MXGP of Switzerland delivers muddy chaos
By Team TMX on 30th Mar 26
Round three of the FIM Motocross World Championship delivered its first proper curveball of the year as heavy rain turned the Schollenholz circuit in Frauenfeld into a treacherous mud bath for the MXGP of Switzerland.
With conditions deteriorating throughout the day, survival became just as important as speed - and it was Tom Vialle who mastered both to claim his first-ever MXGP overall victory.
The Honda HRC rider controlled the opening moto from the front before battling back from a poor start in race two, his 1-6 scorecard enough to secure the overall on a day where consistency proved crucial.
Behind him, the chaos reshaped the order. Maxime Renaux and Tim Gajser gave Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP its first double podium since 2022, while teenage sensation Lucas Coenen retained the red plate thanks to a dominant race two win.
Race one set the tone early. Coenen grabbed the holeshot but his race unravelled within corners, a freak chain issue pitching him off and ultimately leading to disqualification. That opened the door for Vialle, who controlled proceedings ahead of Renaux and Ruben Fernandez.
Mechanical drama wasn’t done there. Jeffrey Herlings suffered a similar chain failure while running second, while Romain Febvre was also caught out by the brutal ruts, dropping back after a costly mistake.
If race one was chaotic, race two was relentless. Coenen hit back in style, storming to the holeshot and disappearing at the front with a blistering pace that left the field trailing by over 10 seconds.
Behind him, Gajser surged through to second, while Herlings recovered from a late crash to salvage third. Vialle, meanwhile, dug deep from a poor start to secure sixth - just enough to seal the overall victory.
Despite missing out on the overall, Coenen’s emphatic race two win ensures he retains the championship lead, now holding a narrow advantage over Vialle heading into the next round.
The MX2 class was no less dramatic, with Simon Laengenfelder reclaiming the red plate with a composed 1-3 performance for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing.
Race one looked set for Mathis Valin before a mechanical failure handed the advantage to Laengenfelder, who capitalised to take the win amid more misfortune behind him.
Race two saw Guillem Farres strike back for Triumph Factory Racing, holding off relentless pressure from Liam Everts to take victory by the narrowest of margins.
Farres’ win secured him second overall, with Everts completing the podium for his first top-three finish of the season.
The biggest blow came for former points leader Camden McLellan, who crashed heavily in race two and was forced out of contention, surrendering the championship lead in the process.
With the red plate now back in Laengenfelder’s hands - and a healthy points cushion established - the MX2 title fight heads into the sand of Sardinia finely poised.
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