Challenging Debut for Ducati at the 2026 MXGP Argentine Grand Prix

Red Bull Ducati Factory MXGP Team shows promising speed in Bariloche while Simone Mancini impresses on MX2 World Championship debut.

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Ducati experienced a demanding yet promising start to the 2026 FIM Motocross World Championship at the Argentine Grand Prix, held at the newly introduced Bariloche MX Track in San Carlos de Bariloche, Patagonia. Despite setbacks and crashes throughout the weekend, the Red Bull Ducati Factory MXGP Team demonstrated encouraging pace, while Simone Mancini delivered a positive debut in the MX2 class aboard the Desmo250 MX.

Located on the southern shores of Lake Nahuel Huapi, the new circuit hosted the opening round of the MXGP season, presenting riders with a challenging layout and demanding racing conditions.

Strong pace for Vlaanderen despite setbacks

After finishing ninth in Saturday’s qualifying race and posting the second-fastest time during Sunday’s warm-up, Calvin Vlaanderen entered the opening motos with confidence. In race one, the Dutch rider started just outside the top 10 before steadily working his way forward. Riding the No. 10 Desmo450 MX, Vlaanderen delivered consistent lap times and strong race pace to secure eighth place.

Teammate Andrea Bonacorsi initially showed impressive speed, settling into sixth position early in the race. However, a heavy crash on lap six forced the Italian to retire after suffering a painful blow to his side. Meanwhile, Jeremy Seewer struggled after an early fall that dropped him outside the top 20, eventually recovering to finish 17th.

The second moto saw additional drama when a starting gate malfunction forced officials to red-flag the race shortly after the first start. The restart allowed riders another opportunity, but several Ducati riders were already dealing with injuries from earlier incidents.

Bonacorsi was the strongest Ducati rider off the restart, battling with Vlaanderen for a top-10 position in the opening laps. Unfortunately, the pain from his earlier crash forced him to withdraw from the race. Despite suffering from leg pain after his own crash during the initial start, Vlaanderen pushed through to finish 12th in race two, securing 11th overall for the weekend, just two points shy of the top 10. Seewer finished 17th again in the second race, ending the Argentine Grand Prix weekend in the same position overall.

Riders reflect on a difficult opening round

Vlaanderen remained positive about his performance despite missing his target result.

“The first GP is done, and of course it’s not the result I wanted. My goal was to be inside the top seven,” said Vlaanderen. “I showed today that I have the speed to be fighting near the top five. Unfortunately, the starts didn’t go my way, and that made passing difficult in the first race. In the second race I had a big crash, and my right leg was very painful. I did what I could to finish and take the points.”

Seewer acknowledged that the team still has work to do moving forward.

“There’s not much to say about this weekend. We struggled with the starts and in the races. We need to keep working and improving.”

Bonacorsi also reflected on his strong pace before the crash that ended his race.

“It was a good weekend to understand our level. I felt really good on the bike and improved each time I went on track. I’m sure a top-five finish was possible before the crash. I hurt my ribs and tried to continue in race two, but I didn’t have the strength to keep pushing. Still, I’m staying positive.”

Promising MX2 debut for Mancini

In the MX2 category, Simone Mancini delivered an encouraging performance during his World Championship debut with the Beddini Racing Ducati Factory MX2 Team.

Riding the Desmo250 MX, Mancini secured strong starts from the 18th gate in both motos and battled just outside the top 10 positions. He finished 13th in the first race, showing impressive pace against the experienced MX2 field.

In the second moto, Mancini was running 11th before a technical issue forced him to retire with just two laps remaining. Despite the setback, he still collected points and concluded his first MX2 World Championship weekend 17th overall.

Reflecting on the experience, Mancini expressed optimism about his progress.

“Competing in my first World Championship race in Argentina was a great experience. It could have ended a bit better, but I improved every time I went on track. The circuit was challenging and physically demanding, but I pushed until the end. Now the focus is on preparing for the European Championship and continuing to improve.”

Overall, the Argentine Grand Prix presented Ducati with a challenging start to the 2026 MXGP campaign. However, the strong pace shown by its riders and Mancini’s promising MX2 debut suggest encouraging potential as the season progresses.