An MX2 class victory for Andrea Adamo and Grand Prix of Europe thriller for team-mate Lucas Coenen, who earned his first MXGP podium result, were highlights of the weekend for the KTM factory.
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing came through the third round of the 2025 MXGP season with three podium finishes including a 1-2 in the MX2 class for Adamo and Simon Laengenfelder and Coenen securing his first top three result in the MXGP division.
The action took place on another weather-hit weekend at the renowned hard-packed and rutty St Jean D’Angely circuit in western France.
Third overall for Coenen with the KTM 450 SX-F after the premier class rookie grabs his first chequered flag of the campaign with victory in the Saturday qualification heat.
Laengenfelder went 1-3 on the day for his first moto success of the term (and Red Bull KTM scoop both moto wins) and his second trophy from the three GPs this year.
The FIM World Championship transitioned from Spain to France for round three but could not escape the rainy weather with an overcast and showery St Jean D’Angely circuit providing a slick, bumpy and rutty hard-pack surface.
Despite the grey climate, the fans packed the opposing hillside and cheered on the gates of the MXGP and MX2 classes for the first of two events based in France this season.
Coenen set an early marker in the weekend. The Belgian took the lead on the opening lap of the Saturday qualification race and ran to victory for his first 10 points and MXGP pole position. Coenen started brightly again on Sunday where the weather was still unstable and the track was technical and demanding; rewarding riders who could nail the launch from the gate.
Coenen rode to a decent 3rd place in the first moto for his highest Sunday race ranking yet and then he worked diligently from the top five in the second race to again take 3rd.
In MX2, the first moto went fantastically for the team and for Austrian machinery with Laengenfelder claiming his first chequered flag of 2025 ahead of Adamo, followed by Belgian Husqvarna rider Liam Everts and the third Red Bull KTM racer, Sacha Coenen – the Belgian feeling sore after a fall while leading the qualification race on Saturday – coming home in 4th.
The track was drier and tackier but still heavily rutted for moto two. This did not slow the potential of Adamo who charged to P1 after enjoying a close duel with Thibault Benistant that went right to the line. The Italian celebrated his first view from the top of the rostrum since the summer of 2023.
Laengenfelder made sure of his second podium of the championship with P3 and placed two Red Bull KTMs 1-2 in the overall standings. Coenen had the holeshot but a crash coming down the hill for the first time meant he had to pick-up and work his way back to 14th for 7th at the end of the day.
MXGP will take a break for a week and then move back to southern Europe for the journey to Sardinia. The deep and rough sand of Riola Sardo will provide a different technical test on the first weekend of April.
Photo courtesy KTM
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