MX2

MONACO (Principality of Monaco) 20 June 2025 – Infront Moto Racing is excited to present the latest edition of the MXGP Magazine! Issue #139 brings another dynamic collection of racing insights, exclusive features, and behind-the-scenes stories from the heart of the 2025 FIM Motocross World Championship.

This month’s Rider of the Month is none other than Romain Febvre, who continues to impress with consistency, determination, and podium-worthy performances. The Frenchman’s grit and experience have made him a central figure in this year’s MXGP title fight and his story is as compelling as his results.

In our Racing Catch-Up, we relive the adrenaline-charged triple header that took the championship through Ernée, Teutschenthal, and Kegums. From home heroics to milestone victories, the European stretch delivered raw emotions and key shifts in both MXGP and MX2.

Our Special Feature turns the spotlight on the rookies of the season, the rising stars making waves in their debut Grand Prix campaigns. Who’s adapting fastest to the world stage, and who could become the next household name?

In our Vintage Bike feature, we take a nostalgic ride back to 2010 with Clement Desalle’s Suzuki RMZ450, a machine that helped shape one of the most respected careers in MXGP history. This month’s Hall of Fame proudly celebrates Rob Herring, a key figure in Great Britain’s legendary win at the 1994 Motocross of Nations.

Also in this issue, Jack Martino who is behind the hospitality in the MXGP Paddock gives us in the Blog, his personal take on the changing dynamics of the paddock and the challenges behind the scenes of the Championship.

All this and more are waiting for you in MXGP Magazine Issue #139, available for FREE on the Apple Store and Google Play.  Read it HERE.

Users who have already downloaded previous issues on iOS can find the new edition by opening the News Stand and tapping the latest cover. Android users can access the magazine for free via the Issuu app.

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Issue #138

MATTERLEY BASIN (Great Britain) 18 June 2025 – The 2025 FIM Motocross World Championships fire back into action this weekend for round twelve, the MXGP of Great Britain, at the sprawling Matterley Basin venue near the southern city of Winchester, roughly 125 km south-west of the capital, London!

One of the favourite circuits for both riders and fans alike, Matterley is hosting its 14th MXGP event this weekend, and its first round in the summer months since 2021, and while British fans enjoyed the FIM Monster Energy Motocross of Nations at the venue last October, one of three such events here, the individual challenges in both MXGP and MX2 are just as enthralling and unpredictable at a high-paced circuit which has seen many close battles over the years!

The winner in that most recent summer event was a certain Antonio Cairoli, and the nine-time World Champion will line up again this weekend, in his second race of the year for the Aruba.it Ducati Factory MX Team. At the circuit where he clinched his seventh title in 2013, the Sicilian has won at Matterley more than anyone else, with six GP wins in total, one ahead of the tally of his former Red Bull KTM Factory Racing teammate Jeffrey Herlings. The Dutchman won here for the last time in 2020 as he looks for his third GP victory in a row.

Still leading the Championship table is French fighter Romain Febvre, who holds a 26-point advantage for Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP and needs to stop the leakage of points to his teenage chaser Lucas Coenen, who has finished second overall at each of the last four GPs for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing.  Former MX2 Matterley winner Glenn Coldenhoff holds third in the series for Fantic Factory Racing MXGP and is a big fan of the Hampshire circuit.  Home hero Ben Watson, off the back of his best result for MRT Racing Team Beta, will once more try to break into the top ten or better for his local fans!

The pendulum of momentum in the MX2 class has swung in several directions over the last four GPs, and although the Latvian round was won by Sacha Coenen, it’s his Red Bull KTM Factory Racing teammate Simon Längenfelder who has taken his strongest position yet at the head of the series, with a 27-point advantage over 2023 World Champion Andrea Adamo. Reigning World Champion Kay de Wolf won race two in Latvia to bring himself just ten points adrift of Adamo in third for Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing, and has good memories of winning the MX2 class here at the Nations last year.

The EMX250 European Championship holds its ninth round at Matterley Basin, and Latvian star Janis Reisulis leads the series for VHR VRT Yamaha Official EMX250 by 37 points, and returns to the circuit where he clinched his EMX125 title in 2023. JM Honda Racing’s Noel Zanocz is second ahead of Francisco Garcia on the Venum BUD Racing Kawasaki.  Dirt Store Triumph Racing’s Billy Askew will be hoping for a repeat of his top three race finish at Trentino in front of his home fans and leads the charge of a dozen Brits hoping to get amongst the top scorers this weekend!

