Two Top 10s for Calvin Vlaanderen in MXGP
- Simone Mancini completes in Top 10 the first European season of the Desmo250 MX
The MXGP of Turkey, the seventeenth and penultimate round of the FIM Motocross World Championship, precedes the double overseas trip to China and Australia that will conclude the 2026 season. On Afyon track, built on hardpack, with large jumps and deep ruts, Calvin Vlaanderen and Andrea Bonacorsi secured 7th and 14th place, respectively, in Saturday’s qualifying race. Ninth at the end of a hard-fought first heat, Vlaanderen battled again in the second and final heat of the Grand Prix, crossing the finish line in 10th, taking 9th overall. After a difficult first race, Bonacorsi, already weakened by food poisoning on Saturday, decided, with the team, not to start the second race.
Calvin Vlaanderen: “Two pretty solid race for a ninth overall, but I’m not completely happy with my riding. After yesterday I had a really good feeling with the track and the bike and I was expecting a little bit more from myself and my speed. I’ve tried my best we look forward for the next two race with confidence.”
Andrea Bonacorsi: “Unfortunately, I’ve been sick all weekend. Yesterday and this morning, I tried to race, but I wasn’t able to fight for the positions we deserve. In race two, the team and I decided not to take any further risks and not start.”
The EMX250 series has come to the end in Turkey, with Simone Mancini finishing the final round of the season in 11th place overall. First in free practice on his Desmo250 MX, the Italian rider qualified with the 10th fastest time at the end of Saturday’s timed session. After starting in twelfth place, the Beddini Racing Ducati Factory MX2 Team rider finished the first race in 10th place. Once again in 12th after his final start of the year, Simone finished the second race in 11th, a result that allows him to wrap the European season in 10th place overall, after taking second place on the podium at the Swiss Grand Prix.
Simone Mancini: “Unfortunately, we witnessed a monotonous race, with a flat track that made overtaking very difficult. It’s been a season of ups and downs, but I wanna thank Ducati for the opportunity and for the work we’ve done together. I also thank the guys on the team and the entire Ducati Corse Off-Road staff.”
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