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Sunday 22nd March 2026: Jeffrey Herlings continued his impressive start to the 2026 MXGP season with a second consecutive podium finish at the MXGP of Andalucia, delivering a consistent 2-2 performance for Honda HRC PETRONAS.
Racing at the newly introduced sandy circuit in Almonte, Herlings demonstrated both resilience and racecraft. establishing himself in second place. Although he was unable to mount a decisive challenge for victory, his pace ensured he remained within close reach of the championship lead.
“It’s an excellent start,” Herlings’ performance suggests, as he continues adapting seamlessly to the Honda CRF450RW and building momentum in the early rounds of the campaign.
Teammate Tom Vialle also showed promising form across the weekend. Securing results of two, five, and six, the Frenchman grabbed another holeshot in race one but struggled to sustain his early speed across both motos—understandable given it marked his first European sand race in over three years. Nevertheless, Vialle remains firmly in the championship fight and is expected to be a strong contender at the next round.
Home rider Ruben Fernandez endured a challenging outing in front of his local fans. Battling illness, Fernandez fought back from a first-turn incident in race one to finish 12th, before a solid start in race two faded late, leaving him just outside the top 10. Despite the setback, his determination drew strong support from the Andalucian crowd.
Meanwhile, rising talent Valerio Lata provided a bright spot in the MX2 class. After finishing eighth in race one, the Italian surged to fourth in race two, underlining his growing confidence on the demanding sand surface.
With two rounds complete, Honda HRC PETRONAS heads to Frauenfeld for the next stop in the 2026 MXGP World Championship, where both Herlings and his teammates will look to build on their early-season momentum.
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