MX2

ERNÉE (France), 24 May 2025 – The packed hillsides of the Circuit Raymond Demy saw perfect weather for the Qualifying Races today at the MXGP of France, and the atmosphere is building for the ninth round of the FIM Motocross World Championship as the French fans have many top contenders to cheer on towards victory this weekend!

The rider that looks most likely to spoil the French party, both here and in the Championship, did just that today as Lucas Coenen powered to the Fox Holeshot line first and commanded the entire race for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, while Kevin Horgmo put in a stunning career-best ride in MXGP to claim second for Team Honda Motoblouz SR Motul ahead of crowd favourite, Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP’s Romain Febvre.

There was more success today for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, whose riders scored a 1-2-3 in the MX2 class as Andrea Adamo took his third Qualifying Race victory of the year from Simon Laengenfelder and Sacha Coenen, after a crash in Time Practice left Championship leader Kay de Wolf struggling to eighth for Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing.

The party atmosphere will continue through the night as the fans prepare to give full voice for their home heroes tomorrow!

Neither Frenchman got away well in the Qualifying Race, as Horgmo ran wide to allow Coenen to cross the Fox Holeshot line first, while Isak Gifting rounded the second corner in third on his return from injury for JK Racing Yamaha!

The TEM JP253 KTM Racing Team machine of Jan Pancar started in fourth, but nearly crashed through the waves in front of the packed valley, losing positions to Honda HRC rider Ruben Fernandez and a charging Febvre!

Halfway around the first full lap, Fernandez made a brave pass around the outside of Gifting at the top of the circuit, and the Swede made a mistake on a steep uphill shortly afterwards, allowing Febvre to move into fourth and raising the cheers from the fans!

It took until the third lap for the red plate holder to catch Fernandez, who let him through with an off-track excursion at the top of the finish line hill. With Horgmo ahead, Febvre set about hunting down the private Honda man.

Behind them, Aruba.it Ducati Factory MX Team rider Jeremy Seewer started ahead of Renaux, but the Yamaha man found his way through on lap four and charged after the top five.   Dutch pair Glenn Coldenhoff, for Fantic Factory Racing MXGP, and Renaux’s teammate Calvin Vlaanderen, stayed in ninth and tenth for almost the entire race, before their countryman Jeffrey Herlings dived past Vlaanderen to steal the final point on the last lap for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing.

Fellow KTM man Coenen was not to be caught, however, and rode perfectly for a six-second margin of victory as the battles raged behind him! Renaux’s fitness and determination shone through as he passed both Pancar and Gifting in the last four laps to claim fifth by the flag, nearly surprising Fernandez on the final corner, who just held on to fourth at the end!  Gifting lost seventh to Seewer on the last lap as Pancar rode superbly for sixth.

The vocal supporters roared Febvre up to Horgmo’s back wheel with three laps to go, but he was unable to make the pass, finally having to relent as he slid sideways at the bottom of the steepest uphill.  Having finished fifth in Qualifying Races five times previously in MXGP, it was the Norwegian’s best ever race result in the Premiere class!

Coenen’s performance chipped two points away from Febvre’s series lead, which now stands at 47 in total.  He will be out to rebuild that lead in the main races tomorrow!

Lucas Coenen: “The race went well overall. I spent a bit of time figuring out where I wanted to start, but once I committed to the outside, it worked out. I got out front early and just focused on doing my laps. The track was really sketchy, so it took a lot of concentration. It got tricky at times with backmarkers, but I kept it under control. Hopefully tomorrow’s race goes smooth and we can have some fun out there.”

MXGP - Qualifying Race Classification:  1. Lucas Coenen (BEL, KTM), 24:13.119; 2. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, Honda), +0:06.069; 3. Romain Febvre (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:07.582; 4. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, Honda), +0:19.680; 5. Maxime Renaux (FRA, Yamaha), +0:20.061; 6. Jan Pancar (SLO, KTM), +0:25.160; 7. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Ducati), +0:28.319; 8. Isak Gifting (SWE, Yamaha), +0:29.712; 9. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, Fantic), +0:30.931; 10. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), +0:31.562

MXGP - World Championship Classification: 1. Romain Febvre (FRA, KAW), 394 points; 2. Lucas Coenen (BEL, KTM), 347 p.; 3. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 305 p.; 4. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, FAN), 279 p.; 5. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, HON), 268 p.; 6. Maxime Renaux (FRA, YAM), 265 p.; 7. Andrea Bonacorsi (ITA, FAN), 223 p.; 8. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, HON), 204 p.; 9. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, YAM), 201 p.; 10. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, DUC), 183 p.

