Sensational Belgian, Lucas Coenen has won the MXGP qualifier in Portugal today, but it didn’t come easy. The teenager had to fight off some pressure from Jeffrey Herlings but eventually won the moto by a few seconds. Herlings was second and Ruben Fernandez was third.

Lucas Coenen: I felt good and controlled the race. It was tricky, but more fun than last week. It was a good moto and I look forward to tomorrow.

Jeffrey Herlings: I was struggling with the lapped riders and twice I couldn't get past them and lost some time. I would have liked to have the inside gate, but I am next to him in the start and I want to challenge him again tomorrow.

Coenen with the lead, but Adamo also there, with Fernandez second and Herlings into third, as Adamo dropped to fourth. Herlings into second and wants to give Coenen something to think about. Top ten was Coenen, Herlings, Fernandez, Gajser, Adamo, Jonass, Febvre, Vialle, Pancar and Oliver 10th.

Coenen pushing hard and already more than a second lead over Herlings. Jonass makes a pass on Febvre and moved into fifth place, but Febvre then returned the favour. Vialle all over Jonass for that sixth spot.

Lap four and Herlings not letting Coenen get away as the gap was 1.5 seconds, with Fernandez three seconds back in third. Herlings suddenly all over Coenen and looking very quick. Herlings really pushing hard to stay with Coenen but doing a great job at it.

Lap seven and it was Coenen with 2.2 over Herlings, with Fernandez a further second back, but actually catching the leaders. Gajser 6.3 back in fourth, then Febvre, Vialle, Jonass, Adamo, Renaux and Oliver.

Lap nine and the gap was 1.6 between Coenen and Herlings and Fernandez now six seconds off the pace. Febvre into fourt, then Gajser, Jonass, Adamo, Vialle, Renaux and Vlaanderen. Herlings now all over Coenen and looking for a pass. Herlings a couple of small mistakes and Coenen got away again, and won the moto from Herlings and Fernandez.

MXGP - Qualifying Race - Classification

1. Lucas Coenen (BEL, KTM), 24:00.391; 2. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, Honda), +0:04.342; 3. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, Honda), +0:17.010; 4. Romain Febvre (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:25.032; 5. Tim Gajser (SLO, Yamaha), +0:31.158; 6. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), +0:42.528; 7. Pauls Jonass (LAT, Kawasaki), +0:44.649; 8. Maxime Renaux (FRA, Yamaha), +0:51.685; 9. Tom Vialle (FRA, Honda), +0:56.011; 10. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, Ducati), +0:56.932; 11. Jan Pancar (SLO, KTM), +0:57.869; 12. Oriol Oliver (ESP, KTM), +1:05.201; 13. Ben Watson (GBR, Triumph), +1:07.388; 14. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, Honda), +1:11.368; 15. Kevin Brumann (SUI, Husqvarna), +2:07.873; 16. Adam Sterry (GBR, KTM), -1 lap(s); 17. Leopold Ambjörnson (SWE, Honda), -1 lap(s); 18. Victor Alonso (ESP, Ducati), -1 lap(s); 19. Romain Pape (FRA, Yamaha), -1 lap(s); 20. Rick Elzinga (NED, KTM), -1 lap(s); 21. Luis Outeiro (POR, Yamaha), -1 lap(s); 22. David Jimenez Villalba (ESP, Honda), -2 lap(s); 23. Jago Geerts (BEL, Beta), -6 lap(s);

MXGP - World Championship Classification

1. Lucas Coenen (BEL, KTM), 459 points; 2. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, HON), 402 p.; 3. Romain Febvre (FRA, KAW), 354 p.; 4. Tim Gajser (SLO, YAM), 335 p.; 5. Maxime Renaux (FRA, YAM), 308 p.; 6. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), 286 p.; 7. Kay de Wolf (NED, HUS), 273 p.; 8. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, HON), 272 p.; 9. Tom Vialle (FRA, HON), 251 p.; 10. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KAW), 204 p.; 11. Alberto Forato (ITA, FAN), 176 p.; 12. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, DUC), 174 p.; 13. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, HON), 143 p.; 14. Oriol Oliver (ESP, KTM), 138 p.; 15. Jan Pancar (SLO, KTM), 119 p.; 16. Jago Geerts (BEL, BET), 78 p.; 17. Brent Van doninck (BEL, FAN), 74 p.; 18. Mattia Guadagnini (ITA, KTM), 69 p.; 19. Ben Watson (GBR, TRI), 57 p.; 20. Roan Van De Moosdijk (NED, KTM), 50 p.; 21. Andrea Bonacorsi (ITA, DUC), 41 p.; 22. Thibault Benistant (FRA, HON), 40 p.; 23. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, DUC), 34 p.; 24. Maximilian Spies (GER, KTM), 25 p.; 25. Jorgen-Matthias Talviku (EST, YAM), 22 p