How can we not love Jeffrey Herlings. At 31 years of age, the Dutchman put everything on the line in the MXGP of Portugal, to win the GP with 2-1 results, but the determination of the five time world champion was something to really marvel at. Bavo Swijgers image

Herlings victory, his 117th in his career saw him beat the leader in the MXGP championship, Lucas Coenen, who finished with 1-2 scores and gave everything to Herlings in both motos. Their second moto bar to bar action was worth the price of admission for the Portuguese fans.

Second overall was Coenen with a 1-2 performance, and Romain Febvre went 3-3 for third overall, and finally the Frenchman showing the same consistent results of 2025.

Jeffrey Herlings: I don't like the way I passed him, and I hate not riding clean, but I almost had no other place to pass him. Happy to get another win, our 117th and my fifth with HRC. I was able to get past Lucas and clear out. First moto it took me a long time to pass my team-mate, and I caught him, but Lucas is also a fast boy. I know my pass (in the second moto) was low speed and then I tried to sprint away and managed to control the race. Back to back wins and now look forward to South Africa. I lost 40 to 50 points (due to mechanical issues) and that is part of the sport. He is probably going to USA next year and I try and beat him as much as possible. We do our best.

Lucas Coenen: I mean, you know, consistency is key and my weekend was key. I know he wanted to win, and he took the risk and played it a bit dirty on me, but if I get the chance I will run it into him also.

MXGP Moto Two

Vialle again the holeshot in the second MXGP moto, and Coenen second, then Jonass, Fernandez, Herlings, Adamo, Gajser, Oliver, Febvre, and Vlaanderen. Coenen tries to pass Vialle, but no luck, but Herlings into third as Coenen takes the lead. Herlings into second place and going after Coenen, but the gap is already 1.6 for the leader.

Herlings into Coenen, and both are pushing hard. Coenen again making a gap of two seconds, just as he did in the opening moto, but can Herlings keep close. Coenen just so smooth and in control and you get the feeling Herlings must be close to his limit but also looking smooth.

Herlings seemingly starting to get his rhythm, and the lead is cut to 1.4 seconds, with Vialle 4.1 behind, Gajser 5.4 behind and Fernandez in fifth 7.4 behind Coenen. Herlings without question finding his good lines, but Coenen always responds.

The gap less than a second on lap four and getting close to the back wheel of the leader. Herlings all over Coenen and Febvre moved into fifth with a pass on Fernandez. Coenen again gets a slight lead, and this contest always remains like this. Gajser passed Vialle for third place.

You can feel the emotions of Herlings, knowing he is close enough to take the lead and this race is heating up. Febvre also passed Vialle and the top ten on lap six was Coenen, Herlings, Gajser, Febvre, Vialle, Fernandez, Jonass, Adamo, Oliver and Vlaanderen.

Herlings again all over Coenen for the lead and they nearly collided with Herlings going for the pass, and Coenen blocked the pass, but Herlings is clearly faster and he parked Coenen in a corner to take the lead.

Herlings looking like he wants to break Coenen and the Dutchman makes a slight gap, but Coenne won’t give up. This might be classic “The Bullet”. Both riders looking a little out of control as they charge as hard as they can.

Herlings two second ahead of Coenen and making a big break on for the overall victory. The gap was then 2.4 and then 2.7 seconds. Still 12 minutes to go, and how much do these two wonderful athletes have.

The lead by Herlings was three seconds, but with so much of the race to go, we are sure to see Coenen fight back. Herlings a quick lap and the lead was 3.6 seconds. Gajser 10 seconds back in third and Febvre 11 seconds off Herlings lead.

Lap 13 and the lead was 6.4 seconds as Herlings rode off into the distance. Gajser andFebvre actually catching Coenen, with Coenen doing a poor lap, then another. Maybe feeling the heat, the young Belgian rider?

Gajser went down and handed Romain Febvre third place and a podium place. Herlings lead was suddenly just 5.4 seconds and maybe Coenen making a late charge with three laps remaining. Herlings wins the moto and the GP. Coenen second in the race and overall and Febvre third on the track and third on the podium.

MXGP - Grand Prix Race 1 - Classification

1. Lucas Coenen (BEL, KTM), 35:12.425; 2. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, Honda), +0:03.672; 3. Romain Febvre (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:28.435; 4. Tim Gajser (SLO, Yamaha), +0:30.512; 5. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, Honda), +0:37.194; 6. Pauls Jonass (LAT, Kawasaki), +0:52.973; 7. Maxime Renaux (FRA, Yamaha), +1:02.418; 8. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), +1:10.489; 9. Oriol Oliver (ESP, KTM), +1:13.153; 10. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, Ducati), +1:17.288; 11. Jan Pancar (SLO, KTM), +1:20.181; 12. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, Honda), +1:21.260; 13. Alberto Forato (ITA, Fantic), +1:23.538; 14. Brent Van doninck (BEL, Fantic), +1:30.042; 15. Tom Vialle (FRA, Honda), +1:38.459; 16. Jago Geerts (BEL, Beta), +1:41.835; 17. Ben Watson (GBR, Triumph), +1:47.781; 18. Kevin Brumann (SUI, Husqvarna), -1 lap(s); 19. Adam Sterry (GBR, KTM), -1 lap(s); 20. Rick Elzinga (NED, KTM), -1 lap(s); 21. Romain Pape (FRA, Yamaha), -1 lap(s); 22. Leopold Ambjörnson (SWE, Honda), -1 lap(s); 23. Victor Alonso (ESP, Ducati), -1 lap(s); 24. David Jimenez Villalba (ESP, Honda), -3 lap(s); 25. Ander Valentin (ESP, Triumph), -5 lap(s); 26. Luis Outeiro (POR, Yamaha), -12 lap(s);

