With the MXGP World Championship now entering its middle stages, the title picture is beginning to take shape with a variety of overall winners emerging across both divisions after nine rounds. This Rated feature takes a closer look at those riders and how they have progressed through the opening portion of the 2026 season.

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Rider: Lucas Coenen
Rating: A
Rundown: Nine rounds into the MXGP series, and it’s Lucas Coenen who sits atop the standings, having claimed four overall victories and built a 56-point advantage over Jeffrey Herlings. It’s becoming increasingly clear just how special the 19-year-old Belgian is, with his performances placing him among the sport’s most exciting young talents alongside riders such as Jett Lawrence and Haiden Deegan. Whether he can go all the way and secure a maiden world title in 2026 remains to be seen, but one thing is certain – Coenen’s future is exceptionally bright, and this is likely just the beginning of a long and successful career wherever he winds up.

Rider: Jeffrey Herlings
Rating: A-
Rundown: The legendary Dutchman has been impressive this year, and had it not been for two DNFs caused by circumstances outside of his control, he would likely be firmly in the title fight with Coenen. That’s the reality of motocross, though – anything can happen, and with 60 points available at every MXGP round, momentum can shift quickly in either direction. Herlings responded with an overall victory in Italy – his fourth of the season – continuing a strong first campaign with Honda HRC Petronas.

Rider: Tom Vialle
Rating: B+
Rundown: MXGP rookie Tom Vialle has performed solidly following his return to Europe, with the Frenchman undoubtedly balancing a variety of factors after such a significant career change. He claimed victory at the MXGP of Switzerland with a 1-6 scorecard, while also securing podium finishes at both the Argentina and Trentino rounds. Injuries forced him to miss the German and Latvian GPs, ultimately leaving him ninth in the championship standings after nine rounds. A B+ rating is fitting for Vialle, with plenty of interest remaining around how the remainder of his maiden MXGP season unfolds.

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Rider: Sacha Coenen
Rating: A
Rundown: Red Bull KTM’s Sacha Coenen appears to have taken a significant step forward in 2026, with the young Belgian doing a far better job of harnessing his raw speed and converting it into race-winning results. Consistency had previously been his biggest challenge, although it’s easy to forget just how young he is and how early he remains in his professional career. With three overall victories and a 41-point advantage in the championship standings, Sacha has clearly built momentum and is proving to be the rider to beat early in MX2 so far this season.

Rider: Guillem Farres
Rating: A-
Rundown: The 23-year-old Spaniard Guillem Farres has been a revelation in 2026, guiding his Triumph TF 250-X to second in the MX2 championship standings after nine rounds. He has claimed one overall victory at the MXGP of France, alongside a further four podium finishes. That level of performance is particularly impressive considering Farres had only stood on the MX2 podium once before this season. Whatever the Triumph Factory Racing outfit is doing, it’s clearly working, with both Farres and teammate Camden McLellan delivering strong results throughout the 2026 campaign.

Rider: Camden McLellan
Rating: B+
Rundown: McLellan’s season has mirrored that of his teammate Farres, with plenty of credit again owed to the Triumph Factory Racing operation. Both riders have showcased the strength of the program, with the manufacturer emerging as KTM’s biggest challenger in MX2, currently holding second and third in the championship standings. McLellan claimed victory at the MXGP of Andalucía and has added a further five podium finishes throughout the season, making a B+ rating well deserved after nine rounds.

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Rider: Simon Laengenfelder
Rating: B
Rundown: Defending MX2 champion Simon Laengenfelder has experienced a turbulent season after nine rounds, although that certainly wasn’t the case through the opening phase of the championship. The young German won three of the first four overalls, establishing himself as the early title favourite. Since the MXGP of Sardegna, however, results have taken a downturn, leaving him with a 59-point deficit to Coenen. Momentum can shift quickly across a 19-round championship, and Laengenfelder will be hoping his difficult stretch is now behind him as he looks to return to his front-running form.

Rider: Mathis Valin
Rating: B
Rundown: It’s great to see Kawasaki producing strong results in the MX2 division, while also witnessing the emergence of another promising French talent continuing the nation’s rich racing heritage. Valin has been solid in his second MX2 world championship campaign, building on what was an impressive debut season in 2025. He claimed his first career MX2 victory at the MXGP of Germany and currently sits sixth in the championship standings, making a B rating a fair assessment after nine rounds.