The EMX125 Presented by FMF Racing series will be on round ten at Matterley, and Racestore KTM Factory Juniors rider Nicolò Alvisi leads the standings by 28 points from MJC Yamaha Official EMX125 pilot Mano Faure, who has won the last two rounds. Filippo Mantovani holds third for the KTM Beddini Racing Team, while top Brit Drew Stock is coming off his first win in the British Championship for Lifeline Madison Yamaha to lead a pack of seven home riders aiming for 125cc glory!

The United Kingdom, where the sport of Motocross was invented, has seen 118 Grand Prix events on 29 different circuits, and with the weather forecast looking fantastic for this weekend, the 2025 edition could be one of the best of them all! Don’t be missing it!

MXGP World Championship leader Romain Febvre has seen his points lead drop to just 26 in recent weekends, as his main contender Lucas Coenen has finished second overall in each of the last four GPs, while the Frenchman has finished third overall in the last two.  The Belgian has also won three of the last five Qualifying Races to help his advancement in the points chase.

Neither rider has tasted victory at Matterley Basin, with Febvre taking just three podium finishes, a third place in 2023 his most recent, at a track which saw the end of his title defence in 2016, and his day at last year’s Motocross of Nations was also one to be forgotten. Coenen only took 11th overall in his only GP appearance here in 2023, but looked fast at the Nations before a crash broke his collarbone in his last race on a 250. Third-placed rider Coldenhoff took MX2 victory here back in 2013 but hasn’t climbed the British podium since.  Maxime Renaux, fourth in points for Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP, won the MX2 class in his title year of 2021, as well as an EMX125 overall win back in 2015, and second in the Open class at last year’s MXoN. 

Fifth in the Championship is Ruben Fernandez, who has just passed his injured Honda HRC teammate Tim Gajser in the standings, and he was third in that Open class last year after a fine second in race two. He also climbed the podium here in MX2 in 2021.

Besides Cairoli and Herlings, the only other rider lining up in MXGP this weekend who has victories at Matterley Basin is Jago Geerts, who has been rising in stature for Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP, and took his final MX2 GP victory here in 2023 to add to the trophy from 2020. Aruba.it Ducati Factory MX Team rider Jeremy Seewer, tenth in the series behind Herlings, has climbed the podium at each of the last two MXGPs at Matterley, and even won here in EMX250 back in 2013, so he could be a dark horse for a top finish while all the attention is on his erstwhile teammate Cairoli. His other teammate, Mattia Guadagnini, took second overall in MX2 here in 2021, and it’s just the sort of hardpack that the popular Italian loves.

Motul Team Honda Motoblouz SR rider Alberto Forato won at Matterley in EMX250 in 2019, and he is in need of a good result, while his teammate Kevin Horgmo returns from injury after a win in a French Championship race last weekend. 

British rider Adam Sterry is the next home rider in the standings after Watson, and the Chambers Racing KTM rider also won in EMX250 here back in 2015, so he’ll be looking to get amongst the points again, as will Lexa MX riders Josh Gilbert and John Adamson. Wild card riders Jamie Carpenter of the Crendon Tru7 Honda team, and privateer Honda man Max Broadbelt will also enjoy their first MXGP experience on home soil!

It’s tough to predict a winner from the leading contenders, and the Matterley circuit allows the 450cc machines to truly show their power, so expect this one to be anarchy in the UK!

MXGP - World Championship Top 10 Classification: 1. Romain Febvre (FRA, KAW), 530 Points; 2. Lucas Coenen (BEL, KTM), 504 Points; 3. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, FAN), 362 Pts; 4. Maxime Renaux (FRA, YAM), 347 Points; 5. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, HON), 338 Pts; 6. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 305 Points; 7. Andrea Bonacorsi (ITA, FAN), 300 Pts; 8. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, YAM), 284 Pts; 9. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 279 Pts; 10. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, DUC), 253 Pts;.

Main Photo: MXGP Start Matterley Basin, 2023

Top Photo: Tony Cairoli

Bottom Photos: 1. Ben Watson; 2. Jeffrey Herlings

The MX2 World Championship saw its fifth overall winner in 11 rounds, last time out in Latvia, as Sacha Coenen finally did his speed some justice with a victory for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, although it came at the expense of his teammate Simon Längenfelder, who crashed on the final lap to lose the GP win.  However, with such a poor GP for another Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider, Andrea Adamo, the German actually retook the Championship lead and left with an advantage of 27 points, the largest lead for anyone all season.  His team will be hoping that he can hold this positive result in his mind instead of that last mistake at Kegums. The re-attachment of the red plate should help!

Längenfelder should be confident heading to Matterley Basin, however, as he is the only rider lining up in MX2 this weekend with a GP win to his name at this track. He took a double race victory here at the start of the 2022 season, as well as a race win in 2023 on his way to second overall. 

