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Red Bull KTM sweep the results sheets at Grand Prix of Switzerland

The rutty, dark soil of Frauenfeld hosted the third and final Grand Prix of an MXGP triple header on Easter Monday in Switzerland for round six of the 2025 FIM world championship. Red Bull KTM Factory Racing were ruthless in their dominance of both classes at the venue close to Zurich. Lucas Coenen went 1-1 in the MXGP motos for his first overall victory in the category while Simon Laengenfelder also won both MX2 races for his maiden triumph of the season.

  • Classy and undisputed success for Lucas Coenen in MXGP with the KTM 450 SX-F as the Belgian rookie takes bis first checked flags and overall spoils in the class in just his sixth outing
  • Jeffrey Herlings continues to race himself back to fitness and MXGP speed. The Dutchman takes a best result of 4th in the second moto – his highest of 2025 and in his third appearance – and was 7th overall
  • Simon Laengenfelder aces two MX2 holeshots and masters the rough and rutted Swiss dirt for his first win of the year and his third podium to move to within three points of the red plate
  • Andrea Adamo follows-up overall victory in Italy last weekend with a consistent 5-2 in MX2 for 4th overall and with the KTM 250 SX-F. Sacha Coenen finishes the GP in 11th
  • MXGP finally pauses for breath. The paddock will reconvene next week in Agueda for the Grand Prix of Portugal and round seven on May 3-4

Sardinia, Italy and now Switzerland. MXGP maintained its course for round six of 20 and the flat, rutty and technical terrain of Frauenfeld. The track near the city of Zurich was blessed with sunny weather over Easter weekend and was surrounded by a typically busy and appreciative gathering of fans and spectators.

Practice and qualification heats ran under blue skies on Saturday before the paddock rested on Sunday. In MXGP Jeffrey Herlings, riding only his third high-profile race since October 2024, made a top-three start and then conservatively managed his way through the bumps to take 7th. Lucas Coenen managed to acquire the last Saturday point in 10th. MX2 saw Simon Laengenfelder the fastest among the Red Bull KTM trio; Laengenfelder was less than two seconds from Quali Heat winner Kay De Wolf for P2. Andrea Adamo secured 7th in the gate for Sunday after recovering from a small crash. Sacha Coenen clashed with another rider off the start and fought back to 14th.

Monday was all about Coenen and Laengenfelder. The Belgian and German timed their starts to near-perfection and were able to build race winning margins from the front. The team’s authority was absolute, and Red Bull KTM ruled the top steps of both podiums for the first time in 2025. For Coenen the feat marked his second rostrum of his rookie term in MXGP and brings him to 3rd in the championship standings; 51 points from further promotion. For Laengenfelder, the win was his first since Sweden 2023 and represented his third trophy of the year after a 3rd place in Argentina and a runner-up finish in France. He has now led the most laps in 2025 and is 2nd in the championship, 3 points from Kay De Wolf.

Jeffrey Herlings rode to a 14-4 for 7th overall in MXGP in a tale of two starts. His 4th in the second moto marked a clear sign of progress and the former world champion will only get stronger and faster as the calendar progresses.

In MX2 Andrea Adamo counted the cost of an early mistake in the first moto that forced the Italian to come back to 5th place. He was effective behind his teammate in the second race and captured 2nd (his eighth top three moto result) and missed out on his fourth consecutive podium by just 2 points. Sacha Coenen lamented some tough luck and moves in the pack on the opening laps of both motos. The young Belgian fought to 6-16 for a top 11 ranking on the day.

The Racestore KTM Factory Rookies team were once more main protagonists in the fifth round of 2025 European Championship EMX125. KTM MXGP Academy racers Nicolo Alvisi and Aron Katona classified 1st and 3rd with their KTM 125 SX 2-strokes in the first moto on Saturday. Come Monday and Katona had the upperhand in P1. Alvisi was 6th, to be overall runner-up and form a team 1-2 on top of the rostrum. Katona fronts the points standings by 39. Switzerland again brought EMX125 and the EMX250 classes onto the same program. Gabriel SS24 KTM Factory Juniors helped rookie Gyan Doensen to 8th overall with the KTM 250 SX-F.

