COENEN AND McLELLAN CONQUER THE SANDS OF ALMONTE AS MXGP THRILLS IN ANDALUCÍA
ALMONTE (Andalucía, Spain), 22 March 2026 – The 2026 FIM Motocross World Championship launched its European campaign in spectacular fashion at a revamped Circuito de Motocross di Almonte, where deep sand and a passionate Spanish crowd combined to produce one of the most demanding and dramatic rounds of the season so far.
Following rainfall earlier in the week, Sunday’s cool, overcast conditions created a near-perfect racing surface—albeit one that tested riders to their limits. The unique sandy layout, atypical for Spain, pushed both MXGP and MX2 classes into a true battle of endurance, technique, and race craft.
By the end of an action-packed weekend, two standout performances defined the Grand Prix: a flawless sweep from Lucas Coenen in MXGP, and a historic breakthrough victory for South Africa’s Camden McLellan in MX2.
COENEN UNTOUCHABLE AS HE CLAIMS RED PLATE
Lucas Coenen delivered a commanding statement in the MXGP class, dominating every key moment of the weekend to secure a perfect 1-1-1 result and his 17th career Grand Prix victory—his seventh in the premier class.
The Belgian’s pace was evident from the outset, but it was during Sunday’s races that he truly stamped his authority on the event. In race one, Coenen surged into the lead after an intense early battle with Tom Vialle and Jeffrey Herlings, before unleashing a relentless pace that saw him open a gap of over 20 seconds. His fastest lap of the entire day underlined the level of control he maintained throughout the moto.
Behind him, Herlings rode a determined race despite carrying injuries from a crash earlier in the weekend, securing second place, while Romain Febvre completed the podium after fending off late pressure from Maxime Renaux.
Race two delivered more drama. A strong start from local rider Oriol Oliver briefly ignited the home crowd, but Coenen and Herlings quickly moved to the front. Even a momentary stall from Coenen failed to derail his momentum, as he regained composure and once again broke clear. Herlings stayed within striking distance but ultimately had to settle for second once more.
Further back, Tim Gajser carved through the field after difficult starts in both races, showcasing impressive speed and aggression to secure third overall. Febvre’s race ended prematurely after a crash while running in podium contention—his first non-score since mid-2024.
The results see Coenen take over the MXGP World Championship lead for the first time in his career, holding an eight-point advantage over Herlings, with Vialle close behind.
🗣️ Lucas Coenen:
“Overall, the track really suited me this weekend. I found some good lines and had a good flow, and the starts helped a lot—I was up front every time. Once I got into the lead, I could just do my own thing and manage the races. It was a perfect weekend where everything clicked. Even with the pain in the second race, I just kept going—it’s worth it for the win. Having the red plate for the first time since I started is an amazing feeling, but it’s still a long season.”
🗣️ Jeffrey Herlings:
“Yesterday was tough. I had a crash at the start and hurt my back and neck quite badly, so I was pretty sore all weekend. That cost me some points again. But on Sunday I felt better, got good starts and was there fighting near the front. Lucas was the best this weekend—no excuses, he was faster. Even without the crash, it would have been difficult to beat him.”
🗣️ Tim Gajser:
“It feels good to be on the podium. We are still testing things and making changes, especially with the suspension, but I felt much better as the weekend went on. The starts didn’t help, but in the second race I could push more, make passes and ride more aggressively. We are moving in the right direction.”
McLELLAN AND TRIUMPH MAKE HISTORY IN MX2
The MX2 class delivered one of the defining moments of the season as Camden McLellan secured his maiden Grand Prix victory—marking a historic first for Triumph Racing in the modern motocross era.
The weekend began with strong pace from McLellan and his teammate Guillem Farrés, who thrilled the home crowd by taking victory in race one after an intense, wheel-to-wheel battle with the South African. McLellan applied relentless pressure throughout, particularly through the wave section where he consistently closed the gap, but ultimately had to settle for second by just 1.6 seconds.
However, race two dramatically shifted the narrative. Farrés, widely expected to challenge for the overall, was forced out early with a mechanical issue—ending hopes of a home victory and opening the door for McLellan.
Seizing the opportunity, McLellan delivered a measured and intelligent ride. After working his way past Valerio Lata, he set his sights on race leader Sacha Coenen. On lap fourteen, he executed a decisive move—once again utilising his superior speed through the waves—and immediately pulled clear.
From there, McLellan controlled the race with authority, taking a convincing victory and securing the overall with a 2-1 scoreline. Simon Längenfelder’s consistency earned him second overall, while Coenen rounded out the podium.
The result not only gives McLellan his first GP win but also sees him inherit the red plate as MX2 World Championship leader, holding a slender advantage heading into round three.
🗣️ Camden McLellan:
“It feels really good. It’s a special weekend for me. Since my last race win in Trentino, it’s been a long time coming, which makes it even sweeter. The red plate is a nice bonus as well. The first race was chaotic and a big fight until the last corner, but the second race I controlled more. I waited for the right moment, made my moves, and everything was quite calculated. I didn’t want my first overall without a race win, so to take both is really satisfying.”
🗣️ Simon Längenfelder:
“I felt good, but not perfect. Today Camden was just stronger and faster, so I didn’t take any risks. I focused on my rhythm and did my own race. 3-3 is not too bad for the championship—every point counts.”
🗣️ Sacha Coenen:
“The first race was difficult. I had arm pump and made a mistake, so it was hard to come back. In the second race I felt better and had a good start, but I still made a small mistake. I need to be more consistent, but there are positives to take.”
A WEEKEND TO REMEMBER IN ALMONTE
Beyond the headline performances, the MXGP of Andalucía delivered standout moments throughout the field. Alberto Forato stunned in Warm-Up to deny Herlings a clean sweep of session-topping times, while strong rides from Maxime Renaux, Andrea Adamo, and Calvin Vlaanderen added depth to an ultra-competitive MXGP class.
In MX2, rising talents such as Mathis Valin and the Reisulis brothers continued to impress, while the challenging conditions ensured constant battles across the top ten.
Ultimately, the inaugural MXGP event at Almonte proved a resounding success—combining a unique circuit, electric atmosphere, and world-class racing to mark a thrilling start to the European leg of the championship.
With Coenen and McLellan now holding the red plates in their respective classes, the 2026 season is rapidly taking shape. The series now heads to Switzerland, where momentum, confidence, and championship ambitions will once again be put to the test.
Photo Credits: KTM and MXGP