Main Photo: Lucas Coenen

Top Photo: MXGP Start Ernée

Bottom Photos: 1. Kevin Horgmo; 2. Romain Febvre

After setting fastest time in Free Practice, and clearly enjoying the circuit, Kay de Wolf fell awkwardly in Time Practice and finished the session early, ending up with 20^th gate pick as Simon Laengenfelder took the top spot ahead of Sacha Coenen and Andrea Adamo. Rick Elzinga looked fast in fourth for Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2, with Valerio Lata fifth for Honda HRC.

Laengenfelder entered turn one first, but ran wide slightly to allow Adamo to cross the Fox Holehot line in the lead, with the German rescuing the corner to run second ahead of Coenen.  Elzinga and Lata did their gate picks justice in fourth and fifth, while De Wolf was near the back from his unfavourable starting position.

At the top of the first uphill section, in a long right-handed corner, Liam Everts, seventh for Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing,  clipped the rear wheel of Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2’s Thibault Benistant and tipped over, bringing down the Kawasaki Racing Team MX2 machine of Mathis Valin, plus Honda HRC’s Ferruccio Zanchi! 

Oriol Oliver gratefully accepted seventh position for Gabriel SS24 KTM Factory Juniors, ahead of Benistant’s teammate Karlis Reisulis and Van Venrooy KTM Racing lone star Cas Valk.  There was disaster on the first full lap for Monster Energy Triumph Racing, as Camden McLellan fell trying to pass Valk, while Guillem Farres suffered a big crash over a tabletop at almost exactly the same time!

Elzinga tragically tumbled out of fourth on lap five, and has been found to have broken his clavicle bone, ruling him out for the near future.  We wish him all the best in his recovery.

His crash put Lata fourth, with Benistant chasing after him.  Oliver and Valk rode to solid sixth and seventh placed results, while De Wolf worked his way through the pack, as did Everts! On the final lap, the pair caught Reisulis, and Everts brilliantly powered around the outside of both of them on a long uphill corner! Unbelievably, a mistake just two turns later cost the Belgian both of those positions, just as suddenly as he had gained them! The Champ made one last move on the Latvian to claim eighth, with Everts a frustrated tenth.

With the crowd urging on Benistant, he made a strong move past Lata to take fourth with three laps to go, as the young Italian matched his best Qualifying Race in MX2 so far from his wild card appearance at Maggiora last year.  Coenen stayed a lonely third, while Laengenfelder got right to the rear wheel of Adamo at one point, but the former Champ held firm to take a solid victory, and get to within five points of the German in the Championship.  Laengenfelder has closed the gap to De Wolf down to nine points, and will look to take advantage if the reigning Champion is not at 100% for the two GP races tomorrow.

With the leading contenders all incredibly close in pace, tomorrow’s races are set to be instant classics around the iconic Norman hillsides! We’ve had a taste of the “hors d’oeuvres”, but the full French feast of five star MXGP action is being made ready to serve for all fans of World Championship Motocross at one of its finest venues! Do not miss the experience of the electrifying atmosphere at Ernée as the home favourites try again to raise the crowd to fever pitch!

Andrea Adamo: “It was a good race. I got a strong start and took the lead early, but Simon (Laengenfelder) was right there putting pressure on me. I knew where I was faster and where I was losing time, so I just focused on managing the gap without pushing too much, because it’s really easy to make a mistake on this kind of track. In the end, it was a solid race, and now we get ready for tomorrow.”

MX2 - Qualifying Race Classification: 1. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), 24:13.701; 2. Simon Längenfelder (GER, KTM), +0:02.770; 3. Sacha Coenen (BEL, KTM), +0:08.891; 4. Thibault Benistant (FRA, Yamaha), +0:18.553; 5. Valerio Lata (ITA, Honda), +0:26.877; 6. Oriol Oliver (ESP, KTM), +0:29.008; 7. Cas Valk (NED, KTM), +0:39.169; 8. Kay de Wolf (NED, Husqvarna), +0:46.295; 9. Karlis Alberts Reisulis (LAT, Yamaha), +0:47.402; 10. Liam Everts (BEL, Husqvarna), +0:47.804

MX2 - World Championship Classification: 1. Kay de Wolf (NED, HUS), 383 points; 2. Simon Längenfelder (GER, KTM), 374 p.; 3. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), 369 p.; 4. Liam Everts (BEL, HUS), 314 p.; 5. Thibault Benistant (FRA, YAM), 278 p.; 6. Sacha Coenen (BEL, KTM), 272 p.; 7. Camden Mc Lellan (RSA, TRI), 241 p.; 8. Ferruccio Zanchi (ITA, HON), 203 p.; 9. Cas Valk (NED, KTM), 200 p.; 10. Valerio Lata (ITA, HON), 188 p

Top Photo: Andrea Adamo

Bottom photos: 1. Simon Laengenfelder; 2. Sacha Coenen

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

You can find the complete results HERE.

