MX2

RIOLA SARDO (Sardegna, Italy) 3 April 2025 – Round four of the FIM Motocross World Championships takes place this weekend in the deep sand of the Crossodromo Comunale “Le Dune” circuit at Riola Sardo, halfway down the west coast of Sardegna, the second-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, just south of Corsica.

The first of two straight GPs on Italian territory, the MXGP of Sardegna is the fifth such event to visit the circuit, and the deep beach sand usually combines with the unseasonably warm weather to present a serious challenge to the world’s elite riders, many of whom use the facility for training and testing during the off-season.

The MXGP class in 2025 is being led by three former World Champions, although not one of them has enjoyed a winning feeling at Riola Sardo, merely a single taste of podium champagne each! Tim Gajser leads the series for Honda HRC, and his best result at the track came only last season, when he finished second overall behind Jorge Prado. Romain Febvre sits in second position for Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP, with his best result here coming in 2021 with a third overall. Fellow Frenchman Maxime Renaux finished second overall here in his 2021 MX2 Championship-winning season, but the Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP man is looking for more as he recovers from a recent wrist injury.

The big news in MXGP is that Red Bull KTM Factory Racing megastar Jeffrey Herlings will line up for the first time in 2025, returning from an off-season knee injury which has taken longer to heal than expected.  He is the only rider to have won two MXGP events here overall, and even if he isn’t physically at 100% yet, he cannot be ruled out on his favourite type of terrain!

The MX2 class saw some incredible racing in France last time out, and it could be just as wide open in Sardegna, however for sure the reigning World Champion Kay de Wolf must be a favourite for Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing after taking overall victory last year and second overall in 2023.  His teammate Liam Everts carries the red plate, however, and is no slouch in the soft stuff.  Just eleven points cover the top four in the Championship, with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing duo Simon Laengenfelder and Andrea Adamo lying second and fourth, each behind one of the Husqvarna riders! 

The Sardinian sands will host the opening round of the FIM Women’s Motocross World Championship for 2025, and the “Queen of Sand”, reigning World Champion Lotte van Drunen, will be out to repeat her double win from last season for De Baets Yamaha MX-Team.  Strong challenges should come from Italian favourite Kiara Fontanesi on her FontaRacing GASGAS, as well as last year’s silver medallist and 2023 Sardegna winner, RFME Spain National Team rider Daniela Guillen!  Van Drunen’s Dutch compatriot Lynn Valk was on the podium last year and could well be a contender again, now on the Van Venrooy KTM Racing team.

The only Italian with a red plate in Sardegna will be Niccolò Mannini, as he holds an eleven-point lead for TM Moto CRD Motosport in the EMX125 Championship Presented by FMF series, through sheer consistency in what has been a hectic couple of rounds so far for the two-stroke flyers! Filippo Mantovani, Francesco Bellei, and Riccardo Pini are three more Italians hoping for success in the wide open EMX125cc pack!

The MXGP of Sardegna is difficult to predict in all classes and the challenging circuit will mean the races are never won until the chequered flag flies!

Five-time World Champion Tim Gajser has looked in total command of this year’s MXGP World Championship since the first European round at Còzar in Spain, having won all four GP races and one of the two Qualifying Races from rounds two and three. With Renaux struggling through a wrist injury after his win in Argentina, Febvre has taken up the running in second, with a 29-point gap to chase down on Gajser.

The only rider to finish ahead of Gajser since Argentina is Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rookie Lucas Coenen, who won the Qualifying Race in France and took his first career MXGP podium on the Sunday.  His first MXGP event in deep sand ahead of him, the teenage Belgian could be a threat at the circuit where he was only beaten by De Wolf in MX2 last year, after winning race one.  Lying fourth in the Championship, he will be joined for the first time by another factory rider for an Austrian brand, as “The Bullet” fires into his first Grand Prix since winning the final race of the 2024 season in Còzar.

Herlings was looking menacing to Prado in last year’s second race in Sardegna, before a crash cost him the chance of a win, as well as second overall to Gajser.  Winner at Riola Sardo in 2021 & 2023, the latter victory was his 100^th in Grand Prix racing, so he has great memories of this circuit to draw from, although in his first race back he will not start as favourite.

Another rider returning from injury will be Brent van Doninck, back in action for JM Racing Honda after suffering a pre-season injury, and the Belgian is also very much at home in the sand.  Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP flyers Calvin Vlaanderen and Jago Geerts have also tasted overall victory at Riola in the past, while Glenn Coldenhoff took a race win in 2023 and will look to continue his great start to the season as he lies in fifth, level on points with Coenen for Fantic Factory Racing.

Sadly, another rider who had started the season so well, Mattia Guadagnini, broke several ribs in a training crash for the Aruba.it Ducati Factory MX Team, and is likely to miss both Italian rounds while he recovers.  The leading Italian rider in the class will therefore be Andrea Bonacorsi, who has been training at the facility for Fantic Factory Racing and will be keen to repeat his podium result from the MXGP of Castilla La Mancha!

The snarling 450s are undoubtably the toughest machines to wrestle through the beach sand of Riola, so look for some thrilling action right to the end of this tough Grand Prix!

MXGP - World Championship Top 10 Classification: 1. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 167 Points; 2. Romain Febvre (FRA, KAW), 138 Points; 3. Maxime Renaux (FRA, YAM), 121 Points; 4. Lucas Coenen (BEL, KTM), 107 Points; 5. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, FAN), 107 Pts; 6. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KAW), 86 Pts; 7. Mattia Guadagnini (ITA, DUC), 84 Pts; 8. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, HON), 81 Pts; 9. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, HON), 77 Pts; 10. Andrea Bonacorsi (ITA, FAN), 63 Points.