Third overall in that 2023 GP was Adamo, while Kay de Wolf just missed the podium despite finishing second in race two. The Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing team leader sits ten points behind Adamo, and is looking to rebuild his title defence from Matterley onwards.  His teammate Liam Everts took an EMX125 maximum here in 2020, and is also facing a battle to get back into title contention. He also has young Coenen behind him now in the series, as Sacha’s Latvian win pulled him away from Thibault Benistant in the series. The Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2 rider should be strong on the hardpack surface this weekend, but has yet to shine in Hampshire so far in his career.

Camden McLellan will ride out from a packed Monster Energy Triumph Racing rig on the British manufacturer’s first home GP, but the seventh-placed rider in the Championship will be hoping for a repeat of his Trentino race-winning performance. 

Van Venrooy KTM Racing’s lone wolf Cas Valk is ninth in the Championship behind the Honda HRC rider Valerio Late, and the Dutchman, like Herlings a 2024 British Champion, took the overall win here in EMX125 in 2022 and has just 12 points to catch up to the Italian, who had a disastrous zero weekend in Latvia. The Gabriel SS24 KTM Factory Juniors rider Oriol Oliver, who won at last weekend’s British Championship round, will look to get the British fans behind him at the home race for his team, and should advance into the top ten of the series ahead of the injured Ferruccio Zanchi.

The MX2 World Championship has been impossible to call all season long, and with many riders loving the circuit, these races should continue to entertain throughout the Grand Prix weekend in England!

MX2 - World Championship Top 10 Classification: 1. Simon Laengenfelder (GER, KTM), 515 Points; 2. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), 488 Pts;  3. Kay de Wolf (NED, HUS), 478 Points; 4. Liam Everts (BEL, HUS), 419 Pts; 5. Sacha Coenen (BEL, KTM), 389 Pts; 6. Thibault Benistant (FRA, YAM), 378 Pts; 7. Camden McLellan (RSA, TRI), 324 Pts; 8. Valerio Lata (ITA, HON), 265 Pts; 9. Cas Valk (NED, KTM), 253 Pts; 10. Ferruccio Zanchi (ITA, HON), 220 Pts;.

Top Photo: MX2 Start Matterley Basin 2023

Bottom Photos: 1. Sacha Coenen; 2. Andrea Adamo

All the photos from the MXGP of Great Britain will be available HERE.

You can find the complete results HERE.

Get your TICKETS HERE 

SATURDAY: 08:00 EMX125 Group 1 Free Practice, 08:30 EMX125 Group 2 Free Practice, 09:00 MXE Time Practice, 09:20 EMX250 Free Practice, 09:50 EMX125 Group 1 Qualifying Practice, 10:30 MX2 Free Practice, 11:00 MXGP Free Practice, 11:50 EMX125 Group 2 Qualifying Practice, 12:30 EMX250 Qualifying Practice, 13:15 MXE Race 1, 13:40 MX2 Time Practice, 14:15 MXGP Time Practice, 15:00 EMX125 Race 1, 15:45 EMX250 Race 1, 16:35 MX2 Qualifying Race, 17:25 MXGP Qualifying Race.

SUNDAY: 09:40 EMX125 Race 2, 10:25 MX2 Warm-up, 10:45 MXGP Warm-up, 11:30 EMX250 Race 2, 12:20 MXE Race 2, 13:15 MX2 Race 1, 14:15 MXGP Race 1, 16:10 MX2 Race 2, 17:10 MXGP Race 2.

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The Grand Prix of Great Britain has been on the GP calendar since 1957, the first official year of the FIM Motocross World Championships. British tracks and riders have been a major part of our history, and it was at the Hawkstone Park circuit where that first GP was held. The event was won by British legend and two-time World Motocross Champion Jeff Smith riding a BSA.

Since that very special day more than 60 years ago the British GP has visited many amazing circuits and seen some very special GP winners. Hawkstone Park was the mainstay for the 500cc Grand Prix after that 1957 debut, and for eight years the best big bike riders competed around the tough sand track. Riders like Bill Nilsson and Rolf Tibblin scored victories at Hawkstone, but it was Smith who finished that early Hawkstone Park era with wins again in 1963 and 65.

Hawkstone Park would drift in and out of the FIM Motocross World Championship series in the 500cc class, as circuits like Farleigh Castle and Donington Park were visited. Many legends have won at these circuits, but none more popular than the British legend and three-time 500cc World Champion, Dave Thorpe.

