#9: MXGP of Italy

The biggest issue we have in Europe is space, you dont have hundreds of acres just sat there doing nothing, anywhere.  So places like Montiavarchi are typical of lots of Euro tracks, all packed into as small an area as possible , because the cost of not doing that are huge. 

As has been said , the only track even remotely close to US size is Matterley Basin, which isnt even a permanent track. 

At least we saw some passing. 

You could be correct on the track, you’re definitely correct about the Dixon Yamaha. 

Only just caught up with watching the second motos; good racing, that track delivered. 

I thought the track was good. Made the riders think. Maybe that's why a lot of them didn't like it. Seems like there was a manufacturer's meeting about the track pre-race but the FIM nor Infront weren't interested...

I'm guessing the vital MXGP podcast will contain a scathing review of the track. Personally I loved it. I wouldn't want to see more than 1 or 2 of these on the schedule but it definitely expands the track variety. Something sadly missing in the  US. 

The entry lists for the MXGP of Portugal are online.

As was to be expected, there are few entries in both the MX1 and MX2 classes.

Points scored in Qualifying 

MXGP 

75 = Lucas Coenen 
55 = Romain Febvre 
54 = Tim Gajser 
52 = Jeffrey Herlings 
52 = Andrea Adamo 
40 = Maxime Renaux 
37 = Kay De Wolf 
37 = Tom Vialle 
26 = Ruben Fernandez 
17 = Pauls Jonass 

MX2 

76 = Sacha Coenen 
62 = Mathis Valin 
60 = Camden Mc Lellan 
57 = Guillem Farres 
53 = Liam Everts 
51 = Janis Reisulis 
47 = Simon Längenfelder 
36 = Valerio Lata
13 = Karlis Reisulis 
11 = Kay Karssemakers 

Points scored on sunday 

MXGP 

374 = Lucas Coenen 
341 = Jeffrey Herlings 
292 = Romain Febvre 
275 = Tim Gajser 
265 = Maxime Renaux 
238 = Ruben Fernandez 
236 = Kay De Wolf 
229 = Andrea Adamo 
212 = Tom Vialle 
183 = Pauls Jonass 

MX2 

355 = Sacha Coenen 
333 = Guillem Farres 
325 = Simon Längenfelder 
313 = Camden Mc Lellan 
301 = Liam Everts 
290 = Mathis Valin
259 = Janis Reisulis 
231 = Karlis Reisulis 
205 = Valerio Lata 
170 = Kay Karssemakers

Hmm, it looks like I have same setup (MB oldie, seats, table..) in 2026😄

We were in Montevarchi and it had his pros and his cons. 

Not the biggest visibility as a spectator but it gave us old school Namur vibes. Crowd is always good in Italy. 

Parking was a mess. The people responsible for the B parking (which was between olive trees) could'nt care less and closed it already early in the morning. So industry people had to park in the narrow roads near the track. Sometimes up to a 15min walk.

They were watering the track between sessions and it was laughable. All the sprinklers on top of the circuit were only watering not more than 0,5 sq metres. Making a small mud pool between all the dust. 

I don't know where they pulled out the flaggers but most of them certainly didn't have any experience. 

Now i understand why there were talks on moving the event to Mantova. 

Was it just coincidence that Farres and Mclellan were able to ride anywhere on the track they wanted, or does the 250 Triumph have some kind of advantage on that crazy hard pack track?