Herlings and McLellan dominate at MXGP of Flanders
By Team TMX on 3rd Aug 26
Over 40,000 fans lined the brutal Lommel circuit for Round 14 of the FIM Motocross World Championship which delivered dominance, drama and a championship shake-up before the racing had even properly begun.
Former MXGP red plate holder Lucas Coenen withdrew after Saturday’s Free Practice, sidelined as he continues to deal with the after-effects of his earlier crash. It was a crushing blow on home soil and one that effectively ends his championship hopes before the decisive run-in even begins.
And with that, the door swung wide open and Jeffrey Herlings didn’t hesitate to kick it off its hinges.
When the sand gets deep, Herlings gets going.
Race One was a masterclass. Herlings hit the front early and simply checked out, stretching a lead that ballooned to over 45 seconds by the flag. Behind him, Kay de Wolf and Tim Gajser dug deep just to stay within sight, but the result was never in doubt.
Race Two looked like more of the same… But after making another strong start and taking an early lead by the middle of the race there was trouble and the message from pit lane was to lay off the clutch. Suddenly the dominant force of the weekend was in management mode rather than attack but even so, the gap remained.
Behind him, the fight intensified. De Wolf charged hard, closing on Romain Febvre before the Frenchman’s race unravelled in spectacular fashion with a heavy crash that ended his podium hopes. Tom Vialle capitalised late to snatch third, while Gajser added another steady haul of points.
But even with a wounded machine, Herlings still delivered with another 1-1 - victory number 120. A fifth Lommel win. And with Coenen out of the picture, a championship lead that’s starting to look unassailable.
In MX2, Triumph’s Camden McLellan arrived in Belgium with expectation on his shoulders. He left having delivered the ride of his career.
Race One didn’t follow the script early on. Series leader Guillem Farres hit the front and looked composed, while McLellan found himself buried outside the top 10. But Lommel rewards patience and punishes hesitation.
McLellan carved through the field with authority, picking lines others couldn’t see, building momentum lap by lap before seizing his moment when Farres made a mistake. From there, it was control to the flag.
Behind him, Simon Laengenfelder secured second, with Farres forced to regroup for third.
Then came Race Two - and the fight of the weekend.
Laengenfelder struck first, making a decisive move for the lead, but McLellan was relentless. The pair went bar-to-bar, trading positions multiple times in a high-speed duel that showcased exactly why MX2 remains one of the most exciting classes in world motocross.
In the end, McLellan made it count with a perfectly judged late move that sealed the race and with it, a flawless 1-1 GP victory. His first clean sweep. His second career overall. And arguably his biggest moment yet.
Farres backed it up with consistency for second overall, while Laengenfelder’s speed earned him third after that all-out battle.
Further down the order, there were rides worth noting. Sacha Coenen salvaged points after early drama, the Reisulis brothers continued to impress, and Sweden’s Alve Callemo delivered a breakout performance with a career-best result.
But make no mistake – this was McLellan’s weekend.
More like this…
Motocross Events August 2026
Find motocross events near you with our what's on guide for August.
