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French MX2 Grand Prix victory and podium lockout at packed Ernee

Vive KTM! The Grand Prix of France permitted more MXGP spoils for the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing crew at Ernee today as Lucas Coenen won another moto and finished runner-up in the premier class and Simon Laengenfelder, Andrea Adamo and Sacha Coenen filled all three steps of the MX2 podium respectively to prove the exceptional capabilities of the KTM 250 SX-F.

  • Lucas Coenen earned his fifth MXGP podium with P2 overall and tied on points for victory through the deeply rutted French mud
  • Jeffrey Herlings scored 4th position for his best result of the season so far and yet more clear progression with his race speed
  • Simon Laengenfelder performed brilliantly for his second win of the year and second 1-1 sweep of the MX2 motos in 2025. The German rose to the top of the standings and the MX2 red plate
  • Andrea Adamo led home a Red Bull KTM 1-2-3 on Saturday and then finished 2-2 on Sunday for a third consecutive podium. Sacha Coenen was 3rd for a second trophy in a row
  • The second part of another MXGP double-header means the hard-pack of Talkessel in Teutschenthal will bring the series to Germany next weekend

For the second time in 2025, MXGP jumped into French soil. Famed Motocross of Nations and established world championship venue, Ernee, packed the fans into the hillside setting, not far from Le Mans, for the ninth round of the season. Red Bull KTM Factory Racing aimed to continue their march of success in both MXGP and MX2 classes: the works line-up had won two GPs with the KTM 450 SX-F and four with the KTM 250 SX-F so far.

Ernee was overcast but busy on Saturday where the schedule included the ninth points-scoring Qualification Heat of the campaign. Coenen started well and led every lap of the MXGP race to ensure his third checkered flag and Pole Position. Jeffrey Herlings was 10th. In MX2 Andrea Adamo won the Heat convincingly after dealing with the threat of teammate Simon Laengenfelder and with Sacha Coenen in P3 ensuring a top three lockout.

The potential for performance continued into Sunday. Morning rainfall created a soft and very rough surface and where starts were at a premium. Coenen started ahead of Herlings in the first moto and the Belgian kept P1 all the way to the line. His win banked a seventh haul of 25 points and means he is now the most prolific racer in the division in his rookie term. Herlings 3rd place was a personal best of 2025 to-date. In the second moto Coenen could not stop Romain Febvre. His 2nd position behind the Frenchman ultimately meant the second step. Herlings was 5th and tied on points for the rostrum; just missing out on a first top three and ranked 4th.

Laengenfelder excelled on the bumpy and technical track. The German was a fast starter along with his teammates. He beat Adamo in the first moto as Sacha Coenen confirmed P6. Simon then got the better of the Italian in the second race as Coenen improved to P4. The post-race ceremony was a sweep for the team for the first time.

The upshot of the results in Ernee makes for bright reading in the championship standings. Coenen is 2nd and 47 points behind Febvre. Laengenfelder has the red plate by 11 points from Adamo with Coenen hovering in 6th.

Round seven of 2025 EMX250 pushed Gyan Doensen into the gate and the Dutch rookie took his Gabriel SS24 KTM 250 SX-F to a new milestone. Doensen was runner-up in the second moto for his highest classification yet. Gyan had been 3rd earlier in the weekend and his 3-2 card – the best of 2025 so far – allowed him to be P2 on the podium despite the muddy and slick surface on Sunday. Ernee also entertained round seven of EMX125 and more action for the KTM Racestore Factory Rookies squad. Nicolo Alvisi was perfect, going 1-1 on the KTM 125 SX for the first time this season and consolidating his championship lead ahead of teammate Aron Katona who did not pick up any points in France.

MXGP spins south and east for the Grand Prix of Germany and the halfway point of the 2025 calendar. Talkessel in Teutschenthal, close to the city of Halle, has been the constant home of world championship motocross in the country since the start of the century and the narrow hard-pack course will become rutted again for round ten next weekend.

