• P8 for Andrea Bonacorsi at the French MXGP Grand Prix
• Best result of the season in MX2 for Ferruccio Zanchi
The French Grand Prix, sixth round of the 2026 FIM Motocross World Championship, marks the return of MXGP racing after a month-long break. With summer temperatures exceeding 30°C over the weekend, Ducati riders showed clear progress in the race, the result of the work done over this period.
The challenging French track, with its rocky and technical surface that’s particularly hostile to overtaking, saw Andrea Bonacorsi secure two top-10 finishes in the heats, with solid performances and impressive comebacks after difficult starts. Tenth at the end of the first moto, the Red Bull Ducati Factory MXGP Team rider fought throughout the second heat, managing to finish 10th again, taking eighth place overall on the Ducati Desmo450 MX, his best result of the season. Calvin Vlaanderen also had a positive race, having been forced to start from the back of the grid after retiring from Saturday’s qualifying race; Finishing 11th behind Bonacorsi in race one, Calvin, involved in a group crash at the start of the second race that was then red-flagged, got off to a good start on the second and final start of the day, crossing the line in 15th place on the opening lap. Dropping out of the top 20 at lap four after stalling his bike, the Dutchman rejoined the fight, eventually crossing the checkered flag in 15th place, consolidating his 10th place in the championship. It was a two-speed weekend for Jeremy Seewer, who finished 21st in race one and 16th after a hard-fought second race, finishing close behind teammate Vlaandeen after setting some good lap times.
Andrea Bonacorsi: “France is done, after a month-long break we’ve done a very good step forward in these weeks; I can say that I’m back 100% and I’m getting more and more comfortable, especially after this race I know I can fight in front. After yesterday, which wasn’t very good after I fell, today we had two positive motos, both in the top ten, and I was eight overall so we can be satisfied. We will get ready for the next round in Germany, I’m sure we can do even better.”
Calvin Vlandereen: “Difficult weekend, really tough obviously yesterday with the bike problem, and starting back at the last gate was not ideal. I’d really was getting roosted a lot today fighting through the pack, but every point was necessary. I just tried to do my best and tried to get the most out of myself and out of the bike as I could and I’m disappointed of course with my second race, I just stalled the bike and I couldn’t restarted quickly. Anyway, we try rest up and get ready for for Germany.”
Jeremy Seewer: “It was a tough weekend in terms of results, but I’m happy because it was a very tricky race and I managed to avoid any crashes. In race two, I finally found a good pace and I want to thank all the guys who worked so hard.”
In MX2, after a promising Saturday, Ferruccio Zanchi had a more challenging Sunday than expected. In race one, the Beddini Ducati Factory MX2 Team rider finished 11th at the end of a hard-fought moto. Crashing on the first lap of the second heat, “Ferro” restarted outside the top 30, but fought his way back up the order on his Desmo250 MX bike to end 14th after 20 laps, finishing just outside the top 10.
Ferruccio Zanchi: “It was a pretty positive Saturday ending the qualifying race in a good position,then Sunday was more difficult, starting behind didn’t help me at all and I always had to climb back up from the back; in race two I had some contact with other riders, so I couldn’t have the race I wanted, but we have another race where we can do better and have a better race.”
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