THE 2026 MXGP AWARDS CROWN A HISTORIC SEASON UNDER THE DARWIN SKY

DARWIN (Australia) 21 September 2026 - The 2026 MXGP Awards brought the curtain down on another thrilling season of the FIM Motocross World Championship with a spectacular ceremony held in the garden of the Mindil Casino Resort in Darwin on Sunday evening. With the weather on our side and the sun setting over the Timor Sea, the world of motocross gathered in the open air to celebrate the champions, the teams and the organizers who shaped one of the most memorable seasons yet.

Head Photo (Left to right): FIM CMS Director Antonio Alia Portela, Guillem Farres, Daniela Guillen, Jeffrey Herlings. Infront Moto Racing President & CEO David Luongo

The evening began with a red carpet that shone a spotlight on the riders, dignitaries and key figures of the paddock, before guests gathered for the ceremony hosted by MXGP-TV Commentator Paul Malin and TV Presenter Lisa Leyland, streamed live to fans around the world on MXGP-TV, YouTube and Facebook.

MC Amanda Jarrett opened the evening with an Acknowledgment of Country, paying respect to the Larrakia people as the Traditional Custodians of the land, before welcoming the Australian dignitaries who joined the global motocross family in the Northern Territory. Called up on stage following the introduction was the Honourable Marie-Clare Boothby, Minister for Major Events, Tourism and Hospitality, who thanked Infront Moto Racing, the FIM and Sitzler for putting their faith in the Northern Territory to host MXGP for a second time. Recalling how last year's event was rained out on the final day, the Minister said this year had delivered even more spectacular racing, and she thanked every rider, volunteer and team member who had travelled to Darwin, including those who spent time signing autographs for local children at the waterfront. She encouraged the paddock to discover the rest of the Territory, from the waterfalls of Litchfield to a close encounter with the crocodiles in the city, and told the riders that whether or not they left with silverware, they should be proud of the spectacle they had put on in Darwin, adding that she was already looking forward to next year.

1. Hon Marie-Clare Boothby; 2. MXGP Awards

David Luongo, President and CEO of Infront Moto Racing then took the stage and dedicated his first words to the people of the Northern Territory, explaining that from the very first meeting it was clear the MXGP of Australia would be a great event and a great project. He looked back on a season of 19 Grands Prix across five continents that started in Argentina and finished on the other side of the world in Darwin, with milestones along the way that are another testament to the popularity of MXGP, blending modern venues such as last week's Shanghai circuit with classic tracks like Foxhills that returned to the calendar. Luongo thanked the FIM for decades of collaboration, the teams and the manufacturers, including new brands who may join from China next year, before turning to the riders, the people who bring the emotion to the sport, and to everyone in the paddock who spends nine months a year away from home for a sport that is much more than a sport to them. Recalling that Infront has now promoted the championship for 30 years, he congratulated the new champions and said he hoped next season would be even more exciting.

FIM CMS Director Antonio Alia Portela then thanked Infront Moto Racing for putting together such a calendar and described 2026 as an intense season, praising the organizers for events ranging from the state of the art new venue in China to demanding, technical classic tracks where riders have to give everything they have. He paid tribute to the riders who could not make it to the end of the season, and thanked the officials of Motorcycling Australia and the hundreds of volunteers for their outstanding work across the weekend, as well as the media and his own FIM team. He closed by hinting that more is in store for next year, with a smile to remind everyone that Spain had been crowned twice this season.

1. David Luongo; 2. Antonio Alia Portela

MXGP-TV Commentator Paul Malin and TV Presenter Lisa Leyland then took over hosting duties for the awards presentation.

The first award of the night, the WMX Manufacturer World Champion title, went to GASGAS for the second year running, collected by Justin Maxwell, Managing Director of KTM Group Australia and New Zealand. The WMX Winning Team award went to the RFME Spain National Team after a season of five race wins, three GP wins and five podiums, with team manager Paco Rico collecting the award.

1. Justin Maxwell; 2. Paco Rico

In MX2, Triumph were crowned Manufacturer World Champions in only their third season in the championship, after six qualifying wins, 21 race wins, 11 Grand Prix wins and 26 podiums. Ian Kimber, Global Head of Racing Programs at Triumph, collected the award. The MX2 Winning Team award also went to the British manufacturer, with team manager Vincent Bereni accepting on behalf of the Triumph Racing MX2 Factory Team under a high and loud round of applause. The Best MX2 Private Team award went to the Osicka MX Team, whose rider Julius Mikula was unable to attend after being injured in China.