Lucas Coenen, 1st and 2nd for 2nd overall in MXGP: “We had to put on a charge at times today and it was good for the fans here! I struggled with arm-pump a bit and got tired but, honestly, P2 and three podiums in a row: it’s really good. We’ll hope for some more strong races coming up.”

Jeffrey Herlings, 3rd and 5th for 4th overall in MXGP: “It was quite disappointing to have the same points as 3rd and not get on the podium. I was fighting for the lead for a long time in the first moto and at the end I had to back-it-off a bit because of arm-pump and took P3. It was a bit less in the second moto, and I then had to comeback from the start and the small crash. I just missed the pass for 4th which would have given me the podium. Very close. P4 overall and a good step. We are getting there every weekend.”

Simon Laengenfelder, 1st and 1st for 1st overall in MX2: “It’s a long time since I’ve had the red plate! For sure I’m happy to have it again on the bike but it’s still early in the season and there are so many fast guys in the title fight. We’ll keep trying our best. A few weeks ago, we made a few changes that have helped with my starts and it’s working out quite good for me but there are a few KTM riders here so we can all start well! Home GP now and I’m really looking forward to it; I think the German fans will make some noise!”

Andrea Adamo, 2nd and 2nd for 2nd overall in MX2: “It was a good weekend: a 1-2-2, so, solid. I tried my best. In the first moto I struggled a bit and didn’t find the best flow. I was better in the second moto. I had the holeshot but missed the triple when my line was cut. I charged to get back to Simon but it was not easy. We were both fast. 2nd in the championship is OK. We need to have the red plate at the end of the season, not now.”

Sacha Coenen, 6th and 4th for 3rd overall: “Being back on the podium is good but the results – 6-4 – are not really what I’m working for. I want 1st place…but we’ll take this today. We’ll continue to try and improve the speed.”

 

Results MXGP France 2025

 

1. Romain Febvre (FRA), Kawasaki, 2-1

2. Lucas Coenen (BEL), Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, 1-2

3. Jeremy Seewer (SUI), Honda, 5-3

4. Jeffrey Herlings (NED), Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 3-5

5. Andrea Bonacorsi (ITA), Fantic, 8-8

 

Standings MXGP 2025 after 9 of 20 rounds

 

1. Romain Febvre (FRA), Kawasaki, 441 points

2. Lucas Coenen (BEL), Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, 394

3. Tim Gajser (SLO), Honda, 305

4. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED), Fantic, 302

5. Ruben Fernandez (ESP), Honda, 292

11. Jeffrey Herlings (NED), Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, 163

 

Results MX2 France 2025

 

1. Simon Laengenfelder (GER), Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, 1-1

2. Andrea Adamo (ITA), Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, 2-2

3. Sacha Coenen (BEL) Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, 6-4

4. Oriol Oliver (ESP), KTM, 4-7

5. Valerio Lata (ITA), Honda, 3-10

 

Standings MX2 2025 after 9 of 20 rounds

 