MXGP OF FRANCE QUICK FACTS:

Circuit length: 1670m

Type of ground: Hard Pack

Temperature: 18°

Weather conditions: Cloudy

TIMETABLE 

 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.

LINKS

Infront Moto Racing

FIM

ERNÉE (France) 24 May 2025 – The 2025 FIM Motocross World Championship returns this weekend with round nine from the iconic Circuit Raymond Demy near the Norman town of Ernée, famous for massive crowds and incredible atmosphere at a dozen GPs and three memorable Motocross of Nations events held on the hillsides since 1990!  It can only be the MXGP of France, kick-starting a three-week run of events that will lead us into the second half of the season!

The local fans are sure to make themselves heard in support of their Championship leader, Romain Febvre, who brings the red plate to the valley with the hope of repeating some of his earlier exploits at the circuit, although Lucas Coenen will surely be a prime contender as the main title challenger, as will another local boy, Maxime Renaux!

The MX2 class has also seen a French winner this season in the shape of Thibault Benistant, who won the most recent MX2 race held here, and is looking for a first GP victory since 2023, which was also on home soil! The Championship battle is intense, however, between Kay de Wolf, Simon Laengenfelder, and Andrea Adamo!

Naturally, French channel Automoto TV will be onsite with to provide Live Commentary of the action, and La Chaine l’Equipe will show highlights of the first races as well as LIVE coverage of the second races in both MX2 and MXGP on Sunday afternoon!

Sky Sports Italia will also be broadcasting on Sky Sport Arena this weekend, hoping for another victory on French soil from Andrea Adamo!

Below you can find the full list of TV channels that will air LIVE and delayed action of the MXGP of France, as well as the 26-minute Behind The Gate magazine show featuring the best moments from the races, exclusive interviews and more.  All of this footage will be available on MXGP-TV.com and via our TV magazine partners following the Grand Prix. 

As always, MXGP fans can follow the races LIVE throughout the weekend. All you need to do is log onto www.MXGP-TV.com on Saturday and Monday, from wherever you are in the world.  Every round this season will also feature live screening of Saturday’s Time Practice sessions, for those who want to see all of the action from the hillsides of Normandy!  Come and join us for the racing!

USA CANADA

CBS Sports Network

Sunday 25 May 2025 – MX2 Race 2 – 10:00 ET – LIVE

Sunday 25 May 2025 – MXGP Race 2 – 11:00 ET – LIVE

BRAZIL

Bandsports

Sunday 25 May 2025 – MX2 Race 1 – 13:00 CET – LIVE

Sunday 25 May 2025 – MXGP Race 1 – 14:00 CET – LIVE

Sunday 25 May 2025 – MX2 Race 2 – 16:00 CET – LIVE

Sunday 25 May 2025 – MXGP Race 2 – 17:00 CET  – LIVE

CENTRAL AMERICA

Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Panama and Mexico

FOX TUBI

Sunday 25 May 2025 – MX2 Race 1 – 13:00 CET – LIVE

Sunday 25 May 2025 – MXGP Race 1 – 14:00 CET – LIVE

Sunday 25 May 2025 – MX2 Race 2 – 16:00 CET – LIVE

Sunday 25 May 2025 – MXGP Race 2 – 17:00 CET  – LIVE

EUROPE

Eurosport 2

Monday 26 May 2025 – MX2 Race 1 – 07:30 CET – Delayed

Monday 26 May 2025 – MXGP Race 1 – 08:15 CET – Delayed

Monday 26 May 2025 – MX2 Race 2 – 09:00 CET – Delayed

Monday 26 May 2025 – MXGP Race 2 – 09:45 CET  – Delayed

MAX

Andorra, Belgium, Bosnia Herzegovia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech republic, Denmark, Faroe Islands, Finland, France, Hungary, Kosovo, Macedonia, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden.

