Riola Sardo Track in Italy Delivers Sand. Speed Wins.
Photos by MXGP.
The 2026 MXGP World Championship headed to the deep sand of Riola Sardo for Round 4 this past weekend, and as always, the Italian venue dished out a proper test of endurance, technique, and raw speed.
With the championship starting to take shape after the opening three rounds, Riola Sardo proved to be a pivotal stop and one rider in particular made sure that everyone took notice.
MXGP.
It was a dominant showing from Lucas Coenen, who swept both motos in emphatic fashion and left Italy with maximum points.
Race 1 saw him take control early, fending off relentless pressure from Jeffrey Herlings, who looked right at home in the sand. Romain Febvre kept things consistent to secure third, but the win was never really out of Coenen’s grasp.
In Race 2, it was more of the same. Coenen once again hit the front and managed the race perfectly, while Herlings continued his strong form with another second-place finish. Kay de Wolf stepped up in the second moto to grab third, showing impressive pace in the brutal conditions.
With a 1-1 scorecard, Coenen secured the overall ahead of Herlings (2-2) and De Wolf, who edged onto the podium with his strong second race result.
It was a statement ride from Coenen and a clear signal that he’s becoming a serious title contender.
MX2.
The MX2 class delivered tight racing and a proper shake-up across the two motos.
Race 1 belonged to Sacha Coenen, who put together a solid ride ahead of Simon Längenfelder and Liam Everts. South Africa’s Camden McLellan impressed again with a strong sixth-place finish.
Race 2 flipped the script, with Längenfelder bouncing back to take the win ahead of Sacha Coenen. McLellan delivered one of his best rides of the season, charging to an excellent third spot, putting himself firmly in the mix.
Overall, consistency paid off for Längenfelder, who claimed the win for the day ahead of Sacha Coenen and Everts. McLellan’s 6-3 finish secured him fourth overall, just off the podium, but it’s a seriously encouraging result.
Championship Picture.
Round 4 in Riola Sardo added some serious weight to the championship fight. Coenen’s perfect weekend in MXGP tightens things at the top, while in MX2, Längenfelder’s consistency continues to keep him right in the hunt.
With momentum building and confidence growing, the 2026 season is shaping up to be one of the most competitive in recent years. The MXGP stays in Italy for Round 5 this coming weekend at Trentino Pietramurata.
