relationship with Argentina would grow as the years went on.

Gajser sure enough won in Argentina a year later, scoring 3-1 and beating Cairoli and Nagl, who joined him on the podium. In the MX2 class that year, Jeffrey Herlings added his name to the winners list in Argentina, scoring 1-1 to clean up Seewer and Russian rider Aleksandr Tonkov.

Gajser showed his liking for the Patagonian track with another win, 1-1 in the MXGP class, behind him came Jeremy Van Horebeek and Evgeny Bobryshev. In the MX2 class Jonass won in front of Jorge Prado and Seewer.

In 2018, Herlings now in the MXGP class, won a classic battle against Cairoli, Herlings scoring 2-1 results and Cairoli 1-2, in third was Desalle with 3-3 scores. In the MX2 Jonass won again, ahead of Thomas Olsen and Hunter Lawrence.

A year later Cairoli took his first win in Argentina, finishing with a perfect 1-1 ahead of Gajser with 2-2 and Van Horebeek 6-3 scores. MX2 saw the arrival of Prado as a winner on the magnificent Patagonian circuit, he scored 1-1 to lead home Thomas Olsen and Mitch Evans.

As mentioned, 2020 and 2021 we missed travelling to Argentina as COVID 19 rocked the World, but we did return in 2022 with a huge reception from the large spectator turnout. Gajser won again with 2-1 with Maxime Renaux and Prado behind him. In the MX2 it was Frenchman Tom Vialle who won from Jago Geerts and Mikkel Haarup.

In 2023, it was Ruben Fernandez pulled off a shock victory, winning with 5-1, with Herlings second with 4-2 and third was Prado with 1-5. In MX2, Jago Geerts won with 1-1 from Andrea Adamo 3-3 and Maxime Renaux 2-8. A year later in 2024 Prado won again with 1-2 with Romain Febvre second with 2-3 and third was Tim Gajser with 5-1. In MX2 Kay De Wolf won with 2-1 from Simon Langenfelder 1-4 and Mikkel Haarup 5-2.

Finally, last year, Maxime Renaux won with 2-1 from Romain Febvre 1-2 and Tim Gajser 3-3. MX2 went to Kay de Wolf again with 1-5 with Sasha Coenen second with 9-1 and third was Simon Langenfelder with 2-6.

Now we return again to Argentina and as always, the MXGP paddock and the enthusiastic locals will celebrate this strong bond between MXGP and Argentina. A new circuit, and new expectations no doubt. Bring on round one of the 2026 MXGP and MX2 Championships.