Sunday 25 May 2025 – MX2 Race 1 – 13:00 CET – LIVE

Sunday 25 May 2025 – MXGP Race 1 – 14:00 CET – LIVE

Sunday 25 May 2025 – MX2 Race 2 – 16:00 CET – LIVE

Sunday 25 May 2025 – MXGP Race 2 – 17:00 CET  – LIVE

BELGIUM 

PLAY SPORTS 3

Sunday 25 May 2025 – MX2 Race 1 – 13:00 CET – LIVE

Sunday 25 May 2025 – MXGP Race 1 – 14:00 CET – LIVE

Sunday 25 May 2025 – MX2 Race 2 – 16:00 CET – LIVE

Sunday 25 May 2025 – MXGP Race 2 – 17:00 CET  – LIVE

ESTONIA

Go3 Sport Open

Sunday 25 May 2025 – MX2 Race 1 – 13:00 CET – LIVE

Sunday 25 May 2025 – MXGP Race 1 – 14:00 CET – LIVE

Sunday 25 May 2025 – MX2 Race 2 – 16:00 CET – LIVE

Sunday 25 May 2025 – MXGP Race 2 – 17:00 CET  – LIVE

FINLAND

MTV Max

Sunday 25 May 2025 – MXGP Race 2 – 18:00 Finnish timing – LIVE

FRANCE

LA CHAINE L’EQUIPE

Sunday 25 May 2025 – MX2 & MXGP Race 1 – 15:00 CET

Sunday 25 May 2025 – MX2 Race 2 – 16:00 CET – LIVE

Sunday 25 May 2025 – MXGP Race 2 – 17:00 CET  – LIVE 

Eurosport 2

Monday 26 May 2025 – MX2 Race 1 – 07:30 CET – Delayed

Monday 26 May 2025 – MXGP Race 1 – 08:15 CET – Delayed

Monday 26 May 2025 – MX2 Race 2 – 09:00 CET – Delayed

Monday 26 May 2025 – MXGP Race 2 – 09:45 CET  – Delayed

AUTO MOTO TV

Sunday 25 May 2025 – MX2 Race 1 – 13:00 CET – LIVE

Sunday 25 May 2025 – MXGP Race 1 – 14:00 CET – LIVE

Sunday 25 May 2025 – MX2 Race 2 – 16:00 CET – LIVE

Sunday 25 May 2025 – MXGP Race 2 – 17:00 CET  – LIVE

GREAT BRITAIN

TNT Sports 7

Sunday 25  May 2025 – MX2 Race 1 – 12:00 GMT – LIVE

Sunday 25  May 2025 – MXGP Race 1 – 13:00 GMT – LIVE

Sunday 25  May 2025 – MX2 Race 2 – 15:00 GMT – LIVE

Sunday 25  May 2025 – MXGP Race 2 – 16:00 GMT  – LIVE

ITALY

RAI SPORT

Monday 26 May 2025 – MX2 Race 2 – 10:00 CET – Delayed

Monday 26 May 2025 – MXGP Race 2 – 11:00 CET  – Delayed

RAI Play

Sunday 25 May 2025 – MX2 Race 2 – 16:00 CET – LIVE Stream

Sunday 25 May 2025 – MXGP Race 2 – 17:00 CET  – LIVE Stream

SKY ITALIA

SKY Sport Arena

Sunday 25 May 2025 – MXGP Race 1 – 14:00 CET – LIVE

Sunday 25 May 2025 – MXGP Race 2 – 17:00 CET  – LIVE

EUROPE

Eurosport 2

Monday 26 May 2025 – MX2 Race 1 – 07:30 CET – Delayed

Monday 26 May 2025 – MXGP Race 1 – 08:15 CET – Delayed

Monday 26 May 2025 – MX2 Race 2 – 09:00 CET – Delayed

Monday 26 May 2025 – MXGP Race 2 – 09:45 CET  – Delayed

LATVIA

Go3 Sport Open

Sunday 25 May 2025 – MX2 Race 1 – 13:00 CET – LIVE

Sunday 25 May 2025 – MXGP Race 1 – 14:00 CET – LIVE

Sunday 25 May 2025 – MX2 Race 2 – 16:00 CET – LIVE

Sunday 25 May 2025 – MXGP Race 2 – 17:00 CET  – LIVE

LITHUANIA

Go3 Sport Open

Sunday 25 May 2025 – MX2 Race 1 – 13:00 CET – LIVE

Sunday 25 May 2025 – MXGP Race 1 – 14:00 CET – LIVE

Sunday 25 May 2025 – MX2 Race 2 – 16:00 CET – LIVE

Sunday 25 May 2025 – MXGP Race 2 – 17:00 CET  – LIVE

NETHERLAND

NOS

Sunday 25 May 2025 – MXGP Race 2 – 17:00 CET  – LIVE

SLOVENIA

Sport TV1

Sunday 25 May 2025 – MX2 Race 1 – 13:00 CET – LIVE

Sunday 25 May 2025 – MXGP Race 1 – 14:00 CET – LIVE

Sunday 25 May 2025 – MX2 Race 2 – 16:00 CET – LIVE

Sunday 25 May 2025 – MXGP Race 2 – 17:00 CET  – LIVE

SPAIN

TV Galicia

Sunday 25 May 2025 – MXGP Race 1 – 14:00 CET – LIVE

Sunday 25 May 2025 – MXGP Race 2 – 17:00 CET  – LIVE

ASIA

Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand
 

EUROSPORT ASIA

Monday 26 May 2025 – MX2 Race 1 – 07:30 CET – Delayed

Monday 26 May 2025 – MXGP Race 1 – 08:15 CET – Delayed

Monday 26 May 2025 – MX2 Race 2 – 09:00 CET – Delayed

Monday 26 May 2025 – MXGP Race 2 – 09:45 CET  – Delayed

INDIA and Subcontinent (Bhutan, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Maldives)
 

VIACOM  - Jio Cinema

Sunday 25 May 2025 – MX2 Race 1 – 13:00 CET – LIVE

Sunday 25 May 2025 – MXGP Race 1 – 14:00 CET – LIVE

