Jeffrey Herlings Makes MXGP History
By Team TMX on 7th Sep 26
Jeffrey Herlings is a six-time world champion.
The Dutchman finally got his hands on the MXGP title in Türkiye today, wrapping up his first premier-class crown with Honda HRC Petronas and becoming only the fourth rider in motocross history to win six world championships. And naturally, he did it in the most Jeffrey Herlings way possible.
A 1-1 scorecard at the baking-hot Afyon Motor Sports Centre gave Herlings his fifth perfect GP in succession, extended his winning streak to an extraordinary 17 consecutive race victories and left nobody in any doubt who has been bossing MXGP this summer.
Herlings knew he only needed to finish ahead of Romain Febvre in race one to make the championship mathematically safe. But simply ticking a box has never really been his style.
After topping Free Practice by three-tenths from Febvre, he blasted his Honda to the Fox Holeshot in race one and immediately set about putting daylight between himself and the chasing pack.
Tom Vialle initially led the charge, but Herlings powered past his Honda teammate out of the opening turn. Tim Gajser then slipped through for second, with Febvre sitting fourth and Andrea Adamo fifth.
It was another controlled masterclass from The Bullet.
Gajser managed to keep Herlings honest for much of the race, but when the Dutchman laid down the Acerbis Fastest Lap on lap nine, the writing was on the wall. Behind them, Febvre finally found a way past Vialle for third, while Adamo matched his best-ever MXGP finish at Afyon in fifth.
Herlings crossed the line more than three-and-a-half seconds clear of Gajser and, with his family, friends and Honda crew waiting at the finish, the celebrations could finally begin.
Six-time world champion.
Honda quickly swapped the standard graphics for a World Champion number plate and golden graphics, while Herlings donned a suitably special gold helmet.
Then he went and did it all over again.
Another Fox Holeshot in race two – his eighth of the season – put Herlings at the front from the start. Vialle wasn't prepared to make life easy for his newly crowned teammate, though, pulling a spectacular scrub over the first jump to keep Gajser behind him.
Herlings and Vialle disappeared into the distance, leaving Febvre and Gajser to fight over third.
The Frenchman eventually secured it, while Gajser slipped away from the podium fight after a late tip-over. Vialle, meanwhile, kept the pressure on Herlings all the way to the flag, even recovering after a late slide to finish just behind the champion.
The pair were more than 28 seconds clear of Febvre.
“I’m really pleased,” said Herlings. “I was really stressed the last couple of weeks because I knew the only thing that could possibly ruin my championship was an injury. I didn’t sleep much last night – I think I got three hours.
“Out of all the scenarios I was thinking about, I never guessed I was going to take two holeshots and lead every single lap. It’s a sixth world championship, my 123rd GP win and my 11th of the year with Honda HRC Petronas.
“I just hate losing.”
That pretty much sums it up.
The championship may now be his, but Herlings has no intention of easing off. His record now stands at 123 GP victories and 233 race wins, while 2026 has already delivered 11 overall victories.
And with two rounds still to come, The Bullet has more records in his sights.
Behind him, Vialle's second overall gave the Frenchman his third consecutive podium, while Febvre completed the podium in third for Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP – his ninth visit to the box this season.
Febvre still leads the battle for championship silver, with just two rounds remaining in China and Australia.
