January is almost in the books, which means the MXGP preseason is just around the corner. February traditionally brings the first real taste of racing, and the 2026 campaign will begin with the opening round of the Internazionali d’Italia in Alghero on February 1st.
As usual, the International D´Italia preseason series will attract a strong line-up of MXGP stars, but this year comes with a particularly historic moment: the long-awaited debut of Tim Gajser aboard the Monster Energy Yamaha. After 12 seasons with HRC, the five-time world champion begins a new chapter in his career, and all eyes will be on Alghero to see how quickly he adapts to the blue machine.
The list of confirmed rivals adds even more intrigue. MXGP runner-up Lucas Coenen will be in action, while Ducati is set to unveil its full factory trio with Jeremy Seewer, Calvin Vlaanderen, and Andrea Bonacorsi. New beginnings are also on the horizon for others, with Jago Geerts and Rick Elzinga making their first appearances on Beta machinery, and Alberto Forato lining up for Fantic as part of their continued MXGP project.
Gajser vs Herlings in Mantova
If Alghero marks the start of the story, Round 2 in Mantova on February 8th promises one of the most anticipated preseason showdowns in recent memory. For the first time, fans will see five-time world champion Tim Gajser on Yamaha go head-to-head with HRC’s Jeffrey Herlings. It is a matchup that once seemed unthinkable, yet it perfectly captures the new era MXGP is entering.
While these races are officially part of the preseason, the significance goes far beyond results. Alghero and Mantova will offer the first real clues about form, bike adaptations, and rivalries heading into the 2026 MXGP World Championship.
LIVE STREAM
The live streaming will feature two separate coverages, with Marco Gualdani providing Italian commentary and MXGP voice Paul Malin, providing English commentary on all the races broadcast live on federmoto.tv and FIM-MOTO.tv
