Belgium’s Lucas Coenen has followed his MX2 class-winning brother Sasha Coenen’s lead with victory in the opening 450 race of the 2026 European motocross season.
The MXGP world No.2 (pictured here) showed he will be hard to beat this season with a masterful performance, taking the lead from Italy’s former world MX2 champion Andrea Adamo early and running away with the race at the Alghero International, in Italy.
Second was Adamo and third was Oliver Oriol.
The opening MXGP race of the season saw overcast skies and a holeshot to Andrea Adamo on his factory KTM machine, followed by Oriol, Lucas Coenen, with Tim Gajser well off the pace in seventh spot.
Adamo not getting away from Oriol and Coenen, with the rest of the field miles behind. Coenen into second place and now behind his fellow factory KTM rider, with Van Doninck, in fourth spot. Coenen all over the back wheel of Adamo as they fight for the lead.
Oriol losing ground on this two and Coenen and Adamo very close as the Belgian tried to take the lead. Calvin Vlaandern was in 10th place on the Ducati, and Mattia Guadagnini was fifth. Coenen into the lead and quickly getting away from Adamo, with Gajser up to sixth place, but looking a little ordinary.
Coenen with a two second lead over Adamo, with Orioli four seconds off the lead and Jago Geerts moved from 10th place up to 8th. Adamo staying around that two second mark behind Coenen.
While Coenen held a handy lead over Adamo, and Oriol held third, with Brent Van Doninck, Guadagnini and Gajser next. Then came Jan Pancar, Jago Geerts, Andrea Bonacorsi and Alberto Forato. Vlaanderen finished in 16th spot.
Gajser went up to fifth place, then back to sixth place again, but Coenen won it from Adamo and Oriol.
Photo courtesy KTM
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