Thorpe would win GPs at home in 1984, 1988 and 1989, although one of his greatest performances was in 1985 when he didn’t even win the GP. Crashing in the first corner with Mervyn Anstie (father of former MXGP rider Max Anstie) Thorpe got up in last place and rode all the way to first. Completely worn out from the charge he was eventually repassed by Andre Malherbe, as the Belgian won the GP.

The 250cc class was also loaded with memorable moments, from the first victory at the Ipswich circuit by another British legend Dave Bickers in 1962, to Stefan Everts dominating at the Foxhill circuit in 1995, 96 and 97.

The 250 class ran at several different circuits between 1962 and the late 1990’s, with Donington, Hawkstone Park and Foxhill being the three circuits that brought big crowds and an exciting atmosphere.

The 125cc class didn’t see a British Grand Prix until 1975, and it was Belgian legend Gaston Rahier who won at the Pembrokeshire circuit. Several different riders won in the class between 1975 and 1999, but one of the biggest wins was that of local rider Paul Malin who took victory at the Foxhill facility in 1995. A massive crowd arrived at the circuit and the win by Malin was the only time a British rider won a GP in that era.

In the new millennium the British GP spent a few years trying to find a home. Foxhills had aged out and was no longer a GP facility while Hawkstone Park had also disappeared from the GP calendar. Sure, some cool events at places like Isle of Wight, Matchams Park, Donington Park, or Mallory Park were in, but it wasn’t until Steve Dixon built a circuit at the Matterley Basin area in 2006 that the British GP came into its own again.

It was a magnificent circuit that attracted attention worldwide and remains a favourite for the riders, media and spectators. Antonio Cairoli, Jeffrey Herlings and Tim Gajser have all had major success at the circuit, with Cairoli winning five times, those victories coming in 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2019 and 2021. Herlings has four wins at Matterley, two in the MX2 class and two in MXGP, those four victories coming in 2014, 2016, 2018 and 2020. Tim Gajser has three, in 2016, 2022 and 2023.

Rather incredible, apart from that very first Grand Prix win at Matterley Basin by Stefan Everts and a win by Clement Desalle in 2013, the only other winners in the 13 year history of the MXGP class at Matterley are Cairoli, Herlings and Gajser.

Matterley Basin MXGP Winners

2006 Stefan Everts

2011 Antonio Cairoli

2012 Antonio Cairoli

2013 Clement Desalle

2014 Antonio Cairoli

2015 Antonio Cairoli

2016 Tim Gajser

2018 Jeffrey Herlings

2019 Antonio Cairoli

2020 Jeffrey Herlings

2021 Antonio Cairoli

2022 Tim Gajser

2023 Tim Gajser

Matterley Basin MX2 Winners

2006 David Philippaerts

2011 Ken Roczen

2012 Tommy Searle

2013 Glenn Coldenhoff

2014 Jeffrey Herlings

2015 Valentin Guillod

2016 Jeffrey Herlings

2018 Pauls Jonass

2019 Thomas Olsen

2020 Jago Geerts

2021 Maxime Renaux

2022 Simon Langenfelder

2023 Jago Geerts

MONACO (Principality of Monaco) 13 June 2025 – The twelfth round of the 2025 FIM Motocross World Championship is coming to the iconic Matterley Basin for the MXGP of Great Britain on 21-22 June! 

Nine-time World Champion Tony Cairoli is set to make his highly anticipated return to the MXGP grid at the MXGP of Great Britain in Matterley Basin, lining up with the Aruba.it Racing Ducati Factory MX Team. The iconic Italian legend will once again thrill fans as he takes on the spectacular British circuit. With its flowing layout and iconic views, Matterley Basin is the perfect stage for Cairoli’s comeback and for the lucky British fans!

Tony is back, and he’s ready to rip it in style!

Get your Ticket for the MXGP of Great Britain RIGHT HERE 

Checkout the Timetable and Entry Lists for the MXGP of Europe below:

TIMETABLE

MXGP ENTRY LIST

MX2 ENTRY LIST

EMX250 ENTRY LIST

EMX125 PRESENTED BY FMF RACING ENTRY LIST

MXE ENTRY LIST

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KEGUMS (Latvia) 8 June 2025 – The tough, sandy, Zelta Zirgs Motocenter near the town of Kegums served up another classic day of MXGP racing for the eleventh round of the 2025 FIM Motocross World Championships, the MXGP of Latvia!

Morning rain gave way to sunny skies for the afternoon’s Grand Prix action, with a little shower between the blocks of racing, but the moisture made its impact as the soft terrain got particularly heavy during the thirty-plus minute races, testing stamina and skill to the maximum!