Sunday 25 May 2025 – MX2 Race 2 – 16:00 CET – LIVE

Sunday 25 May 2025 – MXGP Race 2 – 17:00 CET  – LIVE

INDONESIA

CHAMPIONS TV

Sunday 25 May 2025 – MX2 Race 1 – 13:00 CET – LIVE

Sunday 25 May 2025 – MXGP Race 1 – 14:00 CET – LIVE

Sunday 25 May 2025 – MX2 Race 2 – 16:00 CET – LIVE

Sunday 25 May 2025 – MXGP Race 2 – 17:00 CET  – LIVE

PACIFIC / AUSTRALIA
 

STAN SPORTS

Sunday 25 May 2025 – MX2 Race 1 – 22:00 AEDT – LIVE

Sunday 25 May 2025 – MXGP Race 1 – 23:00 AEDT – LIVE

Monday 25 May 2025 – MX2 Race 2 – 01:00 AEDT – LIVE

Monday 26 May 2025 – MXGP Race 2 – 02:00 AEDT  – LIVE

All races on VOD

26min Behind-the-Gate Magazine Partners:
 

AMERICA

Latin America             Direct TV                                 Thursday after each MXGP 8:30pm

Mexico                        FOX Sports                              Thursday after each MXGP 8:30pm

USA                             RACER                                     tba

EUROPE

Albania                        GP1                                         Thursday after each event at 20:15

Austria                        GP1                                         Thursday after each event at 20:15

Baltics                          TV3 Sport Open                      Thursday after each MXGP

Belgium                       Play sports                              tba

Bosnia                         GP1                                         Thursday after each event at 20:15

Croatia                        GP1                                         Thursday after each event at 20:15

Finland                        MTV MAX                                Wednesday after each event 18:00                  

Hungary                      GP1                                         Thursday after each event at 20:15

Kosovo                        GP1                                        Thursday after each event at 20:15

Montenegro                GP1                                         Thursday after each event at 20:15

Northern Macedonia  GP1                                         Thursday after each event at 20:15

Portugal                      SPORT TV                                Tuesday after the event        

Romania                      Look Sport                               Wednesday after each event

Serbia                          GP1                                         Thursday after each event at 20:15

Slovenia                      Sport TV                                  Thursday after each event at 20:15  

Turkey             TRT                                          tba

INDIA and Subcontinent (Bhutan, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Maldives)
 

VIACOM 18                                                               Wednesday after the event

INDONESIA               Champions TV

AUSTRALIA

Australia                      Stan Sport                               Wednesday after each event

WORLDWIDE

Worldwide                  YouTube – MXGP TV               16 days after the event.

Worldwide                  Fuel TV                                   

MXGP OF FRANCE - LIVE SCHEDULE             

Catch all the racing LIVE on MXGP-TV! 

Saturday’s Time Practice (MXGP/MX2), the Qualifying Races (MXGP/MX2), and Races from all classes will be broadcasted LIVE on MXGP’s streaming service www.MXGP-TV.com, while results throughout the weekend will be available  HERE.

LINKS

Infront Moto Racing

FIM

FIM Europe

MONACO (Principality of Monaco) 23 May 2025 – Infront Moto Racing is proud to unveil the latest issue of the MXGP Magazine! Issue #138 brings another dose of thrilling stories and in-depth features from the world of motocross.

