The short history of the MXGP of Sardinia has seen sand specialists score big, with Jeffrey Herlings only visiting this place twice and winning both times, his moto results being 1-1-2-2 for the Sunday show.

Other stand-out performances have come from Calvin Vlaanderen, the only other rider to win a GP in the deep sand, he did that in 2022 with 1-1 results, but Vlaanderen has also shown good speed in other years. Jorge Prado is also very good at this facility.

Red Bull KTM rider Jeffrey Herlings won on the first visit to Sardinia in 2021 with 1-1 results, although the deep sand race was held in September of that sensational Herlings vs Febvre vs Gajser season. On that day in September, Jorge Prado finished second with 2-2 performances, Febvre was third with 3-3, Calvin Vlaanderen went 4-4 and Jeremy Seewer scored 6-5 results. Tim Gajser came home in 12^th place with just 19-8 finishes (from memory was carrying an injury).

In 2022, the round was held in May, and we all remember the brilliant surprise victory by Calvin Vlaanderen, when he went 1-1 for the win ahead of Prado, who claimed 3-3 results and third was Glenn Coldenhoff with 8-2 results. Maxime Renaux was next with 6—4 and fifth overall was Jeremy Seewer with 4-6. Again, Gajser struggled with 2-12 for seventh overall. Of course, Herlings missed the complete 2022 season and didn't race at Riola on this occasion. Vlaanderen won the qualifier on the Saturday from Gajser and Coldenhoff.

Last year, this time Sardinia was held in March and Herlings won with 2-2, Coldenhoff was second with 5-1. Prado third with 1-6, then Renaux 4-3, Vlaanderen 3-5 and Seewer sixth overall with 6-7. Febvre struggled somewhat with seventh overall and 11-4 results. Prado did win the qualification race from Coldenhoff and Herlings. Gajser missed this GP with injury.

With it clear the names Herlings, Prado, Vlaanderen and a little lower in the pecking orders, Febvre, Coldenhoff and Seewer could also spring a surprise. Whatever happens and whoever wins, I can't wait for the best motocross riders in the World to hit what could be considered a tougher GP than Lommel in Belgium.

MXGP of Sardinia - Podiums

2021 Herlings 1-1 Prado 2-2 Febvre 3-3

2022 Vlaanderen 1-1 Prado 3-3 Coldenhoff 8-2

2023 Herlings 2-2 Coldenhoff 5-1 Prado 1-6

Best Overall Moto Finishes

Herlings 1-1-2-2-2 (missed 2022)

Prado 2-2-8-3-3-1-1-6

Vlaanderen 4-4-1-1-1-8-3-5

Ray Archer image