Darwin Delivered: MXGP Wraps Up a Huge Weekend in the Top End

Back in June, we told you Darwin was shaping up as one hell of an MXGP weekend. Now the dust has settled — and Hidden Valley delivered.

When we previewed the MXGP of Australia earlier this year, it had the ingredients for a proper Top End weekend: elite motocross, beers, crocs, fishing, warm weather and plenty happening away from the track.

Turns out we weren’t overselling it.

From 18–20 September, thousands of fans packed into Darwin’s Hidden Valley Motorsport Complex for the final round of the 2026 FIM Motocross World Championship.

Jeffrey Herlings had already locked away the MXGP world title before arriving in Darwin, but there were still two championships to be decided — and plenty left to race for.

Herlings Finishes His Championship Season in Style

Six-time World Champion Jeffrey Herlings wasn’t taking his foot off the gas just because the title was already his.

The Dutchman won both MXGP races in Darwin, closing out his sixth world championship season. France’s Romain Febvre finished the series second overall, with Slovenia’s Tim Gajser third.

But there were still two world titles on the line at Hidden Valley.

Spain’s Guillem Farres secured the MX2 World Championship in Darwin, with South African teammate Camden McLellan finishing second overall and Belgium’s Sacha Coenen third.

Then there was Daniela Guillen.

The Spanish rider dominated the WMX class, winning both races in Darwin to secure her first world title, ahead of Dutch rider Lotte van Drunen and New Zealand’s Courtney Duncan.

Not a bad way to finish a season.

Hidden Valley Went Full Top End

The point of bringing MXGP to Darwin was never just about what happened on the track.

Hidden Valley leaned right into that: wildlife encounters, helicopter flights, an interactive motocross zone and a kids’ zone, plus Golden Guitar winner Tom Curtain bringing the Katherine Outback Experience to the circuit.

Fans also got closer to the riders than usual, with a free signing session on Friday night and the inaugural MXGP After Race Show on Saturday putting MXGP, MX2 and WMX riders in front of the crowd straight after racing.

It’s also what makes Darwin a genuinely good place for a weekend like this — watch the world’s best motocross riders by day, then head into town for a feed, a beer and a warm night by the water. Stick around a few extra days and the rest of the Top End is right there. It’s the same loud, unfiltered spectacle that’s turning the city into one of Australia’s better motorsport weekends.

Even the World Champ Rated It

Herlings worked out pretty quickly that Darwin isn’t your average stop on the world circuit.

The six-time world champion singled out the crocodiles, the wildlife, the sunshine and the locals when asked what he made of the place.

The Top End wasn’t only getting attention from the crowd at Hidden Valley, either. Organisers say the event was broadcast to more than 100 countries, with 9Gem carrying the final races live in Australia and Stan Sport running four hours of dedicated coverage. More than 20 international media were also on the ground for the championship finale.

MXGP Is Coming Back to Darwin

If you missed it, there’s another shot.

MXGP Australia returns to Darwin from 17–19 September 2027, and it’s not a one-off — organisers have confirmed the Northern Territory will host the event through to at least 2029.

So if our story back in June had you thinking about making the trip and you never quite pulled the trigger, you’ve got another shot at it in 2027.

Disclosure: Ali Cole has worked on publicity for MXGP Australia in Darwin through a third party.