Grand Prix of Czech Republic Round 21 MXGP 2026 - Qualifying Race

• Positive day in Loket for Simone Mancini in MX2

The Loketske Serpentiny track, located in the hills overlooking the castle-town of Loket, is about 140 kilometers west of Prague and has hosted the FIM Motocross World Championship since 1995. The 1,586-meter-long track, consisting of a stony, hard-packed surface, celebrates its 30th Czech Republic Grand Prix this year.

On the steep, fast ups and downs of the Bohemian circuit, Calvin Vlaanderen, achieved the fourth fastest time in free practice that opened the thirteenth weekend of the MXGP World Championship, aboard his Desmo450 MX, finishing eighth in the timed session. When the gates of the qualifying race dropped, the Red Bull Ducati Factory MXGP Team rider failed to find the best start from the starting gate and, after a chaotic start hindered by a group crash at the first corner, finish the first lap in 17th. Vlaanderen immediately attempted a comeback, gaining four positions in the opening laps, but suffered a crash that dropped him to the middle of the pack and finished 16th at the checkered flag.

Ferruccio Zanchi, absent due to the injury sustained the previous week in Great Britain, was replaced at the Czech Republic Grand Prix by EMX250 rider Simone Mancini, who was lining up for his second time this year in an MX2 Grand Prix. Seventh at the end of free practice aboard his Desmo250 MX bike, the Beddini Racing Ducati Factory MX2 Team rider achieved a solid 12th-best time in the timed practice. After an excellent start, just outside the top ten 13 laps into the race, Mancini crossed the finish line in 12th place.