This month’s Rider of the Month is none other than Lucas Coenen, the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing sensation. With back-to-back Grand Prix wins and a stunning 1-1-1 performance in Portugal, the young Belgian is carving out a legacy and turning the MXGP paddock on its head. Dive into his rising dominance and what makes him one of the most exciting riders to watch in 2025.

In the Racing Catch-Up, we relive all the action from Switzerland, Portugal and Spain, where the 2025 FIM Motocross World Championship has taken another thrilling turn. With weather challenges, comeback wins and shifting red plates, the title races in MXGP and MX2 are heating up!

Our Special Feature takes readers off the dirt and into the snow as we recap the 2025 FIM Snowcross World Championship. From icy holeshots to high-speed sled battles, this year’s series delivered some of the coolest moments in motorsports.

In the Vintage Bike section, we rewind to 2001 to spotlight the Honda CR250 of Gordon Crockard—a bike that carried the Irishman to GP glory and remains a fan favourite for its raw power and agility.

Our Hall of Fame tribute this month honours Gautier Paulin, the ever-stylish Frenchman who dazzled fans around the world with his technique, consistency, and charisma, leaving a lasting mark on the sport and Team France’s storied history at the Motocross of Nations.

The Video Podcast puts the spotlight on Daniela Guillen, the homegrown Spanish star making waves in the WMX Championship. Hear her perspective on racing in front of passionate home crowds, handling pressure, and staying grounded as one of the sport’s most promising athletes.

You can find all of this and more in the 138th edition of MXGP Magazine, available for FREE on the Apple Store or 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.

LINKS

Infront Moto Racing

FIM

Issue #138

At just 22 years of age, Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2 team’s Thibault Benistant continued to be something of an enigma in the sport for those who have the talent, can win Grand Prix’s and sometimes come up short.

While he has a handful of GP wins to his name, it has been two years since his last, when he won at his home Grand Prix at Villars sous Ecot in France on the 21st of May. On that day, it was clear, he can beat anyone when his game is on.

Since starting his career in GP back in 2020, he has finished fifth in the World twice and top ten on four occasions. Currently fifth in the MX2 series points and 42pts behind fourth placed man Liam Everts, it would seem he might be headed for another top five in the World, if he can maintain his current form.

In the last round of the MX2 World championship in Lugo, Spain, he showed a lot of that talent and came close to being a podium man. A victory on the Saturday gave him huge confidence and as he has shown in the past, his speed is never in question.

“The weekend (in Lugo) was probably the best weekend of my season so far as I had good results in all three races. It was a shame to miss the overall podium today and it’s partly my fault because I wasn’t always looking at the pit board to know the points situation. If I knew I needed to make a pass, then I’d have taken some risks for sure. But overall, my speed is good and so is my fitness, so I think I’ll have some even better results as the season continues.”

The rider from Avignon in France was spectacular on the Saturday in Spain, winning the MX2 qualification race and was focused on bringing that speed into the two Sunday races. When the start gate fell in Race One, the 22-year-old reacted quickly, claiming the holeshot and leading the way for two laps. After dropping to second, Benistant was pushed back to third around the halfway mark and maintained that position to the finish.

Benistant didn’t get a good start in race two, as he tangled with Kay de Wolf shortly after the gate dropped. Within a couple of laps, however, the Frenchman climbed to fifth, then moved into fourth by lap five. An intense battle for fourth then began, with Benistant on course for third overall until he dropped to fifth in the closing stages. Ultimately, after losing his position, and with the points incredibly close, Benistant placed fifth overall. After eight rounds, he remains fifth in the MX2 World Championship standings.

With Lugo out of the way, and his confidence building, you can be sure that the Yamaha factory rider will want to make the most of the next month, on hard pack tracks like Ernee and Teutschenthal, two tracks that should suit him and hopefully he can get on the box at both rounds. He has already finish top three on the hard pack of Trentino and St Jean d’Angely, so it is very possible to find him on the podium this coming weekend.

Now, as he heads to Ernee, in France and his home Grand Prix, this weekend, the three time Grand Prix winner and with eight race wins to his name, it is clear, he has the talent to win and what a place to do it, in front of that huge hillside spectators area at Ernee, and with his beloved French fans screaming his name.

Photo Credit: Fullspectrum

ERNÉE (France) 21 May 2025 – The 2025 FIM Motocross World Championship moves to the north-western corner of France as the legendary Circuit Raymond Demy venue of Ernée hosts round nine of the series, the MXGP of France, for its first Grand Prix event since 2022.

