Honda HRC PETRONAS locked and loaded for 2026 MXGP
Round one of the 2026 Motocross World Championship is getting underway this weekend at the beautiful location of Bariloche, Argentina. Nestled in the Andes, in the Patagonia region, this new venue on the calendar is a long way to travel, but always provides a great atmosphere for the first MXGP gate drop of the season. Words: HRC
For the Honda HRC PETRONAS team, that means the debuts of Tom Vialle and Jeffrey Herlings alongside Ruben Fernandez in the MXGP class and Valerio Lata in the MX2 class. All four riders have had a busy preseason, trying to get ready for this event, and this weekend they finally get to see how they stack up against the best motocross riders on the planet.
Fernandez won last weekend in a Spanish Championship race and has looked very impressive in training, and having ridden this prototype Honda CRF450RW last year, he has the most experience and has had a less intense preparation for this opener. He really likes this event, having had his maiden GP victory in this country in 2023, and also because of the Spanish culture in Argentina giving him a sense of home and making him a fan favourite with the passionate crowd here.
After three podium performances in his preseason races, Vialle has settled into his new team and environment very quickly. The Frenchman returned from his stint in America at the end of last year and has adapted quickly to the Honda CRF450RW, in what is his first year in the MXGP class. A previous two-time MX2 world champion, he knows what it takes to succeed at this level and now will be hoping to turn that 250cc success into this newest chapter of his career.
Another rider who is starting a new chapter is Herlings, who changed brands for the first time in his professional career when he joined Honda HRC PETRONAS on January 1st. The five-time world champion and winningest GP rider in history hasn't had too long to get used to his new steed, but victory last weekend at the Lierop International showed that things are heading in the right direction, and adding to his 112 GP wins is definitely achievable when the gate drops on Sunday.
In the MX2 class, Lata will look to start strong, as he hopes to improve upon his rookie campaign. There were plenty of positives to takeaway from his 2025 effort, but there were also things he needed to learn, and the hope is that he’ll come into this campaign much better prepared for the rigours of this 19-round series.
And while Argentina is obviously an important round to start off the championship, all four riders know that staying fit and healthy and building into the future rounds will be the best strategy to achieving their goals for 2026.
Ruben Fernandez
”I am always excited to go to Argentina, even though I have had good and bad memories there. I always say it is like a home away from home, with all the Spanish-speaking fans there and just a similar vibe to being in Spain. It is a long way to come, but I enjoy it, and I am really excited to get this season started.”
Tom Vialle
”I’ve had some good races in Argentina before, and I think it is a nice place to have the first round. It really makes you believe you are back in the world championship when you have this travel and just a complete change of scenery from being in Europe. This first race is always tough to predict how you will do, but I’ve had a good preseason with some solid races, so hopefully now I can get those same results here and start the campaign strongly.”
Jeffrey Herlings
“It was good to get the victory at Lierop last weekend, just to boost the confidence a bit and get a couple more gate-drops under my belt. I’ve done a lot of training leading up to this race, but I still think I’m a little short of gate drops, but that can’t be changed, and now I have to make sure I’m ready for this first GP. It’s definitely been a different preseason than usual, and I’ve enjoyed the challenge, however, now I have to go out and perform and have a good first GP for Honda HRC PETRONAS.”
Valerio Lata
“I feel much more confident heading to Argentina this year than I did last year. I know a lot more about what to expect, and I just have a lot more experience about racing at this level now. I’ve raced these guys for a full season and had some good results, and with a good winter under my belt, I think myself and the bike are in a much better position to challenge at the front of this MX2 pack.”
Marcus Pereira de Freitas - HRC General Manager - MXGP
“It has certainly been a busy winter for everyone at Honda HRC PETRONAS, but it has been extremely exciting too. Two new riders, but also two riders the same who are feeling really confident gives us a lot to look forward to this year, and I think it can be a really productive year for everyone involved in the team. All four riders are coming in fit and healthy, and while we all would have liked a bit more time, at the same time, we know that these guys will rise to the occasion and show all the fans what they are capable of.”
Image: HRC MXGP
