MX Large’s Geoff Meyer sent us this text.
De Carli KTM Factory rider Lucas Coenen enters the MXGP class in 2025 and without question his appearance on the 450 is going to be one of the highlights of the upcoming season. The talented Belgian, who finished runner-up in the 2024 MX2 Motocross World Championship and showed blazing speed at the end of season Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations is obviously excited for the upcoming 450 debut and knows that the big bike is a much more difficult story than the MX2 machine.
The 18-year-old is also realistic enough to understand that the MXGP riders, names like Tim Gajser, Jeffrey Herlings, and Romain Febvre will make life difficult for him and making a debut on the 450 will take some time and a lot of hard work to be 100 percent ready.
With a goal of racing in America in the near future and under the lights of Monster Energy AMA Supercross, we figured it would be a good idea to give him a call and ask about the opening two rounds at A1 and San Diego. Already a fan of Australian Jett Lawrence, having met the Honda HRC Progressive man at the Matterley Basin MXoN, Coenen has his favorite, but he just loves the whole spectacle of supercross.
It comes as no surprise that the same man who is the manager of the Lawrence brothers, Lucas Mirtl, also deals with Lucas and his brother, Sacha. An important person to have in your corner, if you are looking for a ride in the U.S. One thing is for sure, when the Coenen’s arrive in America, be it 2026 or later, they should be lining up in one of the most powerful teams in the sport.
As always, Lucas was a pleasure to interview, with his friendly nature and it is always nice to talk