In MXGP, the undisputed King of Kegums, Jeffrey Herlings, took his ninth overall victory at this venue, making it three years in a row that he has left here with the winner’s silverware!  It completed a perfect weekend for the Dutchman, although he was chased all the way by his fellow Red Bull KTM Factory Racing contender Lucas Coenen.  The Belgian made progress in his pursuit of Romain Febvre, although the Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP Championship leader salvaged the day with yet another podium in third overall.

The MX2 class was once more wildly unpredictable, but at last in 2025 the speed of Sacha Coenen paid off to take his first Grand Prix victory of the season for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, although a last lap crash for his teammate Simon Längenfelder cost the German the overall win. Simon still retook the red plate in Latvia with second overall ahead of Kay de Wolf, who won the second race for Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing.

As always, the Latvian sand saw its fair share of thrills and spills, and the tough circuit brought some truly hardcore Motocross action to keep the purists happy!  

Saturday’s Qualifying Race winner Herlings continued his dominance straight from the morning warm-up, seven-tenths of a second faster than Febvre, while Glenn Coldenhoff was third quickest for Fantic Factory Racing MXGP.

The battle was on immediately for the lead between the factory KTM big guns, and it was Coenen who scored his eighth Fox Holeshot Award of the season by squeezing Herlings into the first turn. This briefly allowed Febvre into second, but “The Bullet” blasted through some deep sand to somehow go back around the Frenchman in the third corner, before Coenen made a small mistake outside of the next turn, losing traction and enabling the Dutch master to double-jump past the Belgian youngster. It was a vital move, as was an almost simultaneous pass from Brian Bogers, firing his Fantic Factory Racing MXGP machine to the inside of Febvre to grab third position before the start of the first full lap!

Herlings tried to break away at the front, and the chase was on! Febvre, however, was simply unable to make a move on Bogers, and the Dutchman’s countryman and teammate Glenn Coldenhoff, after starting fifth, got close to the battle as the series leader’s efforts were constantly thwarted!

Behind the leading five, Ruben Fernandez was holding sixth for Honda HRC, while MRT Racing Team Beta’s Ben Watson made his best start of the year to run solid in seventh! The third Fantic Factory Racing MXGP rider Andrea Bonacorsi started eighth ahead of KTM Kosak Racing’s Roan van de Moosdijk and Calvin Vlaanderen on the Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP machine.

Try as he might, Febvre could not get past Bogers, who was riding as a true sand specialist should, and ultimately the Frenchman dropped his machine in the second corner after the finish line, dropping him to seventh behind Watson on lap eleven!  Two laps later, the two top Fantic riders encountered the stricken TEM JP253 KTM Racing rider Jan Pancar in the track after the finish line jump, and as Bogers went to the outside, the chasing Coldenhoff went to the inside, taking third from his teammate in the process!

Further round the lap, Febvre got back past Watson, and Bonacorsi also nipped past the Beta rider to claim seventh at the flag. Fernandez then pulled a stunning pass by jumping long in front of the fans to get the better of Bogers.  This left the Dutchman in front of Febvre again, and to his eternal frustration, the Kawasaki man still could not pass him, and he had to settle for sixth. 

Behind Bonacorsi and Watson, Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP rider Jago Geerts made a charge in the closing laps to pass Vlaanderen, then Van de Moosdijk to claim ninth at the finish.

Coenen, who had set the fastest lap of the race on lap two in pursuit of Herlings, got to within a second of “The Bullet”, and nearly took the lead when the Dutchman missed an inside rut on a deep left-hander! Ultimately Herlings held on for a 1.3 second margin of victory over Coenen, with Coldenhoff third but 56 seconds behind them! Fernandez and Bogers rounded out the top five.  Herlings’ 16th race victory at Kegums lifted him up to ninth in the Championship ahead of Jeremy Seewer, who finished 16th for the Aruba.it Ducati Factory MX Team.

Despite a small rain shower at the end of the first race, the sun had come out to dry the track and make it considerably faster in the second race. Once again, Coenen got the jump into turn one over Herlings, but this time “The Bullet” worked his magic immediately, carving across the front of his younger stablemate to lead into the second corner and immediately make the break away from the front.

Coenen managed to hold Febvre at bay, who in turn had to fight off the attentions of Bonacorsi, with Fernandez and Geerts completing the top six at the end of the first full lap.

Maxime Renaux had taken a much better start than race one, when he had to battle for just a 13th place finish for Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP, and he had Coldenhoff and his teammate Vlaanderen behind him, while the crowd made some noise for Mairis Pumpurs, who repeated his Qualifying Race start to run in the top ten again for the Motosports Racing Team!