Main Photo: MXGP Start Sardegna 2024 

Bottom Photos: 1. Andrea Bonacorsi ; 2. Jeffrey Herlings

Whatever glue they use for the Championship leader’s red plate has not been working in the MX2 World Championship, as it simply hasn’t stuck on any one bike for a significant length of time!

Adamo and his Red Bull KTM Factory Racing teammate Sacha Coenen have worn it after Qualifying Races, but first De Wolf and then Everts have taken it back for the Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing squad, with Liam managing to retain it through the Sunday of the MXGP of Europe, ready for Sardegna.

Laengenfelder is just three points down in second place, and desperate to grab his first win for nearly 20 months. However, the German has yet to finish on the podium at Riola Sardo, whereas De Wolf, just two points behind in third, has yet to finish off of it! Third in 2021, he was absent injured in 2022, before taking second in 2023 and the overall win last season.  Everts’ best here was a fifth in 2024, just behind Laengenfelder, while Adamo has also never shone at this venue.  The 2023 Champ sits just six points behind De Wolf, eleven off the points lead.

Monster Energy Triumph Racing’s Camden McLellan took a brilliant first career podium in RIola Sardo last year, and Thibault Benistant has twice been third overall here for Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2.  The Frenchman is fifth in the points this season and on a high from a great MXGP of Europe on home soil. Can he be a surprise challenger in the deep sand this weekend?!

Sacha Coenen had a torrid weekend in France and will be looking for solid points to recover from sixth in the series. His starts mean he is always likely to be up there, but staying upright will be key to making a serious Championship run from here.  Dutch rookie Cas Valk enjoyed a dominant domestic Championship weekend for Van Venrooy KTM Racing, and is only ten points back of Coenen after finishing sixth overall in each of the first three rounds!

Behind Adamo, Honda HRC man Ferruccio Zanchi is the next best Italian in MX2, sitting in eighth ahead of McLellan and his rookie teammate Valerio Lata.  The boys in red will be up for a good performance to also build the crowd up for the Monster Energy MXGP of Trentino the following weekend!

The deep sand is sure to challenge the MX2 contenders throughout, and all of the classes should enjoy some amazing racing in Sardegna!  Not one to be missed! 

MX2 - World Championship Top 10 Classification: 1. Liam Everts (BEL, HUS), 135 Pts; 2. Simon Laengenfelder (GER, KTM), 132 Points; 3. Kay de Wolf (NED, HUS), 130 Points; 4. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), 124 Pts;  5. Thibault Benistant (FRA, YAM), 111 Pts; 6. Sacha Coenen (BEL, KTM), 101 Pts; 7. Cas Valk (NED, KTM), 91 Pts; 8. Ferruccio Zanchi (ITA, HON), 74 Pts; 9. Camden McLellan (RSA, TRI), 72 Pts; 10. Valerio Lata (ITA, HON), 65 Pts.

Top Photo: MX2 Start Sardegna 2024

Bottom Photos: 1. Andrea Adamo ; 2. Ferruccio Zanchi

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

You can find the complete results HERE.

TIMETABLE

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

SUNDAY:
09:45 WMX Race 2, 10:25 MX2 Warm-up, 10:45 MXGP Warm-up, 11:30 EMX125 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
 

Having walked away from the opening round of the 2025 MX2 championship in Argentina with a victory, defending MX2 champion, Kay de Wolf of the Nestaan Husqvarna Factory team must have been confident that his defence of the title he won last year, might be heading in the same direction as his 2024 season, where he led from the opening round and never lost his red plate.

Unfortunately, a defence is often harder than that first championship and while he kept the red plate after the mud of Cozar in Spain, for the second round, he didn’t have a dream GP in Spain. Third overall at that round was enough to keep his rivals off the red plate, but he knew this year was going to be a bigger challenge than in 2024.

“It was definitely a challenging weekend with the weather,” de Wolf said. “However, I’m really happy to leave with the red plate. The conditions were tough - deep mud, heavy ruts - but I gave it everything I had. In the first moto, I focused on staying consistent, but a late mistake cost me some time. Still, I managed to bring it home in third. In the second moto, I pushed harder while keeping things under control, and it paid off. A 1-2 for the team is an incredible result, and I’m really proud of everyone at Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing.”

At rounds three in France, mechanical issues during the Saturday qualification race, when holding down second place saw him lose major points the red plate to team-mate, Liam Everts, who had won in Spain and also scored big points in France. De Wolf did show amazing concentration after that difficult Saturday to fight back and pick up major points.

“It was definitely a tough weekend, and not the way I wanted things to go. The technical issue in qualifying put us on the back foot straight away, and starting from the outside in the first moto made it even harder. But I gave it everything I had - pushed through the pack, stayed focused, and did what I could in the conditions. The second moto was better, and I felt strong, but a small mistake near the end cost me a chance at third place. Losing the Red Plate is tough, but it’s a long season. I’m more motivated than ever to come back stronger at the next round in Sardinia.”

Now, as we turn our attention to Riola Sarda this coming weekend, you just know the red-headed Dutchman will want to once again have that red plate attached to his machine when the team truck leaves Sardinia. Having won at Riola in 2024, you can be here, he will be a serious contender for another GP win and move to Trentino in Italy a week later, with his confidence intact.

Photo Credit: Fullspectrum

MONACO (Principality of Monaco) 31 March 2025 – The 2025 FIM Motocross World Championship is going to Sardegna as the fourth round of the series will be held in Riola Sardo on 5-6 April!