1. Ian Kimber; 2. Vincent Bereni

The prestigious "Jan De Groot" Award, which recognises outstanding young talent, went to Janis Martins Reisulis of Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2 together with a prize money. Reisulis finished sixth in the championship with three podiums in his rookie season, including a podium here in Darwin.

Janis Reisulis

In MXGP, Honda claimed the Manufacturer World Champion award for the first time since 2024, collected by Naoki Serizawa, MXGP Racing Operations Manager. Honda HRC Petronas were named MXGP Winning Team after 14 GP wins, 23 race wins and 26 podiums across their three riders, with General Manager Marcus Pereira de Freitas collecting the award. The Best MXGP Private Team award went to the TEM JP253 KTM Racing Team, collected by rider Jan Pancar himself, explaining that his team consists only of his dad and himself along with the support of his sponsors, which shows the magnitude of such feat in the MXGP class.

1. Naoki Serizawa; 2. Marcus Pereira de Freitas

TEM JP253 KTM Racing Team

The 2026 European Champions were celebrated with a highlights clip. In EMX65, Jack Waters became the first British rider to win the title with 2-1 results in Loket, while Patriks Cirulis of Latvia took the EMX85 crown with a 6-1 finish. Finland's Jere Haavisto was a double race winner on his way to the EMX Open title, and Vaclav Kovar of the Czech Republic made it back-to-back EMX2T championships. Austria's Ricardo Bauer claimed the EMX125 presented by FMF Racing title in Sweden, completing a fantastic double after also winning the Junior World title, and Spain's Francisco Garcia dominated EMX250 on the Venum BUD Racing Kawasaki, clinching the championship in Arnhem. The FIM Junior Motocross World Champions, crowned earlier in the summer in the Czech Republic, were also recognised: Lucas Bos of France won the 65cc class with a 1-1, Australia's Blake Bohannon took the 85cc title with another double race victory, and Ricardo Bauer was crowned 125cc Junior World Champion.

The Acerbis Best Lap Competition rewarded the fastest race laps of the season, with Jeffrey Herlings securing the MXGP award with nine fastest laps, and Sacha Coenen winning in MX2 with eight fastest laps. Bob Buchanan of Fox Racing Service then presented the Fox Holeshot Awards to Tom Vialle in MXGP, with 12 holeshots including two more in Darwin and his first award in the premier class, and to Sacha Coenen in MX2, with 15. Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team Coordinator Micol Muraglia collected both awards on behalf of the absent Coenen.

One of the most emotional moments of the evening came with the MXGP Lifetime Achievement Award, presented to two familiar faces of the paddock. Ingo Partsch, FIM Motocross Race Director for the past 19 years, will oversee his last event in the role at the Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations at Ernee, after 337 Grands Prix. Andy Summers, FIM Technical Director, celebrated his 400th Grand Prix this weekend in Darwin.

Off the track, the organizer awards recognised the best events of the year. The Best Promotion Award went to the Monster Energy MXGP of Great Britain at Foxhills, back on the calendar in 2026, with the hosts congratulating Paul Cook, Mark Chamberlain and their team for an outstanding event. The Best Organizer Award went to the MXGP of the Netherlands in Arnhem, collected by Dik and Wiljan van Wikselaar. A special award for Best MXGP Collaboration went to the MXGP of Australia presented by Sitzler, collected by Aimee Luxton, Executive Director of Tourism and Events NT, in recognition of the strong partnership between the Northern Territory and Infront Moto Racing.

1. Dik and Wiljan van Wikselaar; 2. Aimee Luxton

To round off the evening, David Luongo and Antonio Alia Portela returned to the stage to crown the three new FIM Motocross World Champions with their World Champion Plates and Rings. Daniela Guillen became the first WMX World Champion from Spain after three GP wins and five race wins, including both races in Darwin. Guillem Farres was crowned FIM MX2 World Champion, delivering Triumph's first world title.

Guillem Farres

Daniela Guillen

Finally, Jeffrey Herlings received his plate, ring and the official MXGP trophy after a sixth world title, 13 Grand Prix wins, 22 race wins and 16 podiums in his first season with Honda HRC Petronas.

Jeffrey Herlings

With the champions crowned under the Darwin night sky, the 2026 MXGP Awards closed a remarkable season in style. The paddock now heads to France for the season finale, the Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations at Ernee, in two weeks' time.