Fernandez made a blistering pass around the outside of Bonacorsi for fourth on lap two, then Geerts also moved past the Italian through the same section two laps later.  The Belgian, winner of three MX2 GPs around Kegums, was on a charge that took him past Fernandez for fourth on lap seven!  Bonacorsi was able to get back past the Spaniard on lap 11, putting Geerts, Bonacorsi, and Fernandez in positions three to six until the flag, although Renaux looked to have got past the Honda man over a jump, but clipped his rear wheel instead and hit the ground, losing seventh to Coldenhoff.  Vlaanderen came home in ninth, and Brent van Doninck crossed the line in tenth, only to lose five positions for a post-race noise test on his JM Racing Honda. 

Bogers had a worse start this time and finished 13th to place ninth overall ahead of Vlaanderen, while Ben Watson, also with a poor second race start, fought to 11th before being promoted by Van Doninck’s penalty, and collected his best overall finish yet for Beta in eighth. Bonacorsi claimed seventh overall, Geerts sixth, and Fernandez fifth on the return from his early exit at the German GP.

Febvre got close to Coenen for second at around the halfway point, but the Belgian proved equal to the task of keeping his title rival behind him, and the red plate holder had to console himself with just pipping Coldenhoff for the podium by a single point!  Lucas was second overall for the fourth GP in a row, putting him just 26 points behind Febvre in the Championship.

There was no catching the King of Kegums, however, as Jeffrey Herlings completed his perfect 1-1-1 weekend to take GP win #109, his ninth win at the Zelta Zirgs Motocenter, equalling his best record at any single circuit, as he has also won nine GPs at the Dutch venue of Valkenswaard.  How many more can Herlings add to his tally this season? It’s going to make for some thrilling racing to find out!

Jeffrey Herlings: “Let’s repeat it nine more times, eh? If only it were that simple! I’m really thankful for the win. Lucas pushed hard in both races, so credit to him as well, those guys are riding really strong. I'm happy to come out on top and looking forward to the next race. We’ll try to keep the momentum going, but it won’t be easy because everyone’s improving. We just keep doing our best, thank you!”

Lucas Coenen: “It was a good weekend. Two solid races, 2-2 for second overall, and good championship points. In the second race, I had a decent start but Jeffrey got by me and I struggled to find my flow. The track was tricky and I made a few mistakes. Still, there are positives, we’ve got another podium, we know what to work on, and we’ll keep building from here.”

Romain Febvre: “Tough weekend. In the first race I was running fourth and fighting for third, but the track was tough. I got too close, clipped a rear wheel and went down. That cost me a lot. Second race was better, I was up front, battling with the lead group. I gave it everything but just couldn’t make the pass. We’ll regroup and come back stronger at the next one in the UK.”

Main Photo: Jeffrey Herlings

Bottom Photos: 1. Lucas Coenen; 2. Romain Febvre

MXGP - Grand Prix Race 1 - Top 10 Classification: 1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 35:30.575; 2. Lucas Coenen (BEL, KTM), +0:01.347; 3. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, Fantic), +0:58.497; 4. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, Honda), +1:01.759; 5. Brian Bogers (NED, Fantic), +1:05.021; 6. Romain Febvre (FRA, Kawasaki), +1:10.698; 7. Andrea Bonacorsi (ITA, Fantic), +1:13.979; 8. Ben Watson (GBR, Beta), +1:15.743; 9. Jago Geerts (BEL, Yamaha), +1:18.049; 10. Roan Van De Moosdijk (NED, KTM), +1:23.439

MXGP - Grand Prix Race 2 - Top 10 Classification: 1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 34:55.202; 2. Lucas Coenen (BEL, KTM), +0:02.542; 3. Romain Febvre (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:13.464; 4. Jago Geerts (BEL, Yamaha), +0:49.887; 5. Andrea Bonacorsi (ITA, Fantic), +0:58.684; 6. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, Honda), +1:01.361; 7. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, Fantic), +1:03.627; 8. Maxime Renaux (FRA, Yamaha), +1:13.864; 9. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, Yamaha), +1:21.903; 10. Ben Watson (GBR, Beta), +1:35.561

MXGP Overall - Top 10 Classification: 1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 50 points; 2. Lucas Coenen (BEL, KTM), 44 p.; 3. Romain Febvre (FRA, KAW), 35 p.; 4. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, FAN), 34 p.; 5. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, HON), 33 p.; 6. Jago Geerts (BEL, YAM), 30 p.; 7. Andrea Bonacorsi (ITA, FAN), 30 p.; 8. Ben Watson (GBR, BET), 24 p.; 9. Brian Bogers (NED, FAN), 24 p.; 10. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, YAM), 22 p

MXGP - World Championship - Top 10 Classification: 1. Romain Febvre (FRA, KAW), 530 points; 2. Lucas Coenen (BEL, KTM), 504 p.; 3. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, FAN), 362 p.; 4. Maxime Renaux (FRA, YAM), 347 p.; 5. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, HON), 338 p.; 6. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 305 p.; 7. Andrea Bonacorsi (ITA, FAN), 300 p.; 8. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, YAM), 284 p.; 9. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 279 p.; 10. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, DUC), 253 p.

