On 3 October 2026 the 79th Motocross of Nations unfolded on the legendary Ernée circuit in France. The event gathered 32 nations and more than 100 riders, but all eyes centered on the Dutch superstar Jeffrey Herlings. After a flawless qualifying day – where he topped the Open class race and gave the Netherlands a sixth-place gate pick – Herlings entered Sunday’s three motos with confidence and a strategic team plan that placed him in the Open class to spare teammate Roan van de Moosdijk extra recovery time.
Qualifying dominance and the battle for gate pick
Herlings spearheaded the Open qualification race, clocking a 24:16.770 lap and finishing 84 seconds clear of the next rider. His victory handed the Netherlands a top-six starting position for the main races. Behind him, France swept the qualifying standings, leading with a perfect trio of podiums – Tom Vialle in third, Mathis Valin winning MX2, and Jorge Prado clinching MXGP. Spain and Belgium completed the top three, leaving the Dutch squad eager to convert their decent gate pick into podium points.
Sunday’s double triumph: race-by-race breakdown
Despite drawing an outer gate on the first Sunday moto, Herlings made the start look effortless. A crash involving Tom Vialle opened the door, and Herlings surged ahead, eventually crossing the line more than 35 seconds ahead of the field. In the third moto, the Dutch rider faced a dramatic setback: a mis-jump sent him 15 seconds behind the leaders. Yet his relentless pace allowed him to reel in the deficit, overtake the pack after the halfway mark, and pull away with a comfortable margin in the final laps.
Both victories were decisive in elevating the Netherlands to third place The Dutch podium finish marked their 16th appearance on the MXoN podium and reinforced their growing reputation as a powerhouse in international motocross.
Historical impact and records shattered
Herlings’ double win gave him his sixth class victory at the MXoN, tying Dutch legend Stefan Everts for the most class wins in the competition’s history. More strikingly, his total Moto wins rose to eight, placing him alone in second place on the all-time list, just behind Everts’ record 11 victories. The achievement underscores Herlings’ consistency since his world-championship triumph in 2025 and highlights his ability to dominate on the world stage.
Speaking after the third moto, Herlings reflected on the challenges he overcame: “I lost about fifteen seconds after a crash, but I trusted my speed and executed the comeback. The first race was smoother, and We kept our winning streak alive from the British GP through to today, and ending the season with a podium is the perfect finish.”
Team dynamics and the road ahead
The Dutch strategy of slotting Herlings into the Open class proved effective, allowing van de Moosdijk extra recovery time between his MXGP and Open rides. Meanwhile, France, having secured the top qualifying spot, entered Sunday with the coveted first gate pick and strong hopes of capturing the coveted Peter Chamberlain Trophy for the first time since 2023.
As the season draws to a close, Herlings’ performance at Ernée not only cements his personal legacy but also raises the bar for future MXoN competitors. The Netherlands will look to build on this momentum in the upcoming 2027 season, while rival nations analyse the Dutch tactics that turned a sixth-place gate pick into a podium finish.
