Laengenfelder Wins MX2 at MXGP Argentina Opener

Simon Laengenfelder secures a dominant MX2 victory while Lucas Coenen finishes fifth overall at the opening round of the 2026 MXGP World Championship in Argentina.

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The 2026 MXGP World Championship season kicked off at the newly built Bariloche MX Race Track in Argentina, the first of 19 rounds scheduled across 17 countries this year. The challenging circuit, known for its fast sections, rough terrain and loose topsoil, provided a demanding start to the season for riders and teams alike.

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing began the championship with a strong showing, fielding a four-rider lineup on the KTM 450 SX-F and KTM 250 SX-F machines.

Laengenfelder Dominates MX2

Reigning MX2 World Champion Simon Laengenfelder delivered an outstanding performance to win the MX2 category with a perfect 1-1 result.

The German rider bounced back impressively after crashing in Saturday’s qualification race. In the opening moto, he quickly moved into the lead and controlled the race until the chequered flag. In the second moto, Laengenfelder chased down Liam Everts before taking the lead to secure overall victory.

The win marks Laengenfelder’s 10th career MX2 victory and his first since the 2025 Turkish Grand Prix, while also extending Red Bull KTM’s streak to 19 consecutive MX2 podium finishes.

Strong Start for Coenen in MXGP

In the premier MXGP class, Lucas Coenen finished fifth overall with results of fourth and sixth across the two motos.

The Belgian rider faced an additional challenge on race day after experiencing vision problems in his right eye. Despite the setback, he pushed close to podium contention in the first race before a minor fall dropped him to fourth. He maintained a consistent pace in the second moto to secure a top-six finish and a solid start to his second season in the MXGP category.

Encouraging MXGP Debut for Adamo

Former MX2 World Champion Andrea Adamo also made his MXGP debut in Argentina, finishing eighth overall with results of 11th and seventh.

Adamo showed promising speed early in the first moto, running as high as third place before dropping positions later in the race. He recovered well in the second moto to finish inside the top ten.

Championship Heads to Spain

Following the season opener, the MXGP championship now returns to Europe for Round 2 at the Grand Prix of Andalucia, scheduled to take place at the Almonte circuit near Huelva, Spain, on March 21–22.

With a victory in MX2 and competitive performances in MXGP, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing leaves Argentina with strong momentum as the 2026 championship season gets underway.