The distinctive red soil of Agueda will provide the next platform for MXGP (and EMX250 and EMX125 again) in two weeks’ time. The Grand Prix of Portugal will either be a fast and jumpy affair in dry conditions or slow and rough in the case of a wet forecast, as was the case in 2024.

Lucas Coenen, 1st and 1st for 1st overall in MXGP: “Really special: I just won two motos and the GP! Saturday wasn’t that great because I had arm-pump and the start was just ‘OK’ but today gave me two holeshots and I led every single lap! I had to deal a bit of pressure from behind but there is not that much more to say today. I still don’t like this track though! With the 450 you had to respect it. No mistakes and it feels like a perfect day. I’m still learning, and we still go step-by-step.”

Jeffrey Herlings, 14th and 4th for 7th overall in MXGP: “Quite an OK weekend. In the first moto I had a really bad start and the track was really tough for passing. I didn’t manage to make many places. The second start was better and I was in 3rd for a long time. A shame to have some contact with a lapped rider otherwise it would have been P3. It’s just my fourth week back on the bike so 4th is quite decent. 7th is not where we want to be but the others have a lot more race time. Portugal is a difficult track for me so we’ll keep pounding, keep working and get better every week. We’ll work on some more race rhythm before Portugal and hopefully we’ll try and sneak our way into the top five. That will be the aim.”

Simon Laengenfelder, 1st and 1st for 1st overall in MX2: “A first overall win this year! I’m really happy. I felt good on the track and dealing with all those ruts. I got two good starts and could check-out from there. A first win of the season now gives me a confidence boost for the next few races.”

Andrea Adamo, 5th and 2nd for 4th overall in MX2: “A decent weekend. Nothing special. In the first moto I had the speed and a good feeling but I made a mistake in the first three-four laps that destroyed the race because the good start I had from P3-4 became P9. It was not easy to make passes but I managed a few. P5 in the end, but our potential was for better. My feeling was a bit different in the second moto. It wasn’t the best but I could still come home P2. Solid. I missed the podium by a bit and we need to work more to not make mistakes on the first laps. For sure, not every weekend can go super-well but we need to salvage points when they don’t go so well. A week off now and then we go to Portugal.”

Sacha Coenen, 6th and 16th for 11th overall: “I wasn’t feeling so good on the track on Saturday but had a really good warm-up today. I made a great start and was leading the race for a while but I was also managing the moto and trying to do my best. In the second moto my front wheel was blocked in the start and I lost a lot of positions. I came back to 9th but then hit neutral and lost a lot again! Not a great weekend.”

 

Results MXGP Switzerland 2025

 

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

2. Romain Febvre (FRA), Kawasaki, 6-2

3. Jeremy Seewer (SUI), Ducati, 7-3

4. Andrea Bonacorsi (ITA), Fantic, 4-5

5. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED), Fantic, 10-6

7. Jeffrey Herlings (NED), Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 14-4

 

Standings MXGP 2025 after 6 of 20 rounds

 

1. Tim Gajser (SLO), Honda, 305

2. Romain Febvre (FRA), Kawasaki, 278

3. Lucas Coenen (BEL), Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, 227

4. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED), Fantic, 224

5. Maxime Renaux (FRA), Yamaha, 188

18. Jeffrey Herlings (NED), Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, 65

 

Results MX2 Switzerland 2025

 

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

2. Liam Everts (BEL), Husqvarna, 3-3

3. Kay de Wolf (NED), Husqvarna, 2-4

4. Andrea Adamo (ITA), Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, 5-2

5. Camden McLellan (RSA), Triumph, 4-7

11. Sacha Coenen (BEL) Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, 6-16

 

Standings MX2 2025 after 6 of 20 rounds

 