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

TIMETABLE

MXGP ENTRY LIST

MX2 ENTRY LIST

WMX ENTRY LIST 

EMX125 PRESENTED BY FMF RACING ENTRY LIST

Animated flythrough offers sneak peek of Darwin’s leading-edge MXGP of Australia track that will host final leg of world motorcross championships

The countdown for the inaugural MXGP of Australia has begun, and today, event organisers unveiled a sneak peek at Australia’s latest and most exciting international-level motocross track.

A dynamic animated flythrough reveals a first look at the new Hidden Valley Motorsports track in Darwin, which is being purpose-built to host the exclusive Australian round of the FIM Motocross World Championship from September 19-21, 2025, and for at least the next five years.

Set to be one of the most exhilarating and technically complex tracks ever on Australian soil, the state-of-the-art design will push the world’s best motocross riders to the limit when the world motorcross championships return to Australia for the first time in 24 years.

Unlike typical Australian motocross circuits, Hidden Valley’s new track is being constructed to meet strict international premium standards, allowing for larger jumps, faster straights, and more technical obstacles.

The permanent 1.6km track will feature 22 corners, 21 jumps, and a 90-metre start straight that dramatically crosses the Hidden Valley Road Racing Circuit. Designed to be both unique and challenging, the track includes a rolling waves section, a massive triple step-up, and 100-foot (30-metre) jumps - promising heart-pumping, adrenaline-packed action.

Jeff Leisk, Australian motorcross legend and the first Australian to win a World Motocross Grand Prix in 1989, said: “The design Protraxx has delivered is epic. The world's best riders want to be challenged — pushed to the absolute limit of control — to gain an advantage over their rivals. This track has all the elements to do just that.”

“What I also love about the design is that spectators will be able to see most of the track from almost every vantage point. And because it’s part of the Hidden Valley Motor Sports Complex, it has all the facilities needed to make the fan experience world-class. Kudos to the NT Government for bringing MXGP to Australia.”

As riders soar through the air and race across the 13-acre site, the roar of the crowd and the leading-edge design will set the stage for an unforgettable moment in Australian and international motocross history.

Designed by Protraxx, Australia’s leading motocross track builders’ experts, the track’s 70% sand and 30% clay blend will provide an ideal surface that rewards skill and precision.

The track was also carefully designed to utilise the natural undulations of Hidden Valley – making it one of the best spectator tracks in the world. With almost every viewpoint offering a clear view of the entire circuit, fans won’t miss a moment of the action.

Delivered by the award-winning Northern Territory Major Events Company (NTMEC) in partnership with Infront Moto Racing and Motorcycling Australia, the MXGP of Australia will be the thrilling finale to the 2025 FIM Motocross World Championship.

Broadcast to more than 100 countries and a potential audience of more than 700 million worldwide, the Event will feature a round of the Women’s Motorcross World Championship for the first time in Australia.

The highly anticipated event will feature the MXGP and MX2 categories, the FIM Women’s Motocross World Championship (WMX), and national support classes.

The MXGP of Australia will also feature a unique Australian twist, with the debut of a ‘State of Origin’-style support classes for MX3 and MX85 – showcasing the future motocross stars from all over Australia.

Northern Territory Major Events Company Interim Chief Executive Officer, Trevor Cox, said:

"We’re incredibly proud to unveil the design of the new MXGP of Australia track right here in Darwin - a world-class course designed to challenge the world’s best riders and thrill fans. This purpose-built track not only showcases the Northern Territory’s capability to deliver major international sporting events but also creates a legacy for motorsports in our region.

“Hosting the MXGP for the next five years will be a huge tourism drawcard, bringing thousands of visitors to the Territory and injecting millions into the local economy. It’s an incredible opportunity to put Darwin and the NT on the global motocross stage while supporting local businesses, creating jobs, and sharing our unique destination with the world.

“We can’t wait to welcome the world’s best riders to experience this incredible new track at Hidden Valley."

Infront Moto Racing attributed company quotes: "The new motocross track in Darwin is a perfect blend of tradition and modern design. It combines the best of both worlds—with technical, demanding sections alongside fast paced stretches that will truly test riders’ skill and potential. What makes it even more special is the spectator experience: fans can enjoy an incredible view of almost the entire track from any viewing point, making every moment of the race easy to follow and enjoy.”

All tickets and packages for the MXGP of Australia 2025 are on sale now at mxgpaustralia.com.au.

LINKS

Infront Moto Racing

FIM

MXGP Australia

Igniting the Crowd!

From March 21st to 23rd, 2025, the F1 Chinese Grand Prix roared to life at the Shanghai International Circuit, drawing a cumulative audience of over 220,000 spectators. During this period, Hehui Sports brought the MXGP of China round to the Shanghai International Circuit. As a premier global motocross event, MXGP has adhered to its core philosophy of "delivering an ultimate experience and sense of participation for the audience" since its inception in 1957. It is this commitment that created a vibrant atmosphere at the event, with fans showing immense enthusiasm.

First, let's head to the MXGP VR experience zone, where fans can immerse themselves in the unique thrill of motocross through the perspective of a world champion. This experience was a hit among fans, resulting in long queues. Adjacent to the VR zone is our giant helmet photo area, where the yellow backdrop, red stands, and a massive black helmet create a striking contrast, attracting numerous fans to stop and take photos. On the central stage nearby, the popular model sisters delivered a motorcycle dance performance that went viral online. After the performance, they interacted with the audience, engaging in a fast-paced ball-catching game that challenged reaction times and evoked the collision of speed and adrenaline. Additionally, the three-day interactive rewards system was packed with sincerity, as the organizers prepared a wealth of event-related gifts, including custom tote bags, MXGP caps, event scented cards, and postcards. Nearly 20 lucky fans also won exquisite prizes through on-site interactions, such as a limited-edition carbon fiber helmet worth 3,180 yuan, a B.Duck lighter, and MXGP motorcycle figurines.

