DE WOLF VERSUS COENEN – CHINA

There is no doubt which team has been owning the 2024 MX2 championship and that team is the Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing team. With two rounds remaining in the MX2 championship, set for next weekend in China and then the final round in Spain, their two riders, Kay de Wolf and Lucas Coenen sit first and second in the championship points and are in complete control of who will be crowned World MX2 champion either next weekend, or in the final round in Spain.

With de Wolf leading the championship, with 873 points and Coenen some 44 points back on 829 points, this coming weekend in China will be a very important round for both riders. De Wolf can make sure it is nearly impossible for Coenen to catch him and Coenen can try and close that 44 points to even less and keep his slim chances still alive.

Last weekend in Turkiye, de Wolf went 4-2 and while it wasn’t a horrible day, he still lost valuable points and the pressure continues to rise as he tries to be the first Dutch World Champion (outside Jeffrey Herlings), since Pedro Tragter in 1993. The toughest moment for the Dutchman was in the Saturday qualification race when he was taken out by Simon Langenfelder and finished back in ninth, which cost him a handful of points.

"It was a challenging weekend in some respects. I felt great in qualifying, but something happened that I shouldn't have. Today was tough, especially this morning. In the first race, the track was really slippery, making passing difficult. However, I turned things around in the second race. It was a good step forward for the overall picture. Now we head to China, ready to fight for another win."

As for Coenen he went 1-1 in Turkiye and his 50 points for the Sunday went a long way with his confidence growing and a belief that it is possible to be the first Belgian World Champion (in MXGP or MX2), since Steve Ramon in 2007.

"It was a strong comeback after struggling in Switzerland. I made fewer mistakes here in Turkey. The first race was slower to start, as I followed Simon Längenfelder’s lines, learning where to gain speed and make passes. In the second race, I was behind Kay, and even though the track was tough to pass on, I went for it and took P1! I'm thrilled with the result, and with two rounds left, I’m excited to keep pushing for more fun and good results."

So now, de Wolf with the red plate, Coenen with the momentum, both these Nestaan Husqvarna factory riders will feel the pressure when we return to Asia for what is going to be a huge celebration of the sport. China was kind to us in 2019, the last time we visited and there is no doubt that whatever happens, we can expect a sensational MXGP of China. Will we also celebrate a brand-new MX2 World Champion next weekend? That is the question..

Photo Credit: Fullspectrum