The Honda HRC Petronas team celebrated a triumphant victory at the Italian Grand Prix of the Motocross World Championship (MXGP), held on the classic hard-packed Montevarchi track in conditions of extreme heat. The main hero of the weekend was five-time world champion Jeffrey Herlings, riding the Japanese Honda CRF450RW race bike. The Dutch rider demonstrated phenomenal throttle control skills on the slippery surface, finishing first in the opening race and second in the second race, which earned him a well-deserved overall victory.

This victory on Italian soil marked Herlings’ fourth success of the 2026 season and the historic 116th triumph of his professional career. The rider’s confident performance allowed Honda HRC Petronas not only to strengthen its position in the Constructors’ Championship, but also to significantly reduce the gap to Motocross World Championship standings leader Lucas Coenen, cutting the deficit to 56 points ahead of the halfway point of the championship.

A special contribution to this triumph was made by the team’s title sponsor, oil and gas giant PETRONAS, which developed a range of specialized Sprinta engine oils featuring Ultraflex™ technology. The extreme heat at the Italian track and the ultra-high engine speeds of the Honda CRF450RW required maximum protection of components under immense thermal loads. Sprinta lubricants proved their effectiveness in practice by preventing overheating, reducing internal friction and ensuring an immediate clutch response, which guaranteed the Honda motorcycles flawless reliability throughout the entire racing weekend.