The new venue for the opening round of the Motocross World Championship in Argentina, which will kick off the 2026 season, has already begun to welcome each of the teams taking part in the event. The competition will take place on 7 and 8 March at the brand new Bariloche MX Race Track, located on the outskirts of the city in Río Negro province.
The world’s best motocross riders are arriving this weekend in the city of San Carlos de Bariloche, and with a few days still to go before the start of the event, the main teams have already begun to set up in the paddock at the Bariloche MX Race Track.
Since last Monday, when the lorries arrived carrying the containers with all the MXGP equipment, the circuit began to take on the classic appearance of a world championship venue, and on Wednesday, the first teams to arrive at the track began to set up all their infrastructure.
Throughout today and tomorrow, the staff of each World Championship team will be working on assembling each of the machines and their pits, so that everything is ready for the first race of the 2026 season.
Friday will be the time to finalise details before scrutineering and the numerous official commitments prior to the event. In the afternoon, from 6 p.m., fans will be able to meet their idols at the autograph signing session o take place at the Bariloche Civic Centre (free admission). Fans will also enjoy a freestyle show.
The real action on the track will start on Saturday at 9:15 a.m. with the first practice sessions, which will continue throughout the day and will end with the MX2 and MXGP qualifying races respectively.
Sunday will be an adrenaline-filled finale with two MX2 races and two races in the world championship’s top category, MXGP.
Local riders looking to shine before the people
Agustín Carrasco and Santiago Montero in MXGP, together with Felipe Quirno Costa, in MX2, Will be the three riders that will represent our Patagonia in this return of the World Championship to the south of the country. With different experiences, the riders from this region want to take centre stage and show off at home, in a race that is very special for them and for all Argentine fans. Argentina will have a total of 12 representatives between the two categories.
Within this Patagonian trio, Carrasco is the most experienced in the World Championship, as this will be his fifth participation in the event, with a 21st place finish in 2022 as his best result. The rider from Cutral-Có (Neuquén) arrives in good form after winning the Summer Supercross Championship in his province.
‘I am very happy that the MXGP is returning to the south of Argentina, as there is a special atmosphere here. Although the track is new, we already have more experience in how to prepare the bike and our physical condition for this type of race, which is much more demanding than what we are used to,’ said the Neuquén native, adding: ‘The goal is to try to achieve a good result in the Latin American Championship and get as far ahead as possible in the overall standings.’
Meanwhile, at just 18 years of age – most of which he has spent on a motorbike – Felipe Quirno Costa arrives in Bariloche from San Martín de Los Andes (190 km from the circuit). The young Argentine talent already has experience in the last MX of Nations, held in the United States in October 2025, and has spent much of his career in The United States, although he has also racked up victories in his sporadic appearances in the Argentine Motocross Championship.
‘It’s an honour to be part of the opening of the world’s biggest championship and, of course, it’s a different experience to any other race. Since I was a child, I’ve been there as a spectator at almost every edition in Villa La Angostura and, although I couldn’t compete there, being able to race in Bariloche will be almost like fulfilling that dream,’ said Quirno Costa excitedly. «Being able to gain previous experience in the MX of Nations was crazy. I learned a lot, and that gives me peace of mind because I already have some experience in a similar event. I would love to finish on the podium in the Latin American Championship and score some points in the World Championship.»
The only rider from Río Negro present in Bariloche will be Santiago Montero. Hailing from General Roca, almost 500 kilometres from the track, Montero faces his first participation in a World Championship race with high expectations and the support of many of the students from his Motocross academy, as well as many other local friends who will be coming to the Bariloche MX Race Track.
‘It’s a special race because a lot of people I know are coming to cheer me on. I don’t think being a local rider puts pressure on me; rather, I’ll feel the encouragement and support of all the people who made it possible for me to be here,’ said the rider who will compete in the MXGP, adding: «Expectations are high, and we’ve been preparing a lot physically and technically to try to rise to the occasion. I hope to get two good starts so I can manage my energy in the early laps of each race, and hopefully we can be in the leading group among the Latin Americans and Argentinians. It would be a dream to be on the podium of the Latin American Championship.»