Herlings strikes back in Agueda while Farres dominates MX2
By Team TMX on 29th Jun 26
The 2026 FIM Motocross World Championship hit its halfway mark in Portugal - and it did so in style. The Crossdromo Internacional de Águeda delivered another classic, with packed hillsides, prime conditions, and a pair of races that underlined just how intense this season has become.
In MXGP, it was a heavyweight showdown for the ages as Jeffrey Herlings returned to the top step with a record sixth overall victory at Águeda. The Dutchman went bar-to-bar with series leader Lucas Coenen across both motos, the pair splitting race wins and finishing tied on points but it was Herlings who claimed the overall and, with it, a clear statement in the title fight.
Race one belonged to Coenen, who showed composure and speed to control proceedings despite pressure from behind. Herlings, meanwhile, had work to do after a poor start, charging through the pack but ultimately coming up just short of the Belgian.
But race two flipped the script.
Herlings was immediately on the move, slicing through the field and locking onto Coenen early. What followed was a breathless sequence of attacks, countermoves and line changes, before “The Bullet” made it stick with a decisive inside move - one that left Coenen with nowhere to go.
From there, Herlings managed the race to perfection, pulling clear to secure not just the moto win, but his 117th career Grand Prix victory.
Behind them, Romain Febvre delivered another quietly effective performance, going 3-3 for third overall and continuing his run of consistency at the front.
Over in MX2, Guillem Farres was in a class of his own.
The Spaniard completed a flawless weekend with a perfect 1-1-1 scorecard, dominating every session and race to secure his second career GP win in emphatic fashion. Smooth, controlled, and error-free, Farres never looked under threat as he capitalised on mistakes from his rivals.
Janis Reisulis was the breakout story of the weekend, claiming his first career overall podium with a composed and confident ride to second. The Latvian showed maturity beyond his experience, holding strong at the front and managing pressure deep into both motos.
Championship leader Sacha Coenen endured a more turbulent outing. A heavy crash in race one forced him into recovery mode, and although he fought back impressively, the damage was done. A solid second moto helped salvage third overall, but his points advantage took a significant hit.
As the series heads into its second half, momentum is beginning to shift. Herlings has reasserted himself in MXGP, Farres has emerged as a genuine MX2 contender, and the battles across both classes are only intensifying.
Next stop: South Africa.
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