1. Simon Laengenfelder (GER), Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, 424 points

2. Andrea Adamo (ITA), Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, 413

3. Kay de Wolf (NED), Husqvarna, 399

4. Liam Everts (BEL), Husqvarna 343

5. Thibault Benistant (FRA), Yamaha 308

6. Sacha Coenen (BEL) Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, 305

KTM NEWS

ELI TOMAC TO RETIRE AT THE CONCLUSION OF 2026 SMX POST-SEASON

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American motocross and supercross legend Eli Tomac has announced that he will retire from professional competition following the 2026 SMX World Championship post-season, bringing a close to one of the most decorated careers in the history of the sport. At 33 years of age, Tomac has enjoyed a memorable season with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing this year, claiming four 450SX Main Event victories in the AMA Supercross Championship aboard the KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION. Tomac will go down as one of the greatest competitors ever, with his career spanning 17 professional seasons between 2010 and 2026. The Cortez, Colorado, native is ranked second on the all-time 450SX wins list with 57 Main Event victories, and fourth all-time in the AMA Pro Motocross 450MX wins list with a total of 32. As a two-time AMA Supercross 450SX Champion (2020, 2022) and four-time 450MX Champion (2017, 2018, 2019, 2022), Tomac has represented Team USA at the prestigious FIM Motocross of Nations (MXoN) on six occasions – captaining the United States to victory at RedBud in 2022. Earlier in his career, Tomac captured the 2013 250MX title outdoors after achieving 12 overall wins within the category – including his pro debut at Hangtown's season-opening round in 2010 – prior to transitioning to the premier class full-time in 2014. He also earned the 250SX West Divisional Championship in 2012. In addition, Tomac extended his Daytona Supercross record with an eighth-career victory in 2026, was notably crowned the 2024 FIM World Supercross Champion in the SX1 Class, and he was also recognized in 2022 as an ESPY Award recipient in the prestigious Best Athlete, Men’s Action Sports category. The entire Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team extends its gratitude and best wishes to Eli for the future, and looks forward to finishing the current season strongly together through the upcoming SMX Playoffs, culminating with the SMX World Championship Final in Ridgedale, Missouri, on September 26. Eli Tomac: "I will be stepping away from Supercross and motocross racing at the end of September, following the final three SMX rounds. This has been the hardest decision I’ve ever made in my professional career, but I know in my heart that the time is now and that the time is right. I’ve won races and championships beyond my imagination. Racing has been the only thing I’ve woken up to and known the last 25 years, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything." Ian Harrison, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team Manager: "Eli exploded onto the scene well over a decade and a half ago, and if he wasn’t on your team, you sure wished he was, because you’d ultimately be fighting against him to try and win. Over the years, Eli has become the second-winningest rider in Supercross history and has won multiple national and Supercross championships. We’ve had the privilege of working with him this year, and it was no different – he was fighting for the title and for wins each and every week. Eli is an amazing rider, and for the team and myself, to see how he operates and to get a better understanding of his sportsmanship and work ethic was a gift after all those years that we competed against him. But, like all good things, they do eventually come to an end, and with that Eli has decided to retire at the end of this season. Our team is grateful for the opportunity we’ve had and know that whatever he does in the future, it will be successful. Eli is a hard worker, disciplined and dedicated, and we truly wish him and his family all the best." Eli Tomac Career Highlights Two-time AMA Supercross 450SX Champion (2020, 2022) 57-career 450SX Main Event victories (second all-time) Four-time AMA Pro Motocross 450MX Champion (2017, 2018, 2019, 2022) 32-career 450MX overall victories (fourth all-time) 2013 AMA Pro Motocross 250MX Champion 2012 AMA Supercross 250SX West Champion 2024 FIM World Supercross SX1 Champion A record eight-time Daytona Supercross winner (2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2026) ESPY Award recipient in 2022 (Best Athlete, Men’s Action Sports)

