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Red Bull KTM continue MXGP dominance with Chinese Grand Prix success for Herlings and Coenen

MXGP moved from Turkey to China for the penultimate round of 20 in 2025. The long oriental trip was memorable for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing: Jeffrey Herlings went 1-1 with the KTM 450 SX-F and Sacha Coenen triumphed with the KTM 250 SX-F as Red Bull KTM filled the MX2 podium. The team have title shots in both categories as the calendar winds to a conclusion.

  • Jeffrey Herlings pushes up to 112 career victories with his third MXGP Grand Prix win in succession and his third ‘1-1’ of the season
  • Lucas Coenen toils in the sapping Chinese climate and a second moto crash means 9-14 for the Belgian for P12 overall in MXGP
  • P1 for Sacha Coenen for the second time in 2025 as the Belgian wins the first moto and strives to a P4 run in the second
  • A strong charge by Andrea Adamo earns the Italian P1 in the second moto and runner-up overall for the day. Simon Laengenfelder finishes 3rd in China and holds the red plate into the season closer
  • MXGP will plough onto Australia and for the first grand prix in the country since 2001. The series will head to the northern territory of Darwin to close the 2025 campaign

The third MXGP of China took the championship into a new track but in a familiar region of Shanghai. The Shanghai International off-road circuit was laid out in the Fengxian district and provided a mix between hardpack and ruts with loamy terrain that was considerably rougher for the second motos of the race schedule. Teams and riders also had to deal with high heat and humidity.

Jeffrey Herlings, who turned 31 on the eve of the GP, won a damp Qualification Heat on Saturday, meaning Pole Position and 10 championship points for the fourth time in 2025 (the second highest total in the class behind Lucas Coenen). His Belgian teammate rode to 7th place. In MX2 Red Bull KTM went 1-2 with Sacha Coenen earning another holeshot and then rushing to victory ahead of Simon Laengenfelder. Andrea Adamo was 8th.

Sunday brought sunny skies but the harsh temperatures meant the races were oppressive and demanding. Herlings was able to power to the lead in the last minutes of the opening MXGP moto. The Dutchman has now taken the checkered flag at least once in the last three grands prix. Coenen, struggling physically, was further back and crossed the line in P8. Herlings was strong from the start of the second race. He defended P1 from Tim Gajser all the way to the flag, the difference only 0.6 at the conclusion. Win #112 of his career is also the fifth of the year and the sixth podium (four in a row). Coenen made a promising start but then a fall into the second corner meant he had to restart from last and reached P14 for P12 overall: only the second time he has missed the top three from the last fourteen rounds.

The MX2 class was won by Sacha Coenen with 1-3 and for his second overall success of the term. The Belgian comfortably controlled the first moto and fronted a ranking that had all three Red Bull KTM riders in the top four: Laengenfelder in P3 and Adamo in P4. For Coenen the win underlined his recent bright form and was the second race in a row he has managed to set the pace. Laengenfelder had the holeshot and the lead from the outset of the second moto with Coenen and Adamo in P2 and P3 and all three trying to conserve energy. Coenen made a mistake and crashed, allowed Adamo to rise to P2 and the Italian proved to be more resilient throughout the full race distance as he hunted and overtook his German teammate on the last lap. The race win was Andrea’s eighth of the year and ensured all three Red Bull KTM riders filled the podium for the first time in 2025. Adamo, 2nd overall in China, now has 12 trophies, Laengenfelder, 3rd, has 11 and Coenen 9.

The 2025 championships will go all the way. Coenen has 882 points in the MXGP class and trails Romain Febvre by 47 with only 60 points remaining. Herlings holds 5th in the standings and can still push up to 4th (17 points is the difference). MX2 is incredibly tight. Laengenfelder heads defending champ Kay de Wolf by 16 points with Adamo secure in 3rd. Coenen has 4th locked.

The MXGP finale will take place at another new venue. The Hidden Valley Motorsports Complex in Darwin houses a purpose-built track and stages the first Australian GP in a quarter of a century. Round 20 gets fast next weekend.

Jeffrey Herlings, 1st and 1st for 1st overall in MXGP: “So hot. I was cooking. So humid. The speed was not a problem…just the heat. I managed to pull it off. Another 1-1 and I’m hoping it’s going to be a bit cooler in Australia. I had just one day to adapt here and now we’ll have more time for the final round. I want to give it up to the Red Bull KTM team for this win. I’ll try and do my best again next week.”

Lucas Coenen, 9th and 14th for 12th overall in MXGP: “If I can sum up the weekend in one line then it would be: no power in the body and tired. I don’t know what happened. That’s all. The weekend in China here is done and we have one more to go – as well as the Nations – so I just need to try and be ready and look forward to the last GP.”

Sacha Coenen, 1st and 3rd for 1st overall in MX2: “A difficult weekend for everybody but my riding was good…apart from a stupid mistake in the second moto. I was cruising and just lost the front. I picked-up and kept going though and I’m really happy to win and happy because we worked for this.”

Andrea Adamo, 4th and 1st for 2nd overall in MX2: “Two pretty good motos. I didn’t have a good start in the first and it was difficult to come back, even if my speed was alright and I was one of the fastest on track at the end, so I know I’m fit. I was confident then for the second moto. A better start and I made my race. Sacha was fast and good but I took the chance to pass him. I hammered the lap-times and set a pace so I could see Simon. I put him under pressure and could win the moto. Super.”

Simon Laengenfelder, 3rd and 2nd for 3rd overall in MX2: “Finally a good start in the second race and it meant I could stay away from problems. When the track was more technical, I was feeling quite good and it was only at the end that Andrea was faster. Still, a good weekend and now we go into the last round. I made the [championship] gap a bit bigger going to Australia. You never know what will happen but I’m going for it. I hope it will be less humid!”

 

Results MXGP China 2025

 

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

2. Tim Gajser (SLO), Honda, 2-2

3. Ruben Fernandez (ESP), Honda, 5-3

4. Romain Febvre (FRA), Kawasaki, 4-4

5. Maxime Renaux (FRA) Yamaha 3-6

12. Lucas Coenen (BEL), Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, 9-14

 

Standings MXGP 2025 after 19 of 20 rounds

 

1. Romain Febvre (FRA), Kawasaki, 929 points

2. Lucas Coenen (BEL), Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, 882

3. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED), Fantic, 665

4. Ruben Fernandez (ESP), Honda, 599

5. Jeffrey Herlings (NED), Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, 582

 

Results MX2 China 2025

 

1. Sacha Coenen (BEL) Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, 1-3

2. Andrea Adamo (ITA), Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, 4-1

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

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

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

6. Liam Everts (BEL) Husqvarna, 6-7

 

Standings MX2 2025 after 19 of 20 rounds

 

1. Simon Laengenfelder (GER), Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, 884 points

2. Kay de Wolf (NED), Husqvarna, 868

3. Andrea Adamo (ITA), Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, 817

4. Sacha Coenen (BEL) Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, 756

5. Camden McLellan (RSA), Triumph, 612

7. Liam Everts (BEL), Husqvarna 606

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.