MXGP - Grand Prix Race 2 - Classification

1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, Honda), 35:36.420; 2. Lucas Coenen (BEL, KTM), +0:06.203; 3. Romain Febvre (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:16.060; 4. Tim Gajser (SLO, Yamaha), +0:20.583; 5. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, Honda), +0:38.907; 6. Pauls Jonass (LAT, Kawasaki), +0:53.326; 7. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), +1:08.555; 8. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, Ducati), +1:10.501; 9. Maxime Renaux (FRA, Yamaha), +1:16.188; 10. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, Honda), +1:16.552; 11. Jan Pancar (SLO, KTM), +1:18.064; 12. Ben Watson (GBR, Triumph), +1:22.043; 13. Tom Vialle (FRA, Honda), +1:28.105; 14. Jago Geerts (BEL, Beta), +1:36.683; 15. Alberto Forato (ITA, Fantic), +1:43.270; 16. Brent Van doninck (BEL, Fantic), -1 lap(s); 17. Rick Elzinga (NED, KTM), -1 lap(s); 18. Kevin Brumann (SUI, Husqvarna), -1 lap(s); 19. Victor Alonso (ESP, Ducati), -1 lap(s); 20. Ander Valentin (ESP, Triumph), -1 lap(s); 21. Luis Outeiro (POR, Yamaha), -1 lap(s); 22. David Jimenez Villalba (ESP, Honda), -3 lap(s); 23. Leopold Ambjörnson (SWE, Honda), -7 lap(s); 24. Romain Pape (FRA, Yamaha), -12 lap(s); 25. Oriol Oliver (ESP, KTM), -13 lap(s);

MXGP - GP Classification

1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, HON), 47 points; 2. Lucas Coenen (BEL, KTM), 47 p.; 3. Romain Febvre (FRA, KAW), 40 p.; 4. Tim Gajser (SLO, YAM), 36 p.; 5. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, HON), 32 p.; 6. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KAW), 30 p.; 7. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), 27 p.; 8. Maxime Renaux (FRA, YAM), 26 p.; 9. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, DUC), 24 p.; 10. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, HON), 20 p.; 11. Jan Pancar (SLO, KTM), 20 p.; 12. Tom Vialle (FRA, HON), 14 p.; 13. Alberto Forato (ITA, FAN), 14 p.; 14. Ben Watson (GBR, TRI), 13 p.; 15. Jago Geerts (BEL, BET), 12 p.; 16. Brent Van doninck (BEL, FAN), 12 p.; 17. Oriol Oliver (ESP, KTM), 12 p.; 18. Kevin Brumann (SUI, HUS), 6 p.; 19. Rick Elzinga (NED, KTM), 5 p.; 20. Victor Alonso (ESP, DUC), 2 p.; 21. Adam Sterry (GBR, KTM), 2 p.; 22. Ander Valentin (ESP, TRI), 1 p.; 23. Luis Outeiro (POR, YAM), 0 p.; 24. David Jimenez Villalba (ESP, HON), 0 p.; 25. Leopold Ambjörnson (SWE, HON), 0 p.; 26. Romain Pape (FRA, YAM), 0 p.;

MXGP - World Championship Classification

1. Lucas Coenen (BEL, KTM), 506 points; 2. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, HON), 449 p.; 3. Romain Febvre (FRA, KAW), 394 p.; 4. Tim Gajser (SLO, YAM), 371 p.; 5. Maxime Renaux (FRA, YAM), 334 p.; 6. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), 313 p.; 7. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, HON), 304 p.; 8. Kay de Wolf (NED, HUS), 273 p.; 9. Tom Vialle (FRA, HON), 265 p.; 10. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KAW), 234 p.; 11. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, DUC), 198 p.; 12. Alberto Forato (ITA, FAN), 190 p.; 13. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, HON), 163 p.; 14. Oriol Oliver (ESP, KTM), 150 p.; 15. Jan Pancar (SLO, KTM), 139 p.; 16. Jago Geerts (BEL, BET), 90 p.; 17. Brent Van doninck (BEL, FAN), 86 p.; 18. Ben Watson (GBR, TRI), 70 p.; 19. Mattia Guadagnini (ITA, KTM), 69 p.; 20. Roan Van De Moosdijk (NED, KTM), 50 p.; 21. Andrea Bonacorsi (ITA, DUC), 41 p.; 22. Thibault Benistant (FRA, HON), 40 p.; 23. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, DUC), 34 p.; 24. Maximilian Spies (GER, KTM), 25 p.; 25. Rick Elzinga (NED, KTM), 23 p.;