With a stunning second moto victory, Ruben Fernandez took the overall win at the MXGP of Patagonia-Argentina, sparking scenes of delight as he crossed the line in what was his debut ride for Team HRC.

The Villa La Angostura track is well-known as being one of the best venues on the world championship calendar and with a massive Spanish-speaking fanbase in attendance, Fernandez had plenty of support throughout this opening weekend of the season.

Starting with the Saturday practice sessions, the #70 showed he was right up there with the top guys, always challenging the top five and putting himself in a strong position when they lined up for the qualification race, which this year will count for points in the championship standings, but not the GP overall. First place receives 10 points, second place nine and then that continues all the way down to 10th place gaining one point, so with a solid fourth place, he gained seven points and set himself up nicely for the Sunday motos.

In race one, a great start meant he swept into the lead around the first corner, much to the delight of the Argentinian supporters. Keeping a good pace, he led for five laps before the second-placed rider made an impressive pass. Still, he kept with him and was riding well and looking good for a podium spot before a small mistake dropped him down to fifth near the end.

Knowing that he’d have to ride well to even get himself onto the podium, the Honda CRF450R once again showed its power as Fernandez took the lead after the first turn. This time, there he had no intention of relinquishing that lead and instead he went about his moto with 30 minutes of flawless riding. It was a very impressive performance and one that fully deserved to give him his first ever MXGP race win, and his first ever GP overall. It was a proud moment for the Spaniard, and one that he will never forget, and he now heads to Sardinia in a couple of weeks’ time looking to continue his good form in the deep sand of Riola Sardo on March 25-26.

Ruben Fernandez 70

It is unbelievable to have won this race and overall. When they told me I had won the GP, it was crazy, especially after the crash in race one when I was in second. It has been a long journey to get here, and I couldn’t be happier with how things have gone. It has been great working with all of Team HRC and it feels like a family already and to get all their support throughout means a lot to me. Winning the GP is a special feeling and I am really just so happy.

Marcus Pereira de Freitas

HRC General Manager - MXGP

What a start to Ruben’s time with Team HRC! He has worked so hard over the winter to be in this position so he deserves a lot of credit, and then to put it together here is amazing. He certainly didn’t make it easy after race one, but he came out and rode flawlessly in race two, taking the victory and the overall. It was just such an impressive performance, and a great way to start his year and a great moment for the whole team who all work so hard to make moments like this possible.

MXGP 2023
Race Round 1   Argentina

Race 1

Pos. Rider Num Nation Points Team Constructor Time/Gap
1 Prado Garcia Jorge SPA 25 34:24.711
2 Febvre Romain FRA 22 0:04.320
3 Renaux Maxime FRA 20 0:06.803
4 Herlings Jeffrey NDL 18 0:08.753
5 Fernandez Ruben 70 SPA 16 Team HRC - MXGP Honda 0:10.511
6 Jonass Pauls 41 LAT 15 Standing Construct Honda MXGP Honda 0:15.396
7 Coldenhoff Glenn NDL 14 0:17.925
8 van Doninck Brent 32 BEL 13 JM Honda Racing Honda 0:32.878
9 Forato Alberto 303 ITA 12 SM Action Racing Team Yuasa Battery KTM 0:34.810
10 Guadagnini Mattia ITA 11 0:37.044
11 Vlaanderen Calvin NDL 10 0:40.176
12 Watson Ben 919 GBR 9 MRT Racing Team Beta Beta 0:42.014
13 Paturel Benoit 6 FRA 8 Wildcard Rider Yamaha 0:53.112
14 Guillod Valentin 92 SWI 7 Team Ship To Cycle Honda SR Motoblouz Honda 1:02.254
15 Östlund Alvin 161 SWE 6 JWR Honda Racing Honda 1:25.482
16 Bogers Brian 189 NDL 5 Standing Construct Honda MXGP Honda 1:28.345
17 Seewer Jeremy SWI 4 1 Lap
18 Poli Joaquin ARG 3 1 Lap
19 Roosiorg Hardi 75 EST 2 JWR Honda Racing Honda 1 Lap
20 Van Berkel Lars NDL 1 1 Lap
MXGP 2023
Race Round 1   Argentina

Race 2

Pos. Rider Num Nation Points Team Constructor Time/Gap
1 Fernandez Ruben 70 SPA 25 Team HRC - MXGP Honda 34:43.013
2 Herlings Jeffrey NDL 22 0:07.320
3 Seewer Jeremy SWI 20 0:09.699
4 Jonass Pauls 41 LAT 18 Standing Construct Honda MXGP Honda 0:22.775
5 Febvre Romain FRA 16 0:28.978
6 Prado Garcia Jorge SPA 15 0:30.167
7 Bogers Brian 189 NDL 14 Standing Construct Honda MXGP Honda 0:31.994
8 Guadagnini Mattia ITA 13 0:33.420
9 Renaux Maxime FRA 12 0:43.957
10 Vlaanderen Calvin NDL 11 0:45.954
11 Paturel Benoit 6 FRA 10 Wildcard Rider Yamaha 0:52.519
12 Guillod Valentin 92 SWI 9 Team Ship To Cycle Honda SR Motoblouz Honda 0:56.395
13 Forato Alberto 303 ITA 8 SM Action Racing Team Yuasa Battery KTM 1:00.805
14 Coldenhoff Glenn NDL 7 1:10.273
15 Watson Ben 919 GBR 6 MRT Racing Team Beta Beta 1:41.169
16 Östlund Alvin 161 SWE 5 JWR Honda Racing Honda 1:44.228
17 Lupino Alessandro 77 ITA 4 MRT Racing Team Beta Beta 1 Lap
18 Roosiorg Hardi 75 EST 3 JWR Honda Racing Honda 1 Lap
19 Poli Joaquin ARG 2 1 Lap
20 Poli Augustin ARG 1 1 Lap
MXGP 2023

Rider standings

Pos. Rider Num Nation Points Team Constructor
1 Prado Garcia Jorge SPA 50
2 Fernandez Ruben 70 SPA 48 Team HRC - MXGP Honda
3 Febvre Romain FRA 44
4 Herlings Jeffrey NDL 41
5 Renaux Maxime FRA 40
6 Jonass Pauls 41 LAT 36 Standing Construct Honda MXGP Honda
7 Guadagnini Mattia ITA 33
8 Vlaanderen Calvin NDL 26
9 Coldenhoff Glenn NDL 25
10 Seewer Jeremy SWI 24
11 Forato Alberto 303 ITA 20 SM Action Racing Team Yuasa Battery KTM
12 Bogers Brian 189 NDL 19 Standing Construct Honda MXGP Honda
13 Guillod Valentin 92 SWI 18 Team Ship To Cycle Honda SR Motoblouz Honda
14 Paturel Benoit 6 FRA 18 Wildcard Rider Yamaha
15 Watson Ben 919 GBR 15 MRT Racing Team Beta Beta
16 van Doninck Brent 32 BEL 13 JM Honda Racing Honda
17 Östlund Alvin 161 SWE 11 JWR Honda Racing Honda
18 Roosiorg Hardi 75 EST 5 JWR Honda Racing Honda
19 Poli Joaquin ARG 5
20 Lupino Alessandro 77 ITA 4 MRT Racing Team Beta Beta
21 Poli Augustin ARG 1
22 Van Berkel Lars NDL 1
23 Evans Mitch 43 AUS 0 Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP Kawasaki
Location Information

Neuquen, Argentina - View in Google Maps