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The run continues: Red Bull KTM own both classes at MXGP Grand Prix of Latvia

Jeffrey Herlings and Sacha Coenen will reflect fondly on the 2025 Grand Prix of Latvia as the pair ruled MXGP and MX2 through the rough sandy Kegums soil. The eleventh round of the season was played out in sunny weather and the Dutchman and Belgian were accompanied by Lucas Coenen and Simon Laengenfelder for spoils as Red Bull KTM logged 1st and 2nd in both categories and claimed three of the four motos. From 11 Grands Prix this year the team have won four in MXGP and seven in MX2.

  • Jeffrey Herlings goes 1-1-1 with the KTM 450 SX-F for his second victory in the space of a week
  • Lucas Coenen notches six podiums in a row and closes the gap to the top of the MXGP standings
  • A first MX2 overall win of the season for Sacha Coenen with 1-2 results and the fourth trip to the podium this term for the 18-year-old
  • Simon Laengenfelder finishes P2 but ascends to the top of the MX2 championship again as Andrea Adamo suffers with back pain and picks up points for 10th overall
  • MXGP finally breathes after the triple header and will reconvene at Matterley Basin for the British Grand Prix in two weeks

MXGP changed country, track and surface for the first Grand Prix to open the second half of the 2025 campaign. The series travelled from Germany to Latvia, from the tight and undulating confines of Talkessel to the more open and flatter layout of Kegums and from rutted hardpack to loose, sandy and bumpy terrain. The climate continued to vary for the FIM Motocross World Championship in the wake of the German sunshine/showers and Kegums was largely bright and warm on Saturday for the MXGP and MX2 classes, graced with another full European program.

On Saturday Jeffrey Herlings and Lucas Coenen left the MXGP Qualification Heat with a 1-2. The Dutchman collected his first Saturday win of 2025 and therefore 10 points and Pole Position. Coenen was close behind in 2nd. In MX2 Simon Laengenfelder controlled proceedings for his second victory of the year while Andrea Adamo and Sacha Coenen had to pick up from a multi-rider crash and recover to P11 and P13 respectively.

The skies remained largely blue on Sunday while the race action were mostly orange. Herlings and Coenen made decent starts in the first moto and Herlings checked out from the first lap, controlled the distance and eventually led the young Belgian to the line by less than two seconds (but almost a minute in front of everyone else). The second moto was a replay: Coenen holeshotted (for the ninth time; triple the quantity of any other rider) but Herlings grabbed P1 and then built his cushion to record a first 1-1 of the season, his second GP win in a row and the 109th of his career. The accumulation of 60 points pushes him to 9th in the standings. Coenen, with a 2-2, now has seven trophies for the year and is just 26 points from the red plate.

Sacha Coenen holeshotted and won the first MX2 race despite late pressure from Laengenfelder who finished 2nd. Coenen took the flag for the second time in 2025. Adamo, with back pain from Saturday, fought back from a crash to take 11th (his lowest classification so far). In the second race Simon and Sacha swapped roles as the German earned P1 out of the first corner. Again, the KTM 250 SX-Fs marked the difference at the front of the field. Laengenfelder seemed to be cruising to a sixth moto win until he made a mistake on the final lap and dropped to 3rd. Kay de Wolf inherited the lead from Coenen but the 1-2 by the Belgian gave him a first overall GP win of the year. Laengenfelder walked the second step of the box; still his sixth top three appearance of the term and establishing a championship standings margin of 27 points over Adamo. The Italian jumped across the line in 9th for 10th overall after a challenging day.

The Grand Prix also opened round 9 of 12 in the 2025 EMX125 European Championship and the latest chapter of a bright story for the KTM Racestore Factory Rookies squad. Nicolo Alvisi won another moto and picked up more silverware last week in Germany and was 2nd overall at Kegums on the KTM 125 SX with a 1-2 card. The Italian is 28 points ahead of the rest in the series. Following the EMX125 outings were the two motos for EMX250 and the SS24 Gabriel KTM team for round 8 of 13. Gyan Doensen rode the KTM 250 SX-F to a 3-3 for his second podium result of the year. The talented Dutch youngster has risen to 4th in the standings.

France, Germany and now Latvia: MXGP has earned a break and will cool engines before the British Grand Prix at Matterly Basin in England on June 21-22.

Jeffrey Herlings, 1st and 1st for 1st overall in MXGP: “Really good! Let’s repeat this nine more times! I’m really thankful. Lucas and Romain [Febvre] were pushing hard so I have to give it up to them. I knew it wouldn’t be easy but it’s great to win again – I got a 1-1 last year and to have another; I’m pleased for that. Let’s keep this ball rolling. I know it won’t be easy but we’ll do what we can.”

Lucas Coenen, 2nd and 2nd for 2nd overall in MXGP: “A good weekend but I was hoping for better in the second moto. I ran a bit wide at the start and then I made some mistakes and didn’t really find the flow. It was tricky on track. Positive and negatives today and I know what we have to work on. Another podium though and that’s a positive.”

Sacha Coenen, 1st and 2nd for 1st overall: “Very happy. Two good starts, and two solid motos after a crash on Saturday and we are getting back some of the consistency. We cannot complain! The goal is to keep going like this and keep at the front.”

Simon Laengenfelder, 2nd and 3rd for 2nd overall in MX2: “We came here without the red plate and we leave quite a few points in front so we have to say it was a good weekend. It’s a pity about the mistake on the last lap when I cross-rutted. I couldn’t get the bike started fast enough to stay up front. Those mistakes happen sometimes. I was perhaps cruising a bit because of the last lap and wasn’t fully focused. I’ll have to try and make sure that doesn’t happen again. There are a lot of fast guys in this class and going for the championship…but I feel quite confident about what we are doing right now.”

Andrea Adamo, 11th and 9th for 10th overall in MX2: “The crash on Saturday compromised everything. I was in a bit of pain because Sacha’s wheel hit my back. It was the base of my problems today: I had bad starts and could not find my way up to the front group. I also had two crashes! It’s the way it is. The only positive thing was my speed when I could get going. A tough weekend but in 20 GPs we cannot always win or be on the podium. I tried the maximum and we still have nine races to go.”

 

Results MXGP Latvia 2025

 

1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED), Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 1-1

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

3. Romain Febvre (FRA), Kawasaki, 6-3

4. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED), Fantic, 3-7

5. Ruben Fernandez (ESP), Honda, 4-6

 

Standings MXGP 2025 after 11 of 20 rounds

 

1. Romain Febvre (FRA), Kawasaki, 530 points

2. Lucas Coenen (BEL), Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, 504

3. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED), Fantic, 362

4. Maxime Renaux (FRA), Yamaha, 347

5. Ruben Fernandez (ESP), Honda, 338

9. Jeffrey Herlings (NED), Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, 279

 

Results MX2 Latvia 2025

 

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

2. Simon Laengenfelder (GER), Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, 2-3

3. Kay de Wolf (NED), Husqvarna, 8-1

4. Liam Everts (BEL) Husqvarna, 3-5

5. Thibault Benistant (FRA), Yamaha, 7-4

9. Andrea Adamo (ITA), Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, 11-9

 

Standings MX2 2025 after 11 of 20 rounds

 

1. Simon Laengenfelder (GER), Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, 515 points

2. Andrea Adamo (ITA), Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, 488

3. Kay de Wolf (NED), Husqvarna, 478

4. Liam Everts (BEL), Husqvarna 419

5. Sacha Coenen (BEL) Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, 389

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.