1. Kay de Wolf (NED), Husqvarna, 281 points

2. Simon Laengenfelder (GER), Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, 278

3. Andrea Adamo (ITA), Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, 258

4. Liam Everts (BEL), Husqvarna 251

5. Thibault Benistant (FRA), Yamaha 203

7. Sacha Coenen (BEL) Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, 189

 

KTM NEWS

RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING SIGNS RYDER DIFRANCESCO AND DAXTON BENNICK

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Red Bull KTM Factory Racing has signed Ryder DiFrancesco and Daxton Bennick ahead of the 2027 SMX World Championship season, joining an expanded four-rider 250 program alongside Julien Beaumer and Sacha Coenen. The new-look roster will compete aboard KTM 250 SX-F FACTORY EDITION machinery across the AMA Supercross Championship, Pro Motocross Championship, and SMX Finals post-season, further strengthening KTM's READY TO RACE commitment to the next generation of 250 class talent. DiFrancesco, 21, joins Red Bull KTM Factory Racing following a breakout 2026 season, finishing runner-up in the 250SMX World Championship, fifth in 250MX, and fourth in the 250SX Western Division standings. The Californian earned his first-career 250SX podium at Anaheim 1 and carried that momentum into the outdoors and playoffs with a collection of podium results, firmly establishing himself as a title challenger into the future. Ryder DiFrancesco: "I'm super-excited to be joining Red Bull KTM Factory Racing. It's been one of the top-tier teams in the paddock since I can remember, so it's going to be a cool feeling being on the orange bike in 2027 – it only grows the confidence in myself and the team. The next thing to do now is to go out there and win. I'm excited, and the season can't come soon enough." Bennick, 20, is another exciting addition to the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing effort after a strong 2026 campaign that saw him claim third in the 250SX East standings and secure his first 250SMX podium at SMX Playoff 1 in Columbus. The North Carolina native has continued to progress through the professional ranks since his highly-successful amateur career as part of the KTM Orange Brigade and will enter 2027 targeting title success. Daxton Bennick: "I'm so excited to be on the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team next year. It's always been a dream of mine, so it's a super-cool and surreal moment for me. There are a lot of familiar faces on the team and also some new ones, and I think we're going to make a really good combination and go after the championships – I'm ready to get to work." The arrival of DiFrancesco and Bennick coincides with a significant expansion of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing's 250 program, which will also feature Beaumer and incoming Belgian standout Coenen. Beaumer, 20, will return for his fourth season with the team after recently extending his contract through 2027 and beyond, while 19-year-old Coenen arrives from the MX2 World Championship following a Grand Prix campaign that saw him finish third in the 2026 standings. Nathan Ramsey, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 250 Team Manager: "What an incredible opportunity to be a part of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing for 2027 and beyond. I will be managing the 250 race team, alongside of Ian and his crew on the 450 side. I believe this expansion and structure for the complete Red Bull KTM program is very strong and I look forward to having an unbelievable season. I couldn’t be happier to add Dax and Ryder to the team! They both had very strong seasons in 2026 and should absolutely be in the championship conversation in 2027. Dax and Ryder alongside Juju and Sacha make up a very young and extremely strong Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 250 effort for 2027! I am honored to be a part of this group moving forward and can’t wait to see what the future holds." Ian Harrison, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 Team Manager: "We are incredibly excited to introduce our strengthened Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 250 program, which will debut in 2027 with a four-rider lineup equipped with KTM 250 SX-F FACTORY EDITION machinery. KTM has enjoyed significant success in the category for many years, and this next step further underlines the brand’s READY TO RACE commitment into the future." Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s expanded 250 program will make its competitive debut at the opening round of the 2027 AMA Supercross Championship in Anaheim, California, on January 9, marking an exciting renewed chapter for the Austrian manufacturer's presence in U.S. competition alongside its factory 450 team of reigning SMX World Champion Jorge Prado and new recruit Lucas Coenen.

