MX2 victory for Adamo after Grand Prix of Europe thriller as Lucas Coenen earns his first MXGP podium result

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing came through the third round of the 2025 MXGP season with three podium finishes including a 1-2 in the MX2 class for Andrea Adamo and Simon Laengenfelder and Lucas Coenen securing his first top three result in the MXGP division. The action took place on another weather-hit weekend at the renowned hard-packed and rutty St Jean D’Angely circuit in western France.

  • 3rd overall for Lucas Coenen with the KTM 450 SX-F after the premier class rookie grabs his first checkered flag of the campaign with victory in the Saturday Qualification Heat
  • Former world champion Andrea Adamo takes his first MX2 win of the season with the KTM 250 SX-F and a grandstand finale fight in the second moto at St Jean
  • Simon Laengenfelder goes 1-3 on the day for his first moto success of the term (and Red Bull KTM scoop both moto wins) and his second trophy from the three GPs this year
  • A second moto holeshot for Sacha Coenen but a crash keeps the exciting Belgian down in 7th overall as MXGP now travels into the sand of Riola Sardo for the Grand Prix of Sardinia on 5-6 April

The FIM World Championship transitioned from Spain to France for round three but could not escape the rainy weather with an overcast and showery St Jean D’Angely circuit providing a slick, bumpy and rutty hard-pack surface. Despite the grey climate, the fans packed the opposing hillside and cheered on the gates of the MXGP and MX2 classes for the first of two events based in France this season.

Lucas Coenen set an early marker in the weekend. The Belgian took the lead on the opening lap of the Saturday Qualification race and ran to victory for his first 10 points and MXGP Pole Position. Coenen started brightly again on Sunday where the weather was still unstable and the track was technical and demanding; rewarding riders who could nail the launch from the gate. Lucas rode to a decent 3rd place in the first moto for his highest Sunday race ranking yet and then he worked diligently from the top five in the second race to again take 3rd.

In MX2, the first moto went fantastically for the team and for Austrian machinery with Simon Laengenfelder claiming his first checkered flag of 2025 ahead of Andrea Adamo, followed by Liam Everts and the third Red Bull KTM racer, Sacha Coenen – the Belgian feeling sore after a fall while leading the Qualification race on Saturday – coming home in 4th. The track was drier and tackier but still heavily rutted for moto two. This did not slow the potential of Adamo who charged to P1 after enjoying a close duel with Thibault Benistant that went right to the line. The Italian celebrated his first view from the top of the rostrum since the summer of 2023. Laengenfelder made sure of his second podium of the championship with P3 and placed two Red Bull KTMs 1-2 in the overall standings. Coenen had the holeshot but a crash coming down the hill for the first time meant he had to pick-up and work his way back to 14th for 7th at the end of the day.

The Racestore KTM Factory Rookies team, a key component of the KTM MXGP Academy structure, were able to toast a strong first podium in the EMX125 championship. Teenager Hungarian Aron Katona was 3rd overall for his maiden trophy after winning the second moto with the KTM 125 SX. He placed ahead of Italian teammate Nicolo Alvisi in 4th.

MXGP will take a break for a week and then move back to southern Europe for the journey to Sardinia. The deep and rough sand of Riola Sardo will provide a different technical test on the first weekend of April.

Lucas Coenen, 3rd and 3rd for 3rd overall in MXGP: “What can I say? Speechless! That’s the first podium out the way. We had some difficult times lately but we’ve finally kicked off: 3-3 for 3. I wanted to make another pass in the second moto but it started raining and I just said “stay there and get the first podium. We now have two weeks off to rest and we’ll see what we can do in Sardinia. Thanks to the team and my physio, they worked so hard with me these last few weeks. I cannot thank them enough. We’re now looking forward to building confidence and see where we end up.”

Andrea Adamo, 2nd and 1st for 1st overall in MX2: “Amazing! It’s been a long time. I don’t know how many days or months. I’m happy to be back and to feel that fire and be competitive. That last lap was insane. It was not easy at all with these ruts because you can miss the corners. I’m really happy and I want to keep this momentum.”

Simon Laengenfelder, 1st and 3rd for 2nd overall in MX2: “In the second race I struggled a bit at the beginning to find all the good ruts, it was not that easy, but the riding was not too bad. It was very satisfying to win the first moto and to be on the podium again. I really like the track in Sardinia, so I’m looking forward to it already.”

Sacha Coenen, 4th and 14th for 7th overall in MX2: “Not such a good weekend. I had a good flow in the quali moto but then had that crash coming down the hill. I felt fast in the first moto but just couldn’t pass. 4th was not so bad. I did the hard part in the second moto and had the holeshot but I don’t know what happened on the first downhill. I went over the bars and it was difficult to come back. Everybody was very fast. I did the best I could and we took some points.”

 

Results MXGP Europe 2025

 

1. Tim Gajser (SLO), Honda, 1-1

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

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

4. Mattia Guadagnini (ITA), Ducati, 4-7

5. Pauls Jonass (LAT), Kawasaki, 6-6

 

Standings MXGP 2025 after 3 of 20 rounds

 

1. Tim Gajser (SLO), Honda, 167

2. Romain Febvre (FRA), Kawasaki, 138

3. Maxime Renaux (FRA), Yamaha, 121

4. Lucas Coenen (BEL), Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, 107

5. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED), Fantic, 107

 

Results MX2 Europe 2025

 

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

2. Simon Laengenfelder (GER), Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, 1-3

3. Thibault Benistant (FRA), Yamaha, 5-2

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

5. Kay de Wolf (NED), Husqvarna, 6-4

7. Sacha Coenen (BEL) Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, 4-14

 

Standings MX2 2025 after 3 of 20 rounds

 

1. Liam Everts (BEL), Husqvarna 135 points

2. Simon Laengenfelder (GER), Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, 132

3. Kay de Wolf (NED), Husqvarna, 130

4. Andrea Adamo (ITA), Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, 124

5. Thibault Benistant (FRA), Yamaha, 111

6. Sacha Coenen (BEL) Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, 101

 

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.