The venue has hosted 12 MXGP events going back to 1990, when American Donny Schmit took victory on his 125cc Suzuki, topping an all-USA podium ahead of Mike Healey and Tyson Vohland.  The most successful rider here in terms of GP wins is Stefan Everts with five, helped massively by the 2003 event when he became the only rider ever to win three GPs in a single day! Obviously, this is simply not possible with the revisited two-race format for just two classes, but he also won in 2001 here, and then took his last ever victory, a record 101st at the time, at the end of the 2006 season, the very last GP of his amazing career.

Just three riders lining up this weekend have won GPs at Ernée before. Jeremy Seewer took victory here in 2022 with a 1-2 scorecard. Pauls Jonass won in 2017 on his way to the MX2 world title, and Jeffrey Herlings, the one who would eventually break Stefan Everts’ win record, was victorious here in MX2 back in 2013.

Of course, Ernée is more famous for its amazing Motocross of Nations weekends in 2005, 2015, and in 2023, and it will host a fourth one in 2026 as well. Both Romain Febvre (in the last two MXoNs here) and Maxime Renaux have been part of winning Nations teams, and won their classes individually, in front of their partisan crowds at this venue! Look out for some more Nations news coming your way this weekend!

The French crowd will have a red plate holder to cheer for in MXGP, as Febvre leads the series for Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP by a large margin over Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rookie Lucas Coenen, after the pair finished first and second at the last round in Spain.  Renaux is sixth in the Championship after winning the opening round for Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP and is looking to return to form in front of his home fans!

The MX2 World Championship is being led by reigning Champion Kay de Wolf for Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing, but hard pack lovers Simon Laengenfelder and Andrea Adamo are giving chase for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing. Adamo won the previous round in France, the MXGP of Europe at St Jean d’Angely, but French fans will be urging the Qualifying Race winner on from that round, Thibault Benistant, who has won more on a Saturday than anyone else this season and lies fifth in the series for Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2.

The EMX250 European Championship hits the halfway point with round seven of 13, and VHR VRT Yamaha Official EMX250 rider Janis Reisulis holds a solid advantage over JM Racing Honda’s Hungarian star Noel Zanocz. Top French rider in the series is two-stroke Yamaha favourite Adrien Petit, who had his title run hit by injury but should be back in action at Ernée.

EMX125 Presented by FMF Racing returns for its seventh round, led by Hungarian Áron Katona for the Racestore KTM Factory Juniors squad, with a 23-point margin over Fantic Factory Racing EMX125’s Francisco Bellei. French hopes lie with Yamaha Europe EMX125 star Mano Faure, who took a dominant win in the most recent race at Portugal and sits fourth in the standings, just six behind Bellei! Last year’s EMX85 Champion Sleny Goyer is also looking forward to his first world class event at this venue!

The fans are bound to pack the hillsides and raise the atmosphere, especially if their riders get out towards the front. Watch for them to go absolutely crazy at Ernée this weekend!

Romain Febvre has taken over the Championship lead from the injured Tim Gajser, and with no clear date yet for the Honda HRC man’s return, the French veteran is pressing on at the top of the series, taking his first ever GP win in Spain last time out at Lugo.  He was unable to race at the most recent GP at Ernée, and only took sixth overall here back in 2017. He did win the opening race of the 2023 Nations, however, as well as going unbeaten all weekend as the new World Champion in 2015, leading Team France to a popular victory.  He has won two GPs in his home country, in 2015 & ’16.

Lucas Coenen won the second race at Lugo to take advantage of a mistake by Febvre, and he did race at Ernée for Belgium in 2023 without much success.  In EMX250 the year before he finished second in race two behind Cornelius Toendel.  The teenage Belgian is currently 49 points behind the series leader with 12 rounds remaining, and won his first race in MXGP on French soil back in March.

Behind the inactive Gajser, and 60 points behind Coenen, is Glenn Coldenhoff, who would definitely like to remember his race victory and overall podium here in 2022 instead of his big crash in Qualifying for the 2023 Nations that put him out for the weekend. He also raced here alongside his current Fantic Factory Racing MXGP teammate Brian Bogers in 2015, helping the Netherlands to sixth overall.

Spaniard Ruben Fernandez has finished third overall in each of the last two GPs for Honda HRC, passing Renaux for fifth in the standings in the process.  Crashes limited his scoring for Spain here in 2023, but he took fifth overall here in 2022, ahead of Renaux who finished eighth.  Renaux had planned to take the two Iberian GPs off due to injury, but has raced through the pain and will hope to re-ignite his Championship challenge with success in front of his home fans!

