Jeffrey Herlings, Sacha Coenen Close Points Gap with Dominant Wins in MXGP of Trentino

MXGP of Trentino: A Battle of Skill and Strategy

The fifth round of the MXGP series took place this weekend at the Pietramurata circuit in Italy. Unlike the loose, sandy soil of Riola Sardo, the track here featured harder-packed ground that became slightly damp after a morning shower. This change in conditions added an extra layer of challenge for the riders.

Lucas Coenen of Red Bull KTM de Carli Racing was the standout rider entering the event. He had dominated Round 4 with a 1-1 victory and secured a narrow win in the qualifying race on Saturday over Tom Vialle. His brother Sacha also made a strong showing in the MX2 category, winning the qualifying race and gaining valuable points over defending champion Simon Langenfelder.

MX2 Race 1

Sacha Coenen started strong with a Fox Holeshot as the rain began to fall. Mathis Valin, Guillem Farres, and Liam Everts followed closely behind. Simon Langenfelder, however, struggled, starting in 12th and only managing to climb to 10th by the end of the race. Coenen led from the start, pulling away from the pack and finishing six seconds ahead of Valin. The top four riders established a clear gap, while Langenfelder remained in the middle of the field.

MXGP Race 1

In the MXGP class, Romain Febvre of Kawasaki Racing Team rebounded from a DNF in the qualifying race to take the Fox Holeshot. Lucas Coenen quickly moved up to second but suffered a crash at the exit of the mechanic’s area, dropping him to 17th. Another crash later in the race sent him even further back to 26th. Jeffrey Herlings seized the opportunity, moving through the field and eventually overtaking Febvre for the win. Tom Vialle and Tim Gajser completed the podium, while Coenen managed to recover to 12th. Despite his efforts, Coenen lost 16 points to his closest rival in what was a difficult day for the points leader.

MX2 Race 2

Sacha Coenen once again took the holeshot in Race 2, with Maxime Grau and Julius Mikula securing strong starts on their non-factory machines. Liam Everts crashed early but recovered to stay in the race. Simon Langenfelder started in fourth and worked his way up, passing Mikula and Grau in the process. Coenen built a five-second lead in two laps, but he made a critical mistake near the end of the race, dropping his KTM in a corner. However, he managed to recover and maintain his lead, finishing with a perfect 1-1-1 weekend. Guillem Farres finished second, while Langenfelder came in third. Mikula achieved his best result of the season, finishing fourth.

MX2 Overall Results

Sacha Coenen (1-1)
Guillem Farres (3-2)
Mathis Valin (2-7)
Julius Mikula (6-4)
Karlis Reisulis (5-5)
Simon Langenfelder (10-3)
Liam Everts (4-9)
Kay Karssemakers (9-8)
Janis Reisulis (12-6)
Camden McLellan (8-11)

MXGP Race 2

In the second MXGP race, Kay de Wolf and Lucas Coenen led the pack out of the first corner, with Tom Vialle and Tim Gajser close behind. Jeffrey Herlings started eighth and quickly moved up, passing Oriol Oliver on the opening lap. Coenen initially pulled ahead of de Wolf, but Gajser gained momentum and passed both riders. Herlings continued his charge, eventually overtaking de Wolf for third. A crash by Coenen created a battle between Gajser and Herlings, with Gajser ultimately taking the win. Herlings finished second, while Tom Vialle claimed the final podium spot. Romain Febvre struggled to recover and finished 12th.

MXGP Overall Results

Jeffrey Herlings (1-2)
Tim Gajser (4-1)
Tom Vialle (3-6)
Kay de Wolf (7-4)
Maxime Renaux (5-5)
Romain Febvre (2-12)
Lucas Coenen (12-3)
Ruben Fernandez (9-7)
Oriol Oliver (8-10)
Pauls Jonass (11-8)

Title Fights Remain Tight

Following the events at Pietramurata, the title races in both classes are more competitive than ever. Lucas Coenen’s lead has been reduced from 14 to 4 points, thanks to a strong performance by Jeffrey Herlings. In the MX2 division, Simon Langenfelder still leads, but his advantage has shrunk from 24 to 3 points after a stellar weekend from Sacha Coenen.

The series will now take a month off before returning in late May for the French round at Lacapelle Marival.