DOUBLE VICTORY FOR RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING AT IRONMAN NATIONAL

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Red Bull KTM Factory Racing earned a double victory across 450MX and 250MX at the Ironman National on Saturday, with Jorge Prado and Julien Beaumer each claiming the overall wins at this weekend's final round of the 2026 AMA Pro Motocross Championship in Indiana. Off the back of two consecutive second-place finishes, Prado qualified fastest aboard his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION with a 2:07.134 lap time at the season-finale Ironman National, and took control of the lead in the early stages of Moto 1. The four-time world champion steadily extended his advantage at the front of the 450MX field as the race unfolded, eventually delivering his first Pro Motocross moto win by a convincing 11.566-second margin. A holeshot in Moto 2 saw the Spaniard race to another commanding victory, with his 1-1 scorecard securing his first-career overall win in American competition. Coupled with four additional podium finishes throughout the season, Prado claimed fourth in the final 450MX standings. Jorge Prado: "It was a perfect day! We were fastest in qualifying and went P1 in both motos – we saw some progression over the past weeks, and I’ve got to give it up to the whole Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team for allowing me to perform this way. I’m happy with my hard work and everything fell into place today for my first overall in the United States. This is why I came here – and I’m super-happy to be here – so thank you to everyone.” Four-time 450MX champion Eli Tomac was eighth-fastest on the combined qualifying timesheets, powering his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION to a seventh-place result in Moto 1. The 33-year-old improved to fifth position in Moto 2, earning the Colorado icon fifth overall for the weekend and completing what has been a convincing return to racing after missing the first half of the outdoor season. Eli Tomac: "Ironman was solid! It was one of my better rides of the season across both motos. I found a good flow in Moto 2, and it was nice to finish the day strong like that. I had a lot of fun on this track – it was one of the best tracks that I have ever ridden, in my opinion. For how technical it was, and the things that it offered for us to race, it shaped up well. So, I'm pretty happy with the weekend, and now we just need to work on some starts." Red Bull KTM Factory Racing teammate Aaron Plessinger recorded the ninth-fastest time in the morning’s qualifying sessions, before converting his top-10 start into an impressive fifth-place score in Moto 1. P9 in Moto 2 saw ‘The Cowboy’ achieve eighth overall at Ironman, marking another solid result in his late-season return to Pro Motocross competition. Aaron Plessinger: "Ironman was a good day! Qualifying went alright, my bike was feeling pretty good, but the cream of the crop was the first moto. I didn't get the greatest start, but I made my way through the pack and got up to fourth. Then Coop [Webb] got by me, and I ended up fifth, but it was a solid moto – I was pumped with that! Then in the second moto, I felt a little flat, but I salvaged what I could and scored 5-9 on the day for eighth overall. The track was awesome and formed up really well, so it was a good day. Now, we'll take this week off to recover and then get back into it for SMX." Equipped with the KTM 250 SX-F FACTORY EDITION in the 250MX category, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing's Beaumer qualified seventh-fastest on combined times. A fast start in Moto 1 saw him charge to the holeshot, eventually crossing the finish line in a hard-fought second position. A top-10 start in Moto 2 saw the 20-year-old rapidly work his way through the field, working his way into the lead to go on and take a deserving victory. His 2-1 scorecard earned him his second 250MX overall of the season. Four podium finishes – including round wins at Spring Creek and Ironman – saw Beaumer climb to second in the 250MX standings, capping off what has been a highly-successful Pro Motocross campaign. Julien Beaumer: "It was a great day at Ironman! In Moto 1, I got the holeshot and finished second, even if I didn't ride the greatest, but we made some good changes going into Moto 2. My riding was really good in that one, even if my start wasn't as strong, but I worked my way through the pack to first in the end! I'm stoked with the work that we did over the course of the season – we made a lot of progress outdoors and it's been rewarding to be back racing. We'll shift our focus to SMX now." The SuperMotocross World Championship (SMX) post-season is up next on the 31-round schedule, set to commence with Playoff 1 at Historic Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio, on September 12. Results 450MX Class – Ironman National 1. Jorge Prado (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) 2. RJ Hampshire (Husqvarna) 3. Cooper Webb (Yamaha) 5. Eli Tomac (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) 8. Aaron Plessinger (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) 16. Malcolm Stewart (Husqvarna) Standings 450MX Class 2026 after 11 of 11 rounds 1. Hunter Lawrence, 474 points 2. Jett Lawrence, 472 3. Haiden Deegan, 404 4. Jorge Prado, 401 5. RJ Hampshire, 346 12. Aaron Plessinger, 159 14. Eli Tomac, 121 25. Lucas Coenen, 44 27. Malcolm Stewart, 41 Results 250MX Class – Ironman National 1. Julien Beaumer (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) 2. Chance Hymas (Honda) 3. Ryder DiFrancesco (Husqvarna) 11. Daxton Bennick (Husqvarna) Standings 250MX Class 2026 after 11 of 11 rounds 1. Cole Davies, 407 points 2. Julien Beaumer, 369 3. Levi Kitchen, 364 5. Ryder DiFrancesco, 326 15. Casey Cochran, 146 16. Daxton Bennick, 142 21. Sacha Coenen, 83