Another hard-pack lover, Andrea Bonacorsi, is seventh in the standings for Fantic Factory Racing MXGP, and has great memories of finishing third in the Open class on his 450cc debut at the 2023 MXoN, helping Italy score a surprise podium overall!

Team Honda Motoblouz SR Motul rider Kevin Horgmo is the top non-factory rider in the series in ninth, and he won the overall in EMX125 here back in 2017! He sits just six points behind Calvin Vlaanderen, who is coming back to some form for Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP. Behind them is the leading Aruba.it Ducati Factory MX-Team pilot, Jeremy Seewer, who took that overall victory at the last GP here in 2022 and would dearly love to be at the sharp end again for his new team!

The steep hills and massive jumps allow the big 450s to really uncork their power around the Circuit Raymond Demy, so watch for the MXGP elite to give an awesome spectacle this weekend!

MXGP - World Championship Top 10 Classification: 1. Romain Febvre (FRA, KAW), 386 Points; 2. Lucas Coenen (BEL, KTM), 337 Points; 3. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 305 Points; 4. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, FAN), 277 Pts; 5. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, HON), 261 Pts; 6. Maxime Renaux (FRA, YAM), 259 Points; 7. Andrea Bonacorsi (ITA, FAN), 223 Points; 8. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, YAM), 201 Pts; 9. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, HON), 195 Pts; 10. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, DUC), 179 Pts.

Main Photo: MXGP Start, Ernée 2022

Bottom Photos: 1. Romain Febvre ; 2. Maxime Renaux

Reigning MX2 World Champion Kay de Wolf pulled away to his biggest points lead of the year so far with his performance in Spain that took his 11th career GP victory while his main title rivals struggled with consistency.  His 15-point lead over Simon Laengenfelder was extended due to a crash for his German rival in race one, while Andrea Adamo had a difficult Qualifying Race to take away no points at all from Saturday. 

Adamo did redeem himself with the second race win at Lugo, and the Italian is still only six points behind Laengenfelder, having taken three GP wins so far this season, more than doubling his career tally before 2025! The 2023 Champion won at St Jean d’Angely earlier this year, so he is fast on French hard pack, and also played his part in the Italian podium here in 2023.

Liam Everts, fourth in the Championship for Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing, took a great second overall in the Open class here at the 2023 Nations, and was sixth overall behind Laengenfelder here in 2022. The Belgian’s title chances slipped badly in Portugal but he could still be a threat for victory on any weekend in the hyper-competitive MX2 division.

Just like at St. Jean, all French fans will be looking for the #9 Yamaha to get “La Marselleise” playing around Ernée, as Thibault Benistant races for the last time on home soil in MX2.  He took the second race victory, and third overall, in MX2 here in 2022, as well as the win on Saturday at St Jean, so Thibault is able to lift his game, and needs to if he is to challenge for the title, sitting more than 100 points behind De Wolf now, in fifth position.  His most recent overall win was also on French soil, at Villars Sous Ecot in 2023, so he will be very keen to get back up there again!

Not far behind Thibault in the Championship is Sacha Coenen, who had a nightmare at St Jean to derail his season somewhat, but with the speed that he commands, anything is possible for the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing ace, and he could again be a threat for race wins.

Other French hopefuls in MX2 include the WZ Racing KTM pairing of Quentin Prugnières and Maxime Grau, while last year’s EMX250 Champion Mathis Valin will be hopeful of a good weekend for Kawasaki Racing Team MX2.

With eight different race winners already this year, including Honda HRC’s Ferruccio Zanchi and Camden McLellan for Monster Energy Triumph Racing, the class is truly wide open and sure to be hectic around the Norman hillsides!  Don’t miss any of the action!

MX2 - World Championship Top 10 Classification: 1. Kay de Wolf (NED, HUS), 380 Points; 2. Simon Laengenfelder (GER, KTM), 365 Points; 3. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), 359 Pts; 4. Liam Everts (BEL, HUS), 313 Pts; 5. Thibault Benistant (FRA, YAM), 271 Pts; 6. Sacha Coenen (BEL, KTM), 264 Pts; 7. Camden McLellan (RSA, TRI), 241 Pts; 8. Ferruccio Zanchi (ITA, HON), 203 Pts; 9. Cas Valk (NED, KTM), 196 Pts; 10. Valerio Lata (ITA, HON), 182 Pts.

Top Photo: MX2 Start, Ernée 2022

Bottom Photos: 1. Thibault Benistant ; 2. Quentin Prugnieres

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

You can find the complete results HERE.

TIMETABLE

SATURDAY: 08:00 EMX125 Group1 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.

LINKS

Infront Moto Racing

FIM

FIM Europe