Coenen Dominates MXGP Qualifying Race; Title Implications Loom
September 20, 2025 – In an electrifying finish to Free Practice at the MXGP, Jeffrey Herlings of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing made a last-lap surge, briefly topping the timesheets. However, it was teammate Lucas Coenen who secured the first gate pick for the Qualifying Race, clocking a time nearly half a second faster than Herlings. Honda HRC’s Tim Gajser trailed closely behind, setting the stage for an intense competition.
Coenen capitalized on his front-row start, claiming the Holeshot for the fifth time this season. Demonstrating unmatched speed, he built an impressive 8.7-second lead by the end of the opening lap. Behind him, Romain Febvre maneuvered through the field effectively, shaking off early setbacks.
As the race progressed, Febvre quickly advanced from his initial struggles, overtaking the likes of Mattia Guadagnini and Jago Geerts. By the end of the race, Febvre managed to secure a third-place finish after passing his teammate Pauls Jonass, who had a late-race misstep, dropping him to tenth.
Polesitter Coenen continued to dominate, culminating with a commanding 21-second victory. Guadagnini achieved his best finish of the season in second place, while Febvre’s performance allowed him to narrowly maintain his championship lead. Gajser and Calvin Vlaanderen rounded out the top six.
Key Results:
- Lucas Coenen (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing)
- Mattia Guadagnini (GasGas)
- Romain Febvre (Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP)
With tomorrow’s races approaching, Febvre remains in a strong position to clinch his second world title, needing only a 16th-place finish regardless of Coenen’s performance.
Quote from Lucas Coenen:
“I want to give [Febvre] a run until the end. The track is really physical… we’ll try our best in the two races and have fun.”
Tomorrow’s MXGP promises to be an exhilarating contest, with championship implications and top-tier talent ready to compete under pressure.