MXGP - Manufacturers Classification: 1. Kawasaki, 536 points; 2. KTM, 533 p.; 3. Honda, 504 p.; 4. Yamaha, 454 p.; 5. Fantic, 409 p.; 6. Ducati, 315 p.; 7. Beta, 197 p.; 8. Husqvarna, 51 p.; 9. Triumph, 5 p

As with every practice session here at Kegums, the mercurial Sacha Coenen was clearly the quickest in morning warm-up, lapping 1.8 seconds faster than Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing rider Liam Everts and Honda HRC rookie Valerio Lata. 

Without doubt Coenen is the most prolific starter in the class, and he extended his lead in the Fox Holeshot Award standings with his eighth of the year ahead of Längenfelder, as Everts and De Wolf disputed the top five positions with Kawasaki Racing Team MX2 ace Mathis Valin.

Oriol Oliver got in the mix for Gabriel SS24 KTM Factory Juniors, but after passing both De Wolf and Valin on the first full lap the Spaniard dropped the bike in a deep corner and had to fight up from eighth.  De Wolf then also fell down the order, as the crowd erupted thanks to a committed pass from home hero Karlis Reisulis, who carved his Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2 bike underneath the WZ-Racing KTM of Quentin Prugnières to take over fifth place on lap two!

Coming to Latvia with the red plate, although he lost in on Saturday, was Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s former World Champion Andrea Adamo, and he started poorly in race one, at the edge of the top ten with Reisulis’ teammate Thibault Benistant and the Monster Energy Triumph Racing machine of Camden McLellan rounding out the initial top ten.

Although the new red plate holder got close to the teenage Belgian on occasions, the entire top five of Coenen, Längenfelder, Everts, Valin, and Reisulis held their positions until the very last lap, when a charging McLellan broke Latvian hearts with a pass on Reisulis in front of the packed banks of fans!  A couple of further mistakes cost De Wolf seventh position to Benistant, also on the final lap, while the other Monster Energy Triumph of Guillem Farres worked up to ninth ahead of Prugnières.

After a small rain shower but a lot of extensive work on the circuit before race two, the Fox Holeshot Award was narrowly won by Längenfelder, by maybe a tyre’s depth from Coenen! As the German sprinted away out in front, Benistant, Farres, De Wolf, and Everts fought over the next few positions through the opening set of corners, with the Frenchman taking third from the Spaniard.  Oliver held seventh from Reisulis, McLellan, and the JM Racing Honda of David Braceras. Lata, a non-scorer with crash damage in race one, was out early again on an unfortunate zero-score weekend for the Italian rookie.

De Wolf made good early progress this time, railing around the outside of Farres as the Triumph rider nearly fell on the double jump alongside the start straight.  Three laps later and the Champ was past Benistant for third, and he stalked Coenen until he was able to make an inside move to take second on lap 14, with just two minutes left on the clock!

Benistant would hold on to fourth to claim fifth overall, behind Everts who took fourth overall with a last lap pass on Farres.  That would have been for a podium spot if it weren’t for events elsewhere!

McLellan passed Oliver for seventh at half distance, and they both stayed there until the flag. Adamo and Valin fought back from mid-pack starts to round out the top ten, with the Italian finishing tenth overall behind Reisulis. Farres was eighth overall behind Valin, and McLellan took sixth on his 21st birthday weekend!

There was late drama at the front, however, as Längenfelder got cross-rutted on his final trip through the waves, swerving off-track and crashing into the grass! Although he was able to get going just as Coenen went past, it left Kay de Wolf to pick up his first race win since Lugo nearly a month ago, taking the podium from his teammate Everts in the process! Längenfelder would have to console himself with second overall and a bolstered Championship lead of 27 points over Adamo, with De Wolf ten further back.

For the second year running, however, victory in Latvia belonged to Sacha Coenen, which was just reward for his astonishing pace throughout the weekend.  You really could tell when he was going past just from the exhaust note alone!  His third career GP win lifted him back above Benistant into fifth in the points standings, 30 behind Everts and 89 behind De Wolf.

