Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Lucas Coenen wrapped up an exceptional 2025 campaign with a determined performance at the 78th edition of the Motocross of Nations (MXoN), held at the iconic Ironman Raceway in Crawfordsville, Indiana. Representing Team Belgium, he delivered 2-10 moto scores to help his nation secure a fourth place overall, which could have been higher but for a tough day for his brother Sacha.
Under blazing American sunshine and in front of a packed crowd, the Ironman Raceway provided a fittingly dramatic stage for the final international motocross showdown of the season.
For Coenen, the race offered both challenge and opportunity. Competing on the high-speed American circuit, he admitted that setup adjustments proved tricky with limited track time. “Not bad overall but we didn’t quite get the bike like we wanted for this fast track,” Coenen explained. “I didn’t want to change too much from our base setting because we didn’t have too many sessions but it was probably a bit too soft and I felt a bit limited. I didn’t find the flow but the speed was still there and I was battling with the guys.”
Despite some setup frustrations and an incident in the second moto when close behind eventual winner Hunter Lawrence, Coenen’s pace and consistency were evident throughout the weekend. both motos were strong, underlining why the Belgian teenager has become one of the sport’s brightest prospects.
Reflecting on both the MXoN and his breakout rookie season, Coenen added: “I learned a lot from riders that we usually don’t race in GPs. It was a bummer what happened in the second moto but it happens and I’m happy. It’s been a good rookie year: 2nd in MXGP and I won all I could. A lot of positive things and I improved. I will work even harder to be on top.”
Indeed, 2025 has been a landmark year for Coenen. Finishing runner-up in the MXGP World Championship in his first full season at the premier level, he consistently demonstrated maturity, technical precision, and fearless aggression. From podiums across Europe to victories in some of the toughest conditions on the calendar, Coenen proved that his step up from MX2 was not only justified but a glimpse of a future championship contender in the making.
As the motocross season draws to a close, Lucas Coenen leaves Ironman Raceway with lessons learned, valuable experience gained, and his reputation firmly established among the world’s best. With Red Bull KTM Factory Racing behind him and a relentless drive to improve, the Belgian’s ambitions for 2026 are already clear: to turn promise into domination and chase the MXGP world title.
Images courtesy of KTM Images/JP Acevedo
