Jeffrey Herlings on top at Montevarchi
By Team TMX on 22nd Jun 26
The MXGP of Italy at Montevarchi delivered exactly what it promised - heat, hard-pack and high drama - as Jeffrey Herlings powered to another emphatic overall victory.
Run under scorching conditions at the classic Crossdromo Miravalle circuit, the Grand Prix had a proper old-school feel, with slick surfaces, huge crowds and racing to match. A brief rain shower between motos only added to the challenge.
Herlings was the man to beat, going 1-2 on the day to secure his 116th career GP win - his 20th on Italian soil. The Dutchman’s first race victory came under intense pressure from Maxime Renaux and series leader Lucas Coenen, with less than three seconds covering the top three at the flag.
Coenen responded with a pair of thirds to secure second overall and limit the damage in the championship, while Renaux’s consistency earned him a welcome return to the podium in third.
Race two belonged to Tim Gajser, who bounced back from a troubled opener to take the win after a race-long scrap with Herlings and Coenen. The Slovenian’s efforts were only enough for ninth overall, but it was a timely reminder of his pace.
Andrea Adamo impressed in front of his home crowd with fourth overall, while Romain Febvre completed the top five.
Despite Herlings’ dominance, Coenen retains control of the championship, though the gap is reduced to 56 points heading into the next round.
In MX2, Sacha Coenen proved that consistency still counts, taking the overall win with a pair of second-place finishes.
The Red Bull KTM rider didn’t win a race but crucially stayed out of trouble as Triumph’s Guillem Farres and Camden McLellan shared the moto victories. Farres’ win in race one secured him second overall, while McLellan’s dominant ride in race two earned him third.
Coenen now extends his championship lead to 35 points over Farres, with McLellan a further 17 back as the series approaches its halfway point.
With the red plates still in KTM hands and momentum building across both classes, attention now turns to Agueda, Portugal, where the MXGP paddock heads next weekend for what promises to be another wide-open contest.