The series has a weekend off from here before reconvening in the United Kingdom for the MXGP of Great Britain at the fabled Matterley Basin venue in England. A completely different challenge to Kegums for the riders brings more excitement and unpredictability! See you out there!

Sacha Coenen: “It feels really good to be back on the top step of the podium. It was a solid weekend. Just in qualifying I had a little collision with my teammate, but that’s racing. We got through the races with good starts and strong riding, and we’re happy to leave here with the overall win. Looking forward to keeping this momentum going for the rest of the season.”

Simon Längenfelder: “It was good... until it wasn’t. I’ll definitely try to never make that mistake again. I had good starts, good speed, everything was there just one mistake too many in that final race. Still, second overall and I leave with the red plate and extend the gap, so that’s a positive. But yeah, it could have been much better.”

Kay de Wolf: “I was still struggling with a lot of pain from last week and the recovery just wasn’t fast enough. I kept crashing and hitting the same shoulder, which made it a really tough weekend. But in the second race, I dug deep and gave it everything. We’re not out of this fight and we’ll keep pushing to the end. Big thanks to the team for standing behind me and doing all they can.”

Main Photo: Sacha Coenen

Bottom Photos: 1. Simon Laengenfelder; 2. Kay de Wolf

MX2 - Grand Prix Race 1 - Top 10 Classification:  1. Sacha Coenen (BEL, KTM), 34:20.890; 2. Simon Längenfelder (GER, KTM), +0:03.203; 3. Liam Everts (BEL, Husqvarna), +0:20.244; 4. Mathis Valin (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:50.899; 5. Camden Mc Lellan (RSA, Triumph), +0:58.856; 6. Karlis Alberts Reisulis (LAT, Yamaha), +1:02.159; 7. Thibault Benistant (FRA, Yamaha), +1:13.213; 8. Kay de Wolf (NED, Husqvarna), +1:23.510; 9. Guillem Farres (ESP, Triumph), +1:26.641; 10. Quentin Marc Prugnieres (FRA, KTM), +1:33.019

MX2 - Grand Prix Race 2 – Top 10 Classification: 1. Kay de Wolf (NED, Husqvarna), 35:34.662; 2. Sacha Coenen (BEL, KTM), +0:03.320; 3. Simon Längenfelder (GER, KTM), +0:07.953; 4. Thibault Benistant (FRA, Yamaha), +0:15.161; 5. Liam Everts (BEL, Husqvarna), +0:18.191; 6. Guillem Farres (ESP, Triumph), +0:19.284; 7. Camden Mc Lellan (RSA, Triumph), +0:20.252; 8. Oriol Oliver (ESP, KTM), +0:24.837; 9. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), +0:51.733; 10. Mathis Valin (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:55.352

MX2 Overall – Top 10 Classification: 1. Sacha Coenen (BEL, KTM), 47 points; 2. Simon Längenfelder (GER, KTM), 42 p.; 3. Kay de Wolf (NED, HUS), 38 p.; 4. Liam Everts (BEL, HUS), 36 p.; 5. Thibault Benistant (FRA, YAM), 32 p.; 6. Camden Mc Lellan (RSA, TRI), 30 p.; 7. Mathis Valin (FRA, KAW), 29 p.; 8. Guillem Farres (ESP, TRI), 27 p.; 9. Karlis Alberts Reisulis (LAT, YAM), 25 p.; 10. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), 22 p.

MX2 - World Championship Classification: 1. Simon Längenfelder (GER, KTM), 515 points; 2. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), 488 p.; 3. Kay de Wolf (NED, HUS), 478 p.; 4. Liam Everts (BEL, HUS), 419 p.; 5. Sacha Coenen (BEL, KTM), 389 p.; 6. Thibault Benistant (FRA, YAM), 378 p.; 7. Camden Mc Lellan (RSA, TRI), 324 p.; 8. Valerio Lata (ITA, HON), 265 p.; 9. Cas Valk (NED, KTM), 253 p.; 10. Ferruccio Zanchi (ITA, HON), 220 p

MX2 - Manufacturers Classification: 1. KTM, 602 points; 2. Husqvarna, 540 p.; 3. Yamaha, 412 p.; 4. Triumph, 365 p.; 5. Honda, 352 p.; 6. Kawasaki, 165 p.; 7. TM, 142 p.; 8. GASGAS, 7 p

All the photos from the MXGP of Latvia will be available HERE.

You can find the complete results HERE.

MXGP OF LATVIA QUICK FACTS:

Circuit length: 1800m

Type of ground: Sand

Temperature: 20°

Weather conditions: Cloudy / Sunny

Crowd Attendance: 22,000

LINKS

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