Victory for Team Belgium & the Coenen brothers at packed MXoN in France

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The 79th FIM Motocross of Nations drew a huge record crowd of 105,000 to the ‘amphitheater’ setting of the Ernee circuit in northern France where Red Bull KTM’s Lucas and Sacha Coenen contributed to Team Belgium first victory in the annual contest since 2013. Red Bull KTM also had SMX champion Jorge Prado inspiring Team Spain to 2nd place and their first ever podium result.

RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING THANKS AARON PLESSINGER FOR FIVE SUCCESSFUL SEASONS TOGETHER

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Red Bull KTM Factory Racing extends its appreciation to Aaron Plessinger following five successful seasons together, with the partnership delivering an impressive catalog of race results across AMA Supercross and Pro Motocross. ‘The Cowboy’ continues to be one of the most popular and engaging riders in the SuperMotocross World Championship (SMX), quickly establishing a strong connection to Red Bull KTM Factory Racing fans throughout North America and on a global scale. Over the course of five seasons with KTM, he earned 24 podiums – 11 in 450SX and 13 in 450MX – including two Supercross victories. Plessinger first joined Red Bull KTM Factory Racing ahead of the 2022 season, making an immediate impact with a second-place result at Round 2 of the 450SX series in Oakland, and he would go on to achieve two more overall podiums outdoors (Southwick and Ironman) in his first year aboard the KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION. The 2023 season saw Plessinger make further progress, with the Ohio native recording two podiums in Supercross and an additional three podium finishes in 450MX on his way to third in the final championship standings. He also represented Team USA in the MXGP category at the 2023 Motocross of Nations (MXoN) in Ernée, France. Plessinger then opened the 2024 AMA Supercross Championship in outstanding form, capturing a first-career 450SX Main Event win in San Diego to take possession of the red plate, which he carried out of the following round with another top-three performance at Anaheim 2. He also took third in Arlington, before his indoor season was unfortunately cut short through injury. Another convincing Pro Motocross season – including six podiums at Hangtown, RedBud, Washougal, Unadilla, Budds Creek and Ironman – saw him finish third in the 450MX standings once more, and he carried that form into the SMX World Championship post-season to end the series in fourth overall. Those results led to another MXoN appearance to complete his 2024 campaign, this time in the Open category at Matterley Basin in the United Kingdom, where he contributed to Team USA’s second-place finish on the Nations podium. Plessinger's 2025 450SX season was highlighted by podiums at Daytona, Birmingham and Seattle, before achieving his second-career premier class victory in a convincing performance at Foxborough. He recorded another podium in East Rutherford, while a strong start to Pro Motocross that included podiums at Hangtown and Thunder Valley was later disrupted by illness. Always a fan favorite, Plessinger remained a valued member of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing throughout the 2026 SMX World Championship, bringing his trademark personality and commitment to the team across his final season in orange despite multiple injury setbacks impacting his season, which concluded at last weekend's SMX Final in Ridgedale, Missouri. Aaron Plessinger: "These have been some of the best five years of my life, and especially during my career – I've had a great time at Red Bull KTM Factory Racing and I'm going to miss everybody a lot. Looking back, our results together have been consistently solid over a good stretch of years, which we can be proud of as a team. And the KTM fans, too, their support has meant the world to me and I'm glad that we were able to have a good run for them. Above all, I'm thankful for these years that we were able to spend together. We'll see you at the races!" Ian Harrison, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team Manager: "Working with Aaron over the last five years has been a privilege. He brought with him a unique personality, always making those around feel like a part of his inner-circle, and his cowboy style made him a favorite with the fans and our team. From race wins and podiums to some challenging moments along the way, Aaron always represented Red Bull KTM Factory Racing with passion, professionalism, and determination. We'd like to thank him for everything he has done for the Red Bull KTM team, and we wish him and his family the very best moving forward. You are family, Mr Plessinger – see you at the races." Plessinger and Red Bull KTM Factory Racing will now officially sign off on a memorable five-year collaboration, with the entire team thanking Aaron for his contributions to the program and wishing him all the best for the future.