This marks the third collaboration between MXGP and F1, following 2019 and 2024. The synergy between these two world-class motorsport events not only offers fans a double feast but also draws more attention to this international motorcycle racing spectacle! From September 12th to 14th, the MXGP of China round will kick off in full force. We cordially invite you to witness the thrill of high-speed racing in person!

LINKS

Infront Moto Racing

FIM

MXGP of China

ST JEAN D'ANGELY (France) 23 March 2025 – Changeable conditions with sunshine and showers couldn’t dampen proceedings in south-western France, as the glorious Circuit du Puy de Poursay produced a spectacular day of racing at the MXGP of Europe, round three of the FIM Motocross World Championships!

The passionate Saint Jean d’Angely crowd had plenty to shout about with podium results for French favourites Romain Febvre and Thibault Benistant, but ultimately their heroes were denied by two former World Champions at the top of their game!

Slovenian Tim Gajser, winner of the last three GPs here for Honda HRC in MXGP, made it four in a row at St Jean with two brilliant race wins, although he was nearly hunted down by Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP star man Febvre in race one! The Frenchman took second overall ahead of Lucas Coenen, who celebrated his first podium result in the premier class for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing.

2023 MX2 World Champion Andrea Adamo had gone 20 long months since his most recent Grand Prix victory, but a stirring ride to wrestle the second race win away from the loudly-cheered Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2 rider Benistant broke the drought for the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider.

Simon Laengenfelder took second on the day, ahead of Benistant, after winning the opening race for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, and now lies second in the series, three points down on new Championship leader Liam Everts, who keeps the red plate he gained yesterday from his Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing teammate, Kay de Wolf!  The reigning Champion had a difficult day in France and is now third in points behind Laengenfelder.

French favourite Romain Febvre filled his fans with hope by setting the fastest time in morning Warm-Up for Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP, with Gajser in second ahead of Febvre’s teammate Pauls Jonass!

The Fox Holeshot Award winner had many spectators searching through their programmes for the #300, KTM Sarholz Racing Team rider Noah Ludwig, who led the world across the Fox Holeshot line until Gajser took control into the second corner! Tech 32 Racing Triumph rider Tom Guyon, making both his and the manufacturer’s MXGP debut, was behind the five-time World Champ for the first few corners, before Coenen and Febvre cut through to give chase to the leader.

After a tough MXGP of Castilla La Mancha, the Aruba.it Ducati Factory MX Team were happy to see Mattia Guadagnini fire into fourth place from an outside gate pick! Early Championship leader Maxime Renaux suffered a terrible start for Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP, and crossed the line in 15^th at the end of the first full lap. 

As the sun came out, his countryman Febvre was faring better, however, and urged on by the passionate hillside of eager fans, he worked his way past Coenen into second place on lap six! Valentin Guillod was again exceeding expectations on his private Yamaha, holding down seventh for the entire race, holding off a charge from Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP man Calvin Vlaanderen, who took eighth ahead of Team Honda SR Motoblouz Motul rider Kevin Horgmo.  Renaux fought past the two Fantic Factory Racing men Glenn Coldenhoff and Brian Bogers to take tenth at the flag.

At about half distance, Jonass fell over the back wheel of Guadagnini and lost fifth to Honda HRC’s Ruben Fernandez.  The excitement was brought by the irrepressible Febvre, who closed to within a second of Gajser on the final laps even with a steaming machine beneath him! The Slovenian held on to take his 94^th career GP race win by nearly four seconds.

The plucky privateer Ludwig was right at the front again at the start of race two, but it was Coldenhoff who claimed the Fox Holeshot Award despite feeling beaten up from a crash in Practice on Saturday.  Coenen swiftly moved up to second place, with Isak Gifting sticking his JK Racing Yamaha into third early on! 

Gajser soon started to work forward, in a similar fashion to his early moves in Cozar the weekend before.  The GP win looked good for him as Febvre was nearly involved in a first corner pile-up that claimed Vlaanderen, Fernandez, Bogers, and the Lexa MX Honda of Briton Josh Gilbert. None of those riders finished, but Febvre pressed forward, up to seventh by the end of the first full lap.

It took Gajser until the end of lap two to get past Gifting, but then the Slovenian immediately charged to the back wheel of Coenen and was second by the end of lap four.  Febvre was inspired by the home support and banged elbows to get past Gifting, and then nipped to the inside of Coenen at the top of a fast uphill section.

By that time, Gajser had made a move on the suffering Coldenhoff, and set the Acerbis Fastest Lap of the entire day on lap seven to make the race his own.  Febvre blasted to the inside of Coldenhoff down the start straight, to the roar of his fans, on lap 10, and Coenen followed past a lap later.  Glenn bravely held on for fourth place and sixth overall in the Grand Prix.

Behind him, Renaux fought through from another average start to claim fifth in the race for seventh overall, with Jonass moving past Guadagnini this time for sixth with three laps to go. The Ducati man held on for seventh to secure fourth overall for the second time this season.  His teammate Jeremy Seewer soldiered on through a difficult day to finish tenth in race two behind Gifting in ninth, as Horgmo forced past the Swede on the final lap to take eighth.

Gajser got the crowd momentarily excited with a ragged jump in the final laps, but otherwise the Slovenian again sealed a perfect Sunday to take his 51^st career victory and advance his Championship lead to 29 points, with Febvre moving back up to 2^nd overall.  Coenen was delighted with his first MXGP podium at a circuit where he has always excelled.  He is now fourth in the standings and 60 points behind Gajser as the series moves to Sardegna!

