Guillem Farres had a good 2025 season back in Europe but has made another step for the 2026 season – he’s had a strong winter. The Spaniard delivered a stong performance at Arco di Trento, charging to second overall despite less-than-ideal starts, underlining both his raw speed and growing consistency across all track conditions. Now firmly in the title conversation, Farres is proving that both he and Triumph’s MX2 project have taken significant strides over the winter.
We caught up with Farres reflects on his impressive ride in Italy, the technical progress made with his bike, and the confidence that has helped elevate him into a genuine championship contender. He also discusses working closely with Clement Desalle, the intensity of his winter preparation, and his thoughts on the MX2 age rule as he focuses on keeping his momentum rolling through the season.
GateDrop: Second overall at Arco di Trento… The starts weren’t the best today but the speed was really, really good, so you must have been happy with your speed at a pretty slick track where throttle control was required…
Farres: Yeah, I am happy with my speed. The first start was not so bad, but the second start was terrible. I really had to dig deep. I’m happy to show that I’m competitive at every track, in sand, in hard pack. My bike is working really good.
GateDrop: What was your thoughts on the track yesterday compared to today? Yesterday was rock hard, today a bit more soft with the rain and a bit more ruts…
Farres: Yeah, yesterday was rock hard, it was sketchy and very unpredictable – it was kind of dangerous. Today was a bit better, but still I think it’s not the best track, it was hard to pass because it is really one lined. The options they had in the turns, if you were inside or outside, one was way better, so it was a difficult racetrack, especially with a little bit of rain and stuff, it got really one line.
GateDrop: I would say you’re pretty much an MX2 title contender this year, coming into the season, did you expect that, did you expect to be so fast at all these different types of tracks?
Farres: I was expecting that, we made big improvements on the bike and with myself so yeah, I was expecting that, that was the goal.
GateDrop: What sort of things did you work on over the winter? Because you’re a lot better, you’ve made a big step it looks like…
Farres: Yeah, last year was my first season injury free and that also helps to build some momentum and stuff. We have got a much better bike this year, we have made some big improvements, and that’s also a big part on our program.
GateDrop: Like you mentioned, you stayed injury free apart from the incident in France last year. Confidence, how important is that in this class at the moment? It looks like you’ve got a lot of confidence.
Farres: I think I never lack confidence, I just don’t get nervous, I just do my job and I enjoy it, so I think confidence is never a problem, I just don’t think too much, you know.
GateDrop: With the bike, you mentioned it’s better, what sort of improvements did you get over the winter?
Farres: A lot of improvements on the frame, on the engine. I mean I think we’re showing – me and my teammate – that the bike’s really competitive.
GateDrop: Just on your teammate, I’m guessing you put a lot of laps in with him over the winter, you didn’t even do a pre-season race though, which is sometimes a bit strange, a lot of guys like to do two or three races. How did you feel going into the first round without the pre-season race?
Farres: I felt great, I mean we didn’t need to do pre-season races, because every day at training is like a race with me and my teammate. We race each other hard, we go in behind the wheel, we get ready like if it was a real race, without goggles and stuff, and Clement (Desalle) gets in between, so it’s even harder. That’s what we’ve been doing all winter long.
GateDrop: I was going to ask you about Clement Desalle, what’s it been like working with him, it’s the second year you’re working with him now, and what’s he like on a bike, can he actually stay with you for a long time?
Farres: He still rides really fast and it’s great working with Clement, we spent all winter close to his house and we have a really great time on and off the bike. I think that also is a big part of my success this year.
GateDrop: The level in MX2, it seems very fast this year at the front…
Farres: It’s always fast, you always have fast guys, it’s always like that.
GateDrop: With the age rule, contract year, is that extra pressure for you or does it not really bother you?
Farres: I never have pressure.
GateDrop: Have you ever rode a 450cc much?
Farres: Yeah, a little bit, when I was racing for Star Yamaha, I would get on the 450cc every Friday.
GateDrop: Do you like the bigger bike?
Farres: I like the bigger bike.
GateDrop: In terms of next year, what you’d like to do, you obviously came back here to be closer to your family, would you like to stay and get a 450cc ride or would you be open to going back to America?
Farres: I don’t know, I mean, at this point I haven’t heard anything. I also don’t want to hear it, I just want to focus on my season and keep doing what I’ve been doing and battle for this title. As long as I’m battling for the title, I think I wouldn’t have any problems with finding a ride for next year.
GateDrop: What is your thoughts on the age rule? I mean, for guys like you it’s not great because you’ve spent so long trying to stay injury free and it’s only really year two of it, it’s a bit frustrating you have to go up…
Farres: Yeah, I don’t really agree with that rule, they should make it a little longer. Something like U25 would be better. But we can’t do anything about it.
