Lommel, Belgium is known for being the toughest track in the world, and that is exactly where Honda HRC duo Ruben Fernandez and Valerio Lata are heading for round 15 of the 2025 MXGP World Championship.
After the hard-pack terrain of Loket last weekend, this is when the world championships really show their diversity as Lommel is nothing but deep, deep sand. This saps the power of the machines and the energy levels of the riders and turns the racing into a battle of survival as much as track position. Once again, Fernandez will be on-board the new prototype CRF450R, which was introduced in the Czech Republic with excellent results as the rider/bike combination went three-two-seven over the course of the weekend. Lommel though, is a completely different challenge and the team have spent this week trying to make sure they are as prepared as they can be for this truly brutal circuit.
Valerio Lata is also busy getting ready for the soft stuff after another tough GP in Loket. An excellent Saturday performance gave him a lot of confidence heading into the GP-scoring motos, but unfortunately the Italian wasn’t able to transfer that speed into the longer races and instead finished eight-ten. It was a disappointing end, but he’s trying to channel that into some motivation for test that awaits this weekend, when he once again lines up against the best 250cc riders in the world.
TIMETABLE
SATURDAY: 08:05 EMXOpen Group 1 Free practice, 08:30 EMXOpen Group 2 Free practice, 08:55 EMX125 Group 1 Free practice, 09:25 EMX125 Group 2 Free practice, 09:55 EMXOpen Group 1 Qualifying practice, 10:30 MX2 Free Practice, 11:00 MXGP Free Practice, 11:50 EMXOpen Group 2 Qualifying practice, 12:30 EMX125 Group 1 Qualifying practice, 13:05 EMX125 Group 2 Qualifying practice, 13:40 MX2 Time Practice, 14:15 MXGP Time Practice, 15:00 EMXOpen Race 1, 15:45 EMX125 Race 1, 16:35 MX2 RAM Qualifying Race, 17:25 MXGP RAM Qualifying Race.
SUNDAY: 09:40 EMXOpen Race 2, 11:30 EMX125 Race 2, 10:25 MX2 Warm-up, 10:45 MXGP Warm-up, 13:15 MX2 Race 1, 14:15 MXGP Race 1, 16:10 MX2 Race 2, 17:10 MXGP Race 2.
Ruben Fernandez 70
We had a good round in Loket, despite missing out on the podium. We made a lot of progress with the prototype, and I really enjoy riding it and testing what it can do, in a race situation. Now we have probably the toughest challenge on the calendar, with the deep sand of Lommel so it will be difficult, but I’m motivated to do well and ready for this test.
Valerio Lata 18
The last couple of rounds haven’t gone to plan, and it’s disappointing for me and for the team. I know that Lommel won’t be easy either, but I need to go into with a positive mind and trust that what we are doing will work. We are into the last quarter of the season and I really want to finish strongly.
Marcus Pereira de Freitas
HRC General Manager – MXGP
We always circle Lommel on the calendar, because we know just how difficult this track is for an MXGP race. It tests the rider and their machines to the limit and really is a gruelling 35 minutes for everyone. It isn’t the favourite track for either Ruben or Valerio, but they know that they can’t use that as excuse and instead we know we’ve been working hard with them to try and make this weekend as good as possible.
Rider Standings
Pos. Rider Num Nation Points Team
1 FEBVRE Romain 3 FRA 678 Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP
2 COENEN Lucas 96 BEL 668 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
3 COLDENHOFF Glenn 259 NDL 494 Fantic Factory Racing MXGP
4 FERNANDEZ Ruben 70 SPA 451 Honda HRC – MXGP
5 VLAANDEREN Calvin 10 NDL 392 Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP Team
6 BONACORSI Andrea 132 ITA 370 Fantic Factory Racing MXGP
7 RENAUX Maxime 959 FRA 368 Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP Team
8 SEEWER Jeremy 91 SWI 327 Ducati Factory MX Team
9 HERLINGS Jeffrey 84 NDL 325 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
10 GAJSER Tim 243 SLO 305 Honda HRC – MXGP
11 HORGMO Kevin 24 NOR 243 Honda SR Motoblouz
12 GEERTS Jago 93 BEL 237 Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP Team
13 WATSON Ben 919 GBR 236 MRT Racing Team Beta
14 PANCAR Jan 253 SLO 226 TEM JP253 KTM Racing Team
15 BOGERS Brian 189 NDL 220 Fantic Factory Racing MXGP
16 GIFTING Isak 517 SWE 183 JK Racing Yamaha Active
17 GUADAGNINI Mattia 101 ITA 173 Ducati Factory MX Team
18 JONASS Pauls 41 LAT 162 Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP
19 VAN DE MOOSDIJK Roan 34 NDL 123 KTM Kozak Team
20 VAN DONINCK Brent 32 BEL 119 JM Honda Racing
21 STERRY Adam 811 GBR 98 KTM Kozak Team
22 KOCH Tom 226 GER 79 MRT Racing Team Beta
23 GUILLOD Valentin 92 SWI 72 Wildcard Rider
24 FORATO Alberto 303 ITA 72 Honda SR Motoblouz
25 BRUMANN Kevin 87 SWI 53 Wildcard Rider
26 STAUFFER Marcel 411 AUT 38 Wildcard Rider
27 CAIROLI Antonio 222 ITA 37 Ducati Factory MX Team
28 SPIES Maximillian GER 36
29 GILBERT Josh GBR 27
30 LUDWIG Noah GER 22