Tim Gajser: “It was a good day of racing for me. I felt really comfortable on the bike, even though the track was quite sketchy with deep ruts, bumps, and tricky acceleration points—it definitely wasn’t easy to ride. The start was really important, so I was glad to get out front early and take the lead quickly in Race 1. Lucas pushed hard at the beginning and then Romain closed in near the end, but I managed to stay in control. In the second race, I had a solid start, made some good early passes, found my lines, and built a gap that I could manage. Overall, I’m really happy with how I rode. Now I’m looking forward to Riola—we’ve spent a lot of time there and I really enjoy the track, so it should be a good weekend ahead.”

Romain Febvre: “I’m quite happy to finish second, especially after a tough weekend last time out. It’s a nice bounce back. With the rain, the track actually got better—it added some challenge and allowed us to make more of a difference out there. Yesterday it felt like a highway—really fast and too equal—but today was more technical, which suits me better. My starts weren’t great in either moto, and in the second one, I got hit off the start and almost went over the bars, which left me way back. I was around 18th at the top of the hill, so to come back and finish just 10 seconds off the lead, I’m really happy with how I rode. Now I need to fight with Tim (Gajser) as he is starting to get away, and I will try my best to be at the front for the next ones!”

Lucas Coenen: “I'm very happy with my first podium and to get that out of the way! The pace was high and the track demanded full concentration, at one point i thought, okay, i don't need to push more and let's get the podium. It’s all part of the process—learning, adapting, and building speed with each round. I want to be the best I possibly can and with these riders at the top you definitely need to switch on. I want to thank everybody around me as they work so hard in the last couple of weeks to get there. There’s still more to come from us this season.”

.  

Main Photo: Tim Gajser

Top Photo: MXGP Start

Bottom Photos: 1. Romain Febvre; 2 Tim Gajser

MXGP - Grand Prix Race 1 - Top 10 Classification: 1. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), 33:57.468; 2. Romain Febvre (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:03.930; 3. Lucas Coenen (BEL, KTM), +0:30.497; 4. Mattia Guadagnini (ITA, Ducati), +1:15.133; 5. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, Honda), +1:24.811; 6. Pauls Jonass (LAT, Kawasaki), +1:31.140; 7. Valentin Guillod (SUI, Yamaha), +1:47.480; 8. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, Yamaha), +1:51.615; 9. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, Honda), +1:52.557; 10. Maxime Renaux (FRA, Yamaha), +1:53.523

MXGP - Grand Prix Race 2 - Top 10 Classification: 1. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), 35:14.666; 2. Romain Febvre (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:19.307; 3. Lucas Coenen (BEL, KTM), +0:21.551; 4. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, Fantic), +0:24.254; 5. Maxime Renaux (FRA, Yamaha), +0:24.412; 6. Pauls Jonass (LAT, Kawasaki), +0:30.457; 7. Mattia Guadagnini (ITA, Ducati), +0:32.732; 8. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, Honda), +0:33.436; 9. Isak Gifting (SWE, Yamaha), +0:37.974; 10. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Ducati), +0:45.464

MXGP Overall - Top 10 Classification: 1. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 50 points; 2. Romain Febvre (FRA, KAW), 44 p.; 3. Lucas Coenen (BEL, KTM), 40 p.; 4. Mattia Guadagnini (ITA, DUC), 32 p.; 5. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KAW), 30 p.; 6. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, FAN), 28 p.; 7. Maxime Renaux (FRA, YAM), 27 p.; 8. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, HON), 25 p.; 9. Valentin Guillod (SUI, YAM), 24 p.; 10. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, DUC), 19 p

MXGP - World Championship - Top 10 Classification: 1. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 167 points; 2. Romain Febvre (FRA, KAW), 138 p.; 3. Maxime Renaux (FRA, YAM), 121 p.; 4. Lucas Coenen (BEL, KTM), 107 p.; 5. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, FAN), 107 p.; 6. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KAW), 86 p.; 7. Mattia Guadagnini (ITA, DUC), 84 p.; 8. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, HON), 81 p.; 9. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, HON), 77 p.; 10. Andrea Bonacorsi (ITA, FAN), 63 p.

MXGP - Manufacturers Classification: 1. Honda, 167 points; 2. Kawasaki, 144 p.; 3. Yamaha, 137 p.; 4. Fantic, 110 p.; 5. KTM, 107 p.; 6. Ducati, 94 p.; 7. Beta, 41 p.; 8. Husqvarna, 16 p.;

In a dry morning Warm-Up session, Benistant topped the timesheets to further build the excitement and expectation of his local fans, with De Wolf over two seconds back in second place, marginally quicker than his countryman on the Venrooy KTM, Cas Valk.

The action was intense in MX2 throughout both races, and Karlis Reisulis took a fighting Fox Holeshot Award for Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2, and managed to keep the lead for the first three laps as the hectic battle between Everts and Red Bull KTM Factory Racing riders Sacha Coenen, Laengenfelder, and Adamo raged on behind the Latvian!

Adamo survived an off-track excursion on the new part of the circuit that left him having to fight forward, so Everts emerged as the first to challenge Reisulis, with Laengenfelder, Adamo, and Coenen following in line astern soon after.  Behind the orange army, De Wolf and Benistant had suffered less than ideal starts and were battling hard for sixth position.  By the time they both caught and passed the young Latvian, the leading pack were too far up the circuit.

Rookies Valerio Lata of Honda HRC and Valk moved forward to claim seventh and eighth, as WZ Racing KTM’s Quentin Prugnières and the Monster Energy Triumph Racing machine of Camden McLellan just dropped Reisulis out of the top ten by the chequered flag.

Laengenfelder pressured Everts relentlessly and moved into the lead on lap nine, with Adamo also attacking the Belgian to take second on lap twelve.  The Italian former Champ started to reel in the German, but Simon held on for a fine first win of the season, and the thirteenth of his career.

