Four years ago, before Triumph even raced a GP and while Farres was nursing injuries in America (despite showing good speed), you wouldn’t have got many people predicting the 2026 MX2 world champion would be Guillem Farres on a Triumph – but that is indeed what has happened!
Triumph have produced a stonking 250 machine that was up to speed straight away at it’s first GP with Mikkel Harrup on the podium, their signings of Farres and McLellan was inspired and both riders have produced the dream scenario of a 1-2 in the world championship in 2026.
Whatever the team are doing, they are doing it right, with even Ivan Tedesco and other members of the 250 AMA Triumph team coming over to Lommel to understand what the GP team is doing so well to produce such brilliant results with their very talented riders.
But Guillem Farres deserves a lot of credit as well. I remember him hobbling in a cast visiting a GP a couple of years ago after his latest injury in America, Triumph took a chance on a kid that certainly had speed but had limited results due to injury, he also went to America straight out of EMX with limited MX2 GP experience, it was an educated punt that now looks like genius!
Farres showed speed last year but had some big crashes, however when he was fit and firing he showed what he could do as he adapted back to the GP scene, a new bike and a new team, his season was quietly impressive.
He started the year strong and had that brilliant first moto win in front of his home crowd in Spain, from there Farres proved he was the real deal and once he started winning he became virtually unbeatable during the mid-season. His style is impressive, superb balance, he doesn’t always have the need to put his feet down in the corners, he is so centred on the bike. Smooth, refined but also ruthless when he needs to be, Farres ticked all the boxes to be world champion this year. Even salvaging points after that huge crash into a downed bike in Sweden – that’s where the grit came through.
Farres weathered every challenge and remained mentally strong even when it wasn’t going his way but his consistent speed and poise in any condition proved that he does not have any weaknesses, this was an unexpected world title in some senses, even looking back two years, but Farres has built himself into an exceptional rider and no doubt the team should take a lot of the credit for the environment and the bike they have built as well, it became the package to beat and no-one else could find a way to consistently beat the silky smooth Spaniard in 2026.
Farres is a deserving world champion, from EMX to AMA, injuries then an MX2 world championship, it’s been quite A ride for Farres but he never stopped believing in himself and produced when everything came together, what a great story.
And his style should suit a 450 perfectly…
View this post on Instagram
