Calvin Vlaanderen scores top-five qualifying finish for Ducati on centenary at South African MXGP
Calvin Vlaanderen finished fifth in the qualifying race at the South African Grand Prix, equaling Ducati's best qualifying result of the season on the manufacturer's 100th anniversary.
- 5th
- 4th fastest
- 18
What Happened
The South African Grand Prix, round 11 of the FIM Motocross World Championship, opened the second half of the 2026 season at the Terra Topia MX Track in Johannesburg. The race weekend also coincided with the centenary of Ducati's foundation on July 4, making it a special occasion for the Red Bull Ducati Factory MXGP Team.
Home rider Calvin Vlaanderen, from Port Elizabeth, raced his first home Grand Prix and secured a fifth-place finish in the qualifying race on his Desmo450 MX. He achieved the fourth-fastest lap time and matched his best qualifying result of the season, previously set in Spain.
Ferruccio Zanchi, riding for Beddini Racing Ducati Factory MX2 Team, had a more difficult day. After posting the 11th fastest time in timed practice, he crashed on the opening lap of the qualifying race but recovered to finish 12th.
Why this matters
The result marks Ducati's best qualifying performance of the 2026 season and the return of the FIM Motocross World Championship to Africa after an 18-year hiatus.
Terms in This Story
- MXGP
- The premier class of the FIM Motocross World Championship.
- MX2
- The support class of the FIM Motocross World Championship, typically for smaller-displacement motorcycles.
- Holeshot
- The rider who reaches the first corner first after the start of a motocross race.
Summarised from the linked release; details can be imperfect — always verify against the original source.