Below zero temperatures await Honda HRC PETRONAS for round three of the 2026 MXGP World Championship, when they head to the tight and tricky Frauenfeld circuit in Switzerland.
After his second overall last week in Spain, Jeffrey Herlings will hoping to make it three trips to the podium in 2026 as he looks to continue an excellent start to the season. Before that though, he wants to score his first Saturday points after another mistake in qualification cost him the chance of retaining his red-plate. However, his two-two on Sunday still sees in second in the championship and this hard-pack track could provide the Dutchman with an opportunity to show-off his skills on the Honda CRF450Rw once again.
A second-place finish on Saturday gave Tom Vialle the red-plate for Sunday’s motos in the sand of Almonte, Spain but the Frenchman wasn’t able to back that up on Sunday and now sits third in the championship. It certainly wasn’t a bad showing for the returning Vialle, who hasn’t raced a true sand track since leaving the world championship series. Frauenfeld definitely suits his skillset though, and with another holeshot last weekend, the #16 will be hoping to return to the podium in round three.
Unfortunately Ruben Fernandez wasn’t able to challenge at the front of the field in his home GP, but having won the qualifying race at Frauenfeld in 2025, he feels more positive heading to the circuit this time around. The Spaniard was involved in a first-turn pile-up that ruined his chance of a good score in race one last weekend, but otherwise the #70 has been good out of the gate and that is something that is very important on a track that isn’t known for many passing opportunities.
Valerio Lata also had a strong qualifying race in 2025, and after his fourth-place finish in race two last weekend, he heads to Switzerland feeling much better about his chances of battling with the top MX2 riders in the world. Getting better in every race last time out, the Italian will be hoping to keep that momentum going and move his way up the standings and fight nearer those podium spots on a regular basis.
Ruben Fernandez 70
It is always good to have a home GP, but I definitely wish I had been feeling better over the weekend. I was still able to battle for top 10s, and that included crashing in the first turn, so I have to be happy with that and just move onto Switzerland. Last year here I won the qualification race, so I had the speed, although it definitely isn’t my favourite track, I am liking it a bit more now. The starts here are crucial and I have got some good ones so far this year and that’ll be the aim to just get out with the front guys and mix it up with them.
Tom Vialle 16
Definitely some positives to take out from Spain. My starts were good and it was nice to see that my speed in the sand was up there, having not really done much racing in the soft stuff these past few years. I think between Argentina and Almonte, I can be very happy with the results and although I know there are things to improve, it has been a good start that I am looking to continue in Switzerland. I have heard it is a tight track, but hard-pack, so that’ll be another type of terrain for this year and passing will be tough so I hope I can get out front and just try to ride my own race.
Jeffrey Herlings 84
It’s been a good start to the season, but I can’t afford to keep messing up in the qualification races. Zero points out of 20 is not what I’m after and although Sunday has gone a lot better, I know that if I make a mistake early on in Switzerland, there really isn’t much chance at points or a good gate for the motos and that will be very important. It’s not really a track I like, but we have to do the best we can and just continue to gain solid points over the weekend.
Valerio Lata 18
I’m much happier heading into Switzerland now, after putting in a good ride in Spain. I was a few minutes away from finishing third, which would have been fourth overall so I am close to where I want to be. Now that I’ve seen I can do it, I really will be working hard on trying to do it every weekend, and Switzerland is a track I’ve done well at before so hopefully I can get another good start and stay up front even longer.
Marcus Pereira de Freitas
HRC General Manager – MXGP
Another weekend and another challenge for the team. Switzerland looks like being a very cold race for everyone, which is a different test from the ones we faced in Bariloche and Almonte. There isn’t also the logistical issues of the paddock being so far from the track, so our communication has to be excellent to make sure no details are missed. After two rounds, we have to be happy with how the guys have performed. There are positives to take from everyone of them and now we want to make sure that form keeps going in Frauenfeld. It is a narrow track, and starts are critical so we will be working especially on that to try and get some more holeshot awards.
Rider Standings
Pos. Rider Num Nation Points Team
1 Coenen Lucas 5 BEL 102 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
2 Herlings Jeffrey 84 NDL 94 Honda HRC PETRONAS – MXGP
3 Vialle Tom 16 FRA 89 Honda HRC PETRONAS – MXGP
4 Febvre Romain 3 FRA 75 Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP
5 Renaux Maxime 959 FRA 75 Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP Team
6 Gajser Tim 243 SLO 74 Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP Team
7 Adamo Andrea 80 ITA 69 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
8 Fernandez Ruben 70 SPA 51 Honda HRC PETRONAS – MXGP
9 Vlaanderen Calvin 10 NDL 49 Ducati Factory MX Team
10 Jonass Pauls 41 LAT 40 Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP
11 Guadagnini Mattia 101 ITA 38 Venrooy KTM Racing
12 Horgmo Kevin 24 NOR 29 Honda SR Motoblouz
13 van Doninck Brent 32 BEL 28 Fantic Factory Racing MXGP
14 Forato Alberto 303 ITA 27 Fantic Factory Racing MXGP
15 de Wolf Kay 74 NDL 24 Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing
16 Benistant Thibault 9 FRA 24 Honda SR Motoblouz
17 Oliver Oriol 83 SPA 21 Gabriel SS24 KTM
18 Watson Ben 919 GBR 20 Wildcard Rider
19 Geerts Jago 93 BEL 15 MRT Racing Team Beta
20 Seewer Jeremy 91 SWI 15 Ducati Factory MX Team
21 Pancar Jan 253 SLO 13 TEM JP253 KTM Racing Team
22 Lopes Enzo 166 BRA 7 Wildcard Rider
23 Butron Jose 173 SPA 5 Wildcard Rider
24 Poli Joaquin ARG 5
25 Van Berkel Lars NDL 3
26 Sterry Adam 811 GBR 2 Chambers Racing
