Ducati's Vlaanderen finishes seventh in MXGP of Australia qualifying as Zanchi takes tenth in MX2

The MXGP of Australia at Darwin's Hidden Valley Motorsports Complex hosted the season finale of the 2026 FIM Motocross World Championship. It is the second consecutive year that Darwin, the capital of the Northern Territory, has staged the final round. The 19-round series spanned five continents, travelling from Argentina to Australia via Europe, South Africa and China. The Darwin track has a hard-packed surface with dusty soil and a spectacular, fast layout reminiscent of American tracks.

Calvin Vlaanderen's day began with the eighth-fastest time in free practice, followed by the sixth-fastest time in timed practice. He got a good jump at the start of the qualifying race but was boxed in at the first turn and passed through it outside the top ten. Aboard his Desmo450 MX for the Red Bull Ducati Factory MXGP Team, the Dutchman fought his way back through the field, moving into ninth after two laps and finishing seventh at the end of the 14-lap race. The result confirmed his strong form.

In the MX2 class, Ferruccio Zanchi enjoyed a consistent day, gaining confidence with every outing on a track he was tackling for the first time. He placed ninth in free practice and finished the timed practice session in tenth position. The qualifying race proved more challenging, forcing him to recover after a chaotic start that left him twelfth. Aboard his Desmo250 MX with the Beddini Racing Ducati Factory MX2 Team, he climbed back to a final finish of tenth place.