Brilliant teenager, Lucas Coenen is just doing everything he and his team would hope, with a solid start, quickly taking the lead and then cruising at his own pace up front. The Belgian teenager won the opening MXGP moto rather easily, despite a small slip over early in the moto. We are seeing something very special in 2026, both from Coenen and Jeffrey Herlings.

Herlings, despite a late charge in the moto and some struggles getting into second place early was second in a great ride, with Romain Febvre finishing a solid third. The championship points are now 484pts for Coenen and 424pts for Herlings. Again, 60pts the difference.

Lucas Coenen: I mean, it was hard, I took the lead and made a decent gap, but then tucked the front. I thought I need to go for it, but I lost my flow and made some mistakes and Jeffrey was coming. Happy for the win and waiting for the second one now.

MXGP Moto One

Vialle with the lead, then Coenen, Febvre, Fernandez, Herlings, Gajser, Vlaanderen, Jonass, Adamo and Renaux. Coenen into the lead and Herlings stuck back in fifth place, then into fourth as Febvre dropped back to fifth.

Coenen pushing really hard to get a gap, while Herlings needs to fight through the pack. Coenen leads the three HRC men as they push to try and stay with him. The lead was quickly 2.5 seconds and Herlings was already 6.6 behind in fourth spot.

Coenen now four seconds ahead of Vialle, with Herlings 6.8 behind in fourth place, as Fernandez passed Vialle for second. Herlings now onto both team-mates and desperate to get into second. Coenen a crash and just ahead of Fernandez and Herlings into third place and suddenly very excited.

Bavo Swijgers image

Its still KTM, Honda, Honda, Honda as Coenen still leads, but the lead was just one second and Herlings all over Herlings and trying everything to pass his team-mate. Coenen quickly makes another gap as it went to two seconds on lap three.

Vialle dropped a handful of places with Febvre and Gajser passing and the top ten on lap four was Coenen, Fernandez, Herlings, Febvre, Gajser, Vialle, Jonass, Renaux, Adamo and Oliver. A long list of world champions in that group.

On lap six the lead by Coenen was 6.2 seconds, with Fernandez second, Herlings third and 7.6 behind the leader and Febvre closing up on the Dutchman. Herlings finally into second, but eight seconds behind Coenen. Herlings quickly made a big gap on the Spaniard and Febvre.

Coenen the quickest lap of the race with a 1.48.929, and the gap grew to 8.4. Amazingly, Herlings after one lap was five seconds ahead of Fernandez, who was in a huge battle with Febvre for third place.

Coenen not letting up with another super-fast lap and 10 seconds ahead of Herlings and Herlings seven seconds ahead of Febvre, who had passed Fernandez. Gajser now all over the Spaniard for fourth spot.

Top ten on lap 11 was Coenen, Herlings, Febvre, Fernandez, Gajser, Vialle, Jonass, Renaux, Adamo and Oliver. Coenen just cruising and keeping the lead around nine seconds. 17 world championships inside the top ten. MXGP is without question, the deepest field in world motocross.

Herlings making some ground on Coenen, with five minutes remaining, or is the Belgian just foxing and trying to get Herlings to push harder than he might like? 7.6 lead, which quickly went back to eight seconds.

The lead was suddenly 6.5 and Herlings pushing lap times a second quicker than Coenen. 14th lap and it went down to six seconds and time running out, then 5.5 seconds. Four laps remaining and the gap was 4.7 seconds.

Coenen still doing fast laps, but Herlings doing better laps. Coenen isn't cruising, its more Herlings is coming. Herlings another 48.691 lap and again, two seconds quicker than Coenens lap, which was still quicker than anyone else (apart from Herlings).

Coenen pops a 1.49.465 and Herlings a 1.49.845, so nothing in their laps times now. Coenen still a big gap with three laps remaining, hard to see Herlings catch him now. Gotta love Herlings never give up attitude.

Herlings getting closer and closer and and another hot lap from Herlings, with Febvre and Gajser miles behind the two leaders. Coenen turns it up himself and win the moto from Herlings and Febvre. The kid did it again.

MXGP - Grand Prix Race 1 - Classification

1. Lucas Coenen (BEL, KTM), 35:12.425; 2. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, Honda), +0:03.672; 3. Romain Febvre (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:28.435; 4. Tim Gajser (SLO, Yamaha), +0:30.512; 5. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, Honda), +0:37.194; 6. Pauls Jonass (LAT, Kawasaki), +0:52.973; 7. Maxime Renaux (FRA, Yamaha), +1:02.418; 8. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), +1:10.489; 9. Oriol Oliver (ESP, KTM), +1:13.153; 10. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, Ducati), +1:17.288; 11. Jan Pancar (SLO, KTM), +1:20.181; 12. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, Honda), +1:21.260; 13. Alberto Forato (ITA, Fantic), +1:23.538; 14. Brent Van doninck (BEL, Fantic), +1:30.042; 15. Tom Vialle (FRA, Honda), +1:38.459; 16. Jago Geerts (BEL, Beta), +1:41.835; 17. Ben Watson (GBR, Triumph), +1:47.781; 18. Kevin Brumann (SUI, Husqvarna), -1 lap(s); 19. Adam Sterry (GBR, KTM), -1 lap(s); 20. Rick Elzinga (NED, KTM), -1 lap(s); 21. Romain Pape (FRA, Yamaha), -1 lap(s); 22. Leopold Ambjörnson (SWE, Honda), -1 lap(s); 23. Victor Alonso (ESP, Ducati), -1 lap(s); 24. David Jimenez Villalba (ESP, Honda), -3 lap(s); 25. Ander Valentin (ESP, Triumph), -5 lap(s); 26. Luis Outeiro (POR, Yamaha), -12 lap(s);

MXGP - World Championship Classification

1. Lucas Coenen (BEL, KTM), 484 points; 2. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, HON), 424 p.; 3. Romain Febvre (FRA, KAW), 374 p.; 4. Tim Gajser (SLO, YAM), 353 p.; 5. Maxime Renaux (FRA, YAM), 322 p.; 6. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), 299 p.; 7. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, HON), 288 p.; 8. Kay de Wolf (NED, HUS), 273 p.; 9. Tom Vialle (FRA, HON), 257 p.; 10. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KAW), 219 p.; 11. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, DUC), 185 p.; 12. Alberto Forato (ITA, FAN), 184 p.; 13. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, HON), 152 p.; 14. Oriol Oliver (ESP, KTM), 150 p.; 15. Jan Pancar (SLO, KTM), 129 p.; 16. Jago Geerts (BEL, BET), 83 p.; 17. Brent Van doninck (BEL, FAN), 81 p.; 18. Mattia Guadagnini (ITA, KTM), 69 p.; 19. Ben Watson (GBR, TRI), 61 p.; 20. Roan Van De Moosdijk (NED, KTM), 50 p.;