The opening day of competition at the MXGP of Portugal 2026 delivered excitement both on and off the track. Under brilliant sunshine and soaring temperatures, thousands of fans packed the Crossódromo Internacional de Águeda to witness the start of the event, creating a vibrant atmosphere that once again confirmed the Portuguese Grand Prix as one of the highlights of the FIM Motocross World Championship calendar.
The action got underway early in the morning with the European Championship classes opening the day’s programme. Alongside the free and timed practice sessions, the EMX125 and EMX250 riders contested their opening races of the weekend, producing close, hard-fought racing.
In the EMX250 class, Francisco Garcia—the championship leader arriving in Portugal—claimed victory ahead of Nicolai Skovbjerg and Elias Escandell. Among the Portuguese riders, Gonçalo Cardoso finished 32nd, Tomás Santos was 35th and Vasco Salgado crossed the line in 37th place.
In EMX125, Sleny Goyerfra took the win ahead of Ricardo Bauer and Gennaro Utech, following an impressive race that showcased the outstanding talent of Europe’s rising motocross stars.
The FIM Motocross World Championship riders also took to the track for their practice sessions and qualifying races in both the MXGP and MX2 classes, providing the large crowd with plenty of thrilling action.
In the MXGP Qualifying Race, Lucas Coenen claimed victory ahead of Jeffrey Herlings and Ruben Fernandez, while Portuguese rider Luís Outeiro finished in 21st position.
In MX2, Guillem Farrés secured the Qualifying Race win, followed by Sacha Coenen and Simon Längenfelder, setting the stage for an exciting final day of racing on Sunday.
The entertainment extended well beyond the racing. Throughout the day, thousands of fans enjoyed rider autograph sessions, the Paddock Show, and two spectacular Freestyle Motocross by Monster Energy performances, one of the major new attractions introduced for this year’s event.
As the sun began to set, the atmosphere continued with another edition of the MXGP Music Festival by KORA, once again transforming the circuit’s entertainment area into a lively venue filled with music, renowned DJs and an incredible atmosphere, bringing a memorable day to a perfect close.
For ACTIB, the organising club, the outstanding attendance throughout the day once again demonstrated the passion that motocross fans have for the sport and confirmed the success of an event that continues to establish the MXGP of Portugal as a benchmark on the international calendar, combining world-class sport, entertainment and the promotion of the Águeda region.
The excitement continues on Sunday with the final European Championship races and the highly anticipated MXGP and MX2 Grand Prix races, where the world’s best riders will battle for victory in front of what is expected to be another packed crowd at the Crossódromo Internacional de Águeda.
