Rider Reflections: 2026 MXGP of Sardegna
Read what a host of MXGP riders had to say about their weekend at the 2026 MXGP of Sardegna.
MXGP
Lucas Coenen: “I made a gap in the second moto, but it grabs you so quick! I went on my ear, and it took a lot of energy out of me. I said to myself ‘I cannot lose this one…’. I’m so pumped, and we worked so good with the team. I’m really happy with the double race win.”
Jeffrey Herlings: "I came close in that second moto, and I felt like I had enough energy to go for another 10 minutes, I just need to improve my speed to really fight for the win. The first moto, I got a good start. In fact, in both races I got good starts, so that’s a positive, but I couldn’t keep Lucas behind me. I gave it everything, and I’m happy that I was able to match his speed for a bit and really close up near the end, but winning is the goal, and I know the Honda HRC PETRONAS team are working really hard to make that happen, so it’s down to me to get on the top step of the podium."
Kay de Wolf: “That one means a lot. Sardegna is one of the toughest tracks we go to, and in that second moto it was very tough at the start. I think I was almost last, but in the sand you can always find different lines, and I just kept believing I could come back. Every lap I was passing guys and getting more into the flow. When I got into third, I just gave everything to bring it home. To take my first MXGP podium like that, in these conditions, is pretty special. I’ve always loved riding in the sand, and this feels like a big step for me in this class.”
Romain Febvre: "I was quite strong in the first race, but I missed my flow on the track in the second moto. Today was not great, but it was still good points for the championship. The starts were really positive all weekend, and I hope we can carry those on to all types of track; we made some changes about the front fork, and it was working really good in the deep sand. I crashed three laps from the end of the first moto; it didn't lose me any positions, but it cost me some energy which was missing in the second moto, so I couldn't find my flow. I try my best every time I race, but today it was not quite enough for the podium."
Ruben Fernandez: "Very happy with my riding today, and I think I showed my improvement in the deep sand after all my work this winter. With 14th gate pick, I managed to get two good starts and just put myself in the right position in both races. Conditions were very tough out there, and I’m riding against a lot of sand specialists, so the goal was to ride consistently and try to avoid any big mistakes. I think I did that well, so to go five-five is a good result and gives me a lot of confidence moving forward."
Alberto Forato: “It was a positive weekend, despite a hard crash in the warm-up. I was definitely feeling the aftermath, especially in my left hand, which didn’t help in the heavy conditions here in the sand of Riola. But I tried my best, I gave it everything I had, and I am very happy with sixth overall. We have taken another small step forward, and now I am looking forward to seeing you all in Arco di Trento!”
Tom Vialle: "A frustrating day because I felt I rode a lot better than my results show. My starts were good in both races – including a holeshot in race one – and my speed was good for the majority of both races. I moved into third midway through the second moto, and I felt good, but overall I just made too many mistakes in this deep sand, and that really costs you a lot of energy. It’s frustrating because I definitely could have got more points, but it was still good to see that my sand riding is still amongst the best in the world."
Tim Gajser: "It was a bit of a mixed weekend, but there are some strong positives to take. The Qualifying Race went well in different conditions, and in the first moto today I actually felt really good, but a poor start made things difficult. After a couple of crashes, I could only finish ninth. I wasn’t happy with that, but I reset for the second moto, got a better start, found some good lines, and made some strong passes to finish second. It’s great to be back on the podium, and consistency is what we need. The speed is coming, so we’ll keep building from here. We’ve got some time now to test a few things before Sardinia, and I want to thank the whole team for their hard work."
Maxime Renaux: "It was a very good weekend overall. Qualifying yesterday was strong, and the first moto today was really positive, while in the second moto I rode a bit tighter. I wasn’t completely satisfied with my riding in that one. Still, to come away second overall is a solid result. There’s still some work to do, but we’re heading in a really good direction. Getting that first podium of the season is a great feeling, so now the focus is on keeping the momentum going."
Image: Kawasaki