If race one was like an action-packed TV drama, then race two was a full-blown blockbuster movie! Like many great movies, it started with a bang!  Sacha Coenen had only just enjoyed becoming the first rider, in either class, to claim a second Fox Holeshot Award of the year, before suffering his second massive crash of the weekend on the first downhill section.  He once more bravely remounted and showed his toughness to salvage 14^th position, but he has unfortunately dropped to sixth in the standings.

Kawasaki Racing Team MX2 rookie Mathis Valin, struggling with a wrist injury, pulled a good start out of the bag, but dropped from third behind Laengenfelder and Everts as both Adamo and Benistant forced past the young Frenchman, intent on challenging for either the race or the overall victory!  There followed a stunning back and forth battle for second between Adamo and Everts, neither rider giving any quarter, until Benistant joined the party to the roars of the packed valley! Their pace brought them to the rear wheel of Laengenfelder, and the German was unable to match their pace as first Everts, then Benistant fired past the KTM man, at one point blasting three abreast down the start straight, wringing the necks of their 250cc machines!

In another twist of the plot, Adamo started to gather himself for another charge, and by lap eight he had worked forward to second place and looked like a threat for the victory! Laengenfelder had also bounced back to pass Everts for third, putting himself in a GP-winning position.

Then another character was added to the saga! De Wolf, not a fan of the extra speed that the circuit served up this year, got into the mix to pass Everts for fourth on lap eleven, and started to push towards the rear wheel of Laengenfelder!

The supporting cast had stories of their own, as Valk impressed again in 2025 by finishing sixth overall for the third GP in a row!  Ferruccio Zanchi took seventh in race two for Honda HRC, ahead of Valin, McLellan, and JM Honda Racing’s David Braceras, who earned a solid top ten for his second race efforts.

The final act was a real thriller, but it broke French hearts to see Adamo pull a stunning outside-to-inside move at the top of the steepest downhill drop, to take the lead and potential GP victory! With Everts in fifth sure to keep the series lead, De Wolf slid off-track to halt his attack on Laengenfelder, who took a good third to move just three points behind Everts. The German would have been as delighted as the crowd to see Benistant get back past Adamo, and the Yamaha man gave it everything he had, pulling level alongside Pit Lane but running wide in a right hander to finally stifle his challenge on the final lap!

Adamo was the villain for the crowd but the hero of his own story, earning his first GP win since Finland in July 2023, and just the third of his career so far. He now sits just 11 points behind Everts, but also has Laengenfelder and De Wolf ahead of him, in what is developing into an almighty multi-rider tussle for the title!

The stars of both classes will be brushing up on their sand skills in the week off, as the MXGP of Sardegna beckons for round four, which may also include the return to action of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing legend Jeffrey Herlings.  No Motocross fan should miss it!

Andrea Adamo: “I’m super happy about this win—it’s been a bit of a rollercoaster, but today everything came together. My starts weren’t perfect this weekend, so I had to fight through the field. In Race 2, I knew I had to win the race to take the GP overall, so I gave everything. Thibault and I were pushing to the limit—it was intense but clean racing, and I loved it. I’ve worked a lot on my mindset after last season—learning from mistakes, building from the positives, and trying to turn negatives into something useful. It’s still early, but I feel strong mentally, physically, and with the bike. This is a step in the right direction.”

Simon Laengenfelder: “Overall, it was a solid weekend for me. I was consistent, even though in the second race I struggled a bit early on to find the good lines. But the pace was there, and I’m happy with how I rode. These are the kind of results we need to keep building the season. I’m looking forward to Sardinia—it’s always a cool GP, and I really like racing there.”

Thibault Benistant: “It was a good weekend and a step forward compared to Argentina, where I didn’t ride well. I’ve been working on getting more freedom in my riding, and I felt that improvement, especially in Race 2. The battle with Andrea was tough—I tried to attack on the last lap but ran a bit wide and couldn’t make it stick. Still, I’m happy with how I rode. I’ve had a great winter training in the south of France, and even though the first round was disappointing, I’m rebuilding confidence and rhythm. I believe things will keep getting better from here.”

Main Photo: Andrea Adamo

Bottom Photos: 1. Simon Laengenfelder; 2. Thibault Benistant

MX2 - Grand Prix Race 1 - Top 10 Classification:  1. Simon Längenfelder (GER, KTM), 35:28.696; 2. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), +0:03.930; 3. Liam Everts (BEL, Husqvarna), +0:19.095; 4. Sacha Coenen (BEL, KTM), +0:22.976; 5. Thibault Benistant (FRA, Yamaha), +0:28.003; 6. Kay de Wolf (NED, Husqvarna), +0:28.436; 7. Valerio Lata (ITA, Honda), +0:45.809; 8. Cas Valk (NED, KTM), +0:50.146; 9. Quentin Marc Prugnieres (FRA, KTM), +0:56.271; 10. Camden Mc Lellan (RSA, Triumph), +0:57.210;

MX2 - Grand Prix Race 2 – Top 10 Classification 1. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), 35:08.618; 2. Thibault Benistant (FRA, Yamaha), +0:00.568; 3. Simon Längenfelder (GER, KTM), +0:06.135; 4. Kay de Wolf (NED, Husqvarna), +0:17.832; 5. Liam Everts (BEL, Husqvarna), +0:22.113; 6. Cas Valk (NED, KTM), +0:30.180; 7. Ferruccio Zanchi (ITA, Honda), +0:37.816; 8. Mathis Valin (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:43.088; 9. Camden Mc Lellan (RSA, Triumph), +0:48.596; 10. David Braceras (ESP, Honda), +1:00.126

MX2 Overall – Top 10 Classification: 1. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), 47 points; 2. Simon Längenfelder (GER, KTM), 45 p.; 3. Thibault Benistant (FRA, YAM), 38 p.; 4. Liam Everts (BEL, HUS), 36 p.; 5. Kay de Wolf (NED, HUS), 33 p.; 6. Cas Valk (NED, KTM), 28 p.; 7. Sacha Coenen (BEL, KTM), 25 p.; 8. Camden Mc Lellan (RSA, TRI), 23 p.; 9. Mathis Valin (FRA, KAW), 21 p.; 10. Ferruccio Zanchi (ITA, HON), 20 p.

