Honda HRC PETRONAS riders Tom Vialle and newly crowned 2026 MXGP World Champion Jeffrey Herlings will both be looking to extend their impressive streaks at this weekend's MXGP of China, held in Shanghai.

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For Vialle, this means stepping onto the podium for what would be the fourth time in a row, if he can make it happen at what is a new venue for the Frenchman. However, the podium isn’t all that he is after, after he came less than 0.5 seconds behind Herlings in race two in Turkiye, as he really wants to win a moto and a GP before the season ends in Australia next weekend.

That won’t come easy though, as Herlings is on an incredible 32-session win streak, including all practice, warm-up, qualifying and races that extends all the way back to the MXGP of Great Britain in July. Even with the championship-pressure looming large, the #84 was able to go one-one in Turkiye and now that that pressure is off, he will be fully focused on trying to win everything until the end of the season.

While those two are fit, healthy and raring to go, the third MXGP rider Ruben Fernandez will be staying back in Europe after doctors ruled him out of the last two rounds of the series. The Spaniard suffered a thumb injury from his crash in Turkiye and although he was able to battle on in the two motos, further checks have revealed that more riding will make the situation worse. It is disappointing news for the #70 as he’d had a successful 2026 season, challenging for the top five in the championship standings and being a regular top five threat in the motos.

With two riders on the gate and two rounds left to race, the Honda HRC PETRONAS team will still be hoping to finish off what has been a record-breaking campaign in style, and both Herlings and Vialle are primed to make that happen in Shanghai, China this weekend.

Rubén Fernández 70Honda HRC PETRONAS
Unfortunately I will not be riding in China or Australia due to the injury to my thumb from the crash in Turkey. We got some checks done after I returned to Spain, and the doctors have advised that it is better to take some time off, in order to avoid making it worse. Obviously, this isn’t the news I wanted to hear, but I know that thumb is a tricky thing and I don’t want to risk it. It is a shame, because I had a good season going and I didn’t want to miss any racing, but this is how it is.

Tom Vialle 16Honda HRC PETRONAS
I came really close to Jeffrey in Turkey, but the goal is to go one step better and win a moto. I know it won’t be tough as he is riding really well, but I am in good form, and I am feeling really good with my bike. My starts are also really good right now, but I need to make sure that I can get out front from the jump in order to control the race, because I think that gives me my best chance. This will be a new track for me, but I think it should be one that suits my style.

Jeffrey Herlings 84Honda HRC PETRONAS
Now that the weight of the championship is over, I can focus on trying to continue this winning streak I’m on. I’ve won the last 32 sessions, including the 17 races so it would be cool to try and extend that to the end of the season. I won here in China last year, but it was one of the toughest GPs I’ve done, so hopefully it is a little easier this time around. I’d also like to thank all the team again, we had a great time on Sunday last weekend and it means so much to myself and to them, so thanks to everyone.

Marcus Pereira de Freitas -Honda HRC PETRONAS
Turkey was a pretty amazing GP for the whole of Honda HRC PETRONAS, with Jeffrey winning the GP, and the world championship. Jeffrey hadn’t won since 2021, and we hadn’t won as a team since 2022 so there were a lot of emotions, but I think it was a good time and everyone was able to enjoy as well as relax a bit after this tough run of races. It is a shame that Ruben won’t be joining us for the rest of the trip, but Tom is also on a really good run of form with three podiums in a row and we’d love to have both him and Jeffrey standing up there this weekend and in Australia.