Rider Reflections: 2026 MXGP of Switzerland
Read what a host of MXGP riders had to say about their weekend at the 2026 MXGP of Switzerland.
MXGP
Tom Vialle: "I really didn’t know that I had won when I crossed the line. I thought I’d be on the podium because other riders didn’t have two good scores, but I just wanted to try and pass as many guys as possible in that second moto. Still, it is very cool to have won the GP, my first in the MXGP class and my first with this new team, and hopefully the first of many. It was a very tricky circuit and not something I’m used to, but I kept fighting until the end, and while I did make a couple of mistakes, it is good to know that I have been at the front in three different types of track."
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."
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."
Kay de Wolf: “It was a really tough weekend with the conditions because the track was so sketchy and demanding, especially on Sunday. For me, to come away with fourth overall in only my second MXGP and while still dealing with the thumb is something I can be happy with. I’m still learning every time I go out with these guys, but I felt more comfortable as the weekend went on and I could fight right at the front. Missing the podium is never the best feeling, but there are a lot of positives to take from this one, and we’ll keep building.”
Ruben Fernandez: "Very happy with race one, but not very happy with race two. I think I showed I am capable of riding with the top guys, and I felt pretty comfortable at that pace. Unfortunately in race two, I just couldn’t get that same rhythm going and struggled with lines and fell back from the people I should be fighting with. It is disappointing, but now I have a weekend off to try and put that right in Riola Sardo."
Jeffrey Herlings: "Getting the 10 points on Saturday was a good start to the weekend, but I definitely don’t seem to have the best of luck right now. I picked the same rut in the corner as a couple of other people and suffered the same DNF because my chain came off and I couldn’t get it back on. It’s never great to watch a race continuing without you, especially when I was running second at the time, but I tried to rectify it in the second moto. I got a good start and tried to stick with the leader, but couldn’t so just tried to score good points. Annoyed with the small crash at the end in race, so overall, not really a positive weekend and I’m glad this circuit is only on the calendar once."
Image: HRC
