LUCAS COENEN AND MXGP

The arrival of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing (under the De Carli team) rider Lucas Coenen into the MXGP class is one of the most exciting things we all look forward to for 2025. The young Belgian showed so much speed winning a bunch of rounds of last years MX2 championship and finished second in the World in the MX2 class and many see him being a possible Grand Prix winner on the 450 machines.

After his stunning performance at the Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations, held at the magnificent Matterley Basin circuit last year, where he actually battled with the likes of Jeffrey Herlings, Eli Tomac and many others, showed people, that even on an MX2 machine, he can fight with the best 450 riders in the World. Coenen knows that racing the 450, will be a big challenge when he steps up at the opening MXGP round in Argentina in a months’ time.

“It has been really good,” Coenen said. “Just training, putting hours on the bike and having fun on that 450. It is really fast, that bike is no joke, but for me, it’s just to get to know the bike, because the 450 is not a 250 and some people think it’s easier to ride a 450 with more power, but to handle the bike with that power, it’s more difficult. The 250 is a joke next to that bike. So much power and you can feel its heavier when you ride it. It has been good learning already and we have had some good steps and some good testing with the team, and everybody is happy, and we have a good relationship with everyone. Everything is rolling and we are just trying to get the best out of it. I am just looking forward to Argentina.”

What Coenen is not going to do, is pushing himself too hard and putting too much pressure on his results but just wants to learn and be as good as he can be and learn as much as possible from the likes of Tim Gajser and Jeffrey Herlings. It won’t be easy, but it is an exciting prospect.

“I want to do my best and when I do my best, we will see what it is going to be. I am already sure about myself, and I am not going to be ridiculous, and I am just going to do my thing, take it step by step, race by race and we are going to see where we end up. I am feeling good on the bike and physically I am also good. I am just looking forward to having a good season with the team and riding in a new class. It is going to be fun.”

Whatever happens in Argentina, at the opening round of the season, you know that at some point, this talented Belgian youngster will put pressure on some of the big names and places like Lommel, Arnhem or Latvia, he will show his amazing sand skills. We all sit and wait and hope that we get to see the best of Lucas Coenen in 2025.

Photo Credit: ShotbyBavo