MX2 - World Championship Classification: 1. Liam Everts (BEL, HUS), 135 points; 2. Simon Längenfelder (GER, KTM), 132 p.; 3. Kay de Wolf (NED, HUS), 130 p.; 4. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), 124 p.; 5. Thibault Benistant (FRA, YAM), 111 p.; 6. Sacha Coenen (BEL, KTM), 101 p.; 7. Cas Valk (NED, KTM), 91 p.; 8. Ferruccio Zanchi (ITA, HON), 74 p.; 9. Camden Mc Lellan (RSA, TRI), 72 p.; 10. Valerio Lata (ITA, HON), 65 p.

MX2 - Manufacturers Classification: 1. KTM, 161 points; 2. Husqvarna, 154 p.; 3. Yamaha, 115 p.; 4. Honda, 100 p.; 5. Triumph, 86 p.; 6. TM, 51 p.; 7. Kawasaki, 46 p.;

MXGP/MX2 RACES HIGHLIGHTS

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

You can find the complete results HERE.

MXGP OF EUROPE QUICK FACTS:

Circuit length: 1610m

Type of ground: Hard Pack

Temperature: 12°

Weather conditions: Rainy/Cloudy

Crowd Attendance: 29,500

LINKS

Infront Race Racing

FIM

SAINT JEAN D'ANGELY (France) 22 March 2025 - The glorious Circuit de Puy Poursay near the village of Saint Jean d’Angely saw a sizeable crowd braving mixed weather conditions for the first day of the MXGP of Europe, the third round of the 2025 FIM Motocross World Championships!

The MXGP Qualifying Race saw a sensational first career win on a 450 for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rookie Lucas Coenen, seeing off a late charge from Championship leader Tim Gajser, who extended his points lead for Honda HRC as his teammate Ruben Fernandez took third position.

The French fans made plenty of noise during the MX2 Qualifying Race as Thibault Benistant took his Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2 machine to a loudly-hailed second Qualifying victory in a row! That was after an eventful race that saw issues for reigning World Champion Kay de Wolf, as his Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing teammate Liam Everts took over the red plate in MX2, with third behind Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Simon Laengenfelder.

The weather could still have a hand to play in this Grand Prix weekend, however, and the Paddock is holding its collective breath to see what Mother Nature serves up on Sunday!

Tim Gajser has taken the last three GP victories here at St Jean, and looked in fine form with the fastest time in both Free and Time Practice sessions, although local favourite Romain Febvre was right behind him in second place in the final timesheets.

Bolting from the middle of the start straight, however, was Lucas Coenen, who pulled the sort of Holeshot usually reserved for his brother Sacha, and started to pull away from TEM JP253 KTM Racing privateer Jan Pancar, who had got the start of his life in front of every other factory bike on the grid!

Pancar had to duel with home hero Maxime Renaux, who ultimately had to pass the Slovenian twice in a race where the Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP rider looked fast, but was pushed back by small mistakes.  Honda HRC duo Gajser and Fernandez took second and third when Renaux stalled the bike right in front of the packed fans’ area, but was urged on to recover to a great fourth by the finish. 

Pancar started to slide down the order gradually, as Romain Febvre took fifth for Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP, also passing Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP star Calvin Vlaanderen, who would come home in sixth position.  Another blue bike, the JK Racing Yamaha of Isak Gifting, took seventh with a strong ride, and Pauls Jonass made a last lap pass on Pancar to claim eighth for Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP.  Fast-starting Norwegian Kevin Horgmo grabbed the final point for Team Honda Motoblouz SR Motul.

Meanwhile Lucas Coenen, on a circuit where he has never lost a race in either the MX2 or the EMX250 class, looked to be cruising to victory, until Gajser closed onto his back wheel halfway around the final lap!  The teenager did not lose his cool, however, and poured on the pace to win by a final margin of just over two and a half seconds!  After taking ten MX2 Qualifying Race wins in his career, his first in the premier class will no doubt taste as sweet as all of the others put together!

With Renaux overtaking Febvre for second in the series, Gajser’s Championship advantage grew to 23 points, and with such a great record at this circuit under his belt, he will still feel confident heading into the two races tomorrow! We could be in for a stunning battle between the two titans of St Jean at the MXGP of Europe!

Luicas Coenen: ” I got a really good start—we figured it out with the team, and it felt great. Like I’ve said before, Rome wasn’t built in a day. I struggled a lot at the beginning of the season, but now I’m starting to find my rhythm again, and I loved every bit of it. I was a bit stressed—Tim is a five-time world champion, and he was pushing hard. It reminded me of when we were riding at his home track last year. But overall, I’m really happy with how it went. Tomorrow is a new day, we’ll give it our best!”

MXGP - Qualifying Race – Classification:  1. Lucas Coenen (BEL, KTM), 24:13.494; 2. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), +0:02.562; 3. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, Honda), +0:22.295; 4. Maxime Renaux (FRA, Yamaha), +0:28.910; 5. Romain Febvre (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:34.977; 6. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, Yamaha), +0:37.103; 7. Isak Gifting (SWE, Yamaha), +0:39.419; 8. Pauls Jonass (LAT, Kawasaki), +0:40.275; 9. Jan Pancar (SLO, KTM), +0:41.089; 10. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, Honda), +0:54.893

MXGP - World Championship Classification: 1. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 117 points; 2. Maxime Renaux (FRA, YAM), 94 p.; 3. Romain Febvre (FRA, KAW), 94 p.; 4. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, FAN), 79 p.; 5. Lucas Coenen (BEL, KTM), 67 p.; 6. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, HON), 61 p.; 7. Andrea Bonacorsi (ITA, FAN), 56 p.; 8. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KAW), 56 p.; 9. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, HON), 56 p.; 10. Mattia Guadagnini (ITA, DUC), 52 p.

Main Photo: Lucas Coenen

Bottom Photos: 1. Tim Gajser; 2. Ruben Fernandez

After his best weekend yet at the previous round, Honda HRC rider Ferruccio Zanchi took the fastest time in the morning’s Free Practice session, but it was home hero Thibault Benistant who raised the voices of the crowd by edging ahead of the Italian to top the tables in Time Practice for Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2!

The Holeshot of the race was disputed between De Wolf and starting master Sacha Coenen, and the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing man grabbed the early lead and looked to take off at the front.  Laengenfelder moved forward past Benistant’s teammate Karlis Reisulis, but French fans were dismayed to see Kawasaki Racing Team MX2 rookie Mathis Valin tip over on just the fourth corner while in fifth position!

Coenen and De Wolf looked secure out front, as Benistant advanced to third past Laengenfelder on lap six. It all changed in dramatic fashion, however, when De Wolf was suddenly unable to make it up one of the bigger hills on the track!  He got going again briefly, but stabbing at the gear lever yielded no results and he had to pull off the circuit on lap eight for his first zero score in any race for well over a year!

Still the race had more surprises in store, as the rain intensified to make the hard-pack surface increasingly slippery.  Sacha Coenen, seemingly comfortable in the lead, suffered a violent crash through some advertising boards and on to the start straight, although he showed his toughness by remounting in third place.

Behind the leaders, Zanchi advanced from outside the top twenty to claim the final point in tenth, as Reisulis dropped back early on, then fought forward to take eighth from Venrooy KTM’s Cas Valk on the final lap. Valerio Lata took seventh position for Honda HRC, his first Qualifying Race points in MX2.

Clearly in pain, Coenen slipped back to sixth as his teammate Andrea Adamo passed him on the final lap. Monster Energy Triumph Racing star Camden McLellan enjoyed another good Saturday with fourth, and Liam Everts took a typically consistent third behind Laengenfelder, as the Belgian takes possession of the red plate for tomorrow against all of the pre-season odds.

The crowd thoroughly enjoyed seeing Benistant romp to victory, his second in two weekends for Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2. He still sits sixth in the series but is now just two points behind Coenen in fifth.  De Wolf will once again line up on Sunday with black plates but is only two points behind his teammate and hungry for redemption!

Once more the MX2 class is almost impossible to call for tomorrow’s MXGP of Europe, and the red plate pinball could still see it swap places yet again!  Don’t miss the action from both classes at round three of the FIM Motocross World Championships!

Thibault Benistant: " I actually came here to win that one—it was a good feeling. I wasn’t leading at first, I think I had a small issue with the bike, and Sacha (Coenen) made a little mistake. The track was a bit slippery, but in the end, I took the win—and that’s what we’ll remember from that qualifying. I’m happy with the result, and happy to make the fans smile too."

MX2 - Qualifying Race – Classification: 1. Thibault Benistant (FRA, Yamaha), 23:50.247; 2. Simon Längenfelder (GER, KTM), +0:07.927; 3. Liam Everts (BEL, Husqvarna), +0:13.823; 4. Camden Mc Lellan (RSA, Triumph), +0:14.210; 5. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), +0:19.146; 6. Sacha Coenen (BEL, KTM), +0:20.004; 7. Valerio Lata (ITA, Honda), +0:28.131; 8. Karlis Alberts Reisulis (LAT, Yamaha), +0:39.531; 9. Cas Valk (NED, KTM), +0:40.976; 10. Ferruccio Zanchi (ITA, Honda), +0:43.446

MX2 - World Championship Classification: . Liam Everts (BEL, HUS), 99 points; 2. Kay de Wolf (NED, HUS), 97 p.; 3. Simon Längenfelder (GER, KTM), 87 p.; 4. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), 77 p.; 5. Sacha Coenen (BEL, KTM), 76 p.; 6. Thibault Benistant (FRA, YAM), 73 p.; 7. Cas Valk (NED, KTM), 63 p.; 8. Ferruccio Zanchi (ITA, HON), 54 p.; 9. Camden Mc Lellan (RSA, TRI), 49 p.; 10. Guillem Farres (ESP, TRI), 46 p

Top Photo: Thibault Benistant

Bottom Photos: 1. Simon Laengenfelder; 2. Liam Everts

MXGP/MX2 QUALIFYING RACES HIGHLIGHTS

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

You can find the complete results HERE.

MXGP OF EUROPE QUICK FACTS:

Circuit length: 1610m

Type of ground: Hard Pack

Temperature: 9°

Weather conditions: Rainy

TIMETABLE

SUNDAY:
08:45 EMX125 Race 2, 09:25 MX2 Warm-up, 09:45 MXGP Warm-up, 10:30 EMX250 Race 2, 12:15 MX2 Race 1, 13:15 MXGP Race 1, 15:10 MX2 Race 2, 16:10 MXGP Race 2.

LINKS

Infront Moto Racing

FIM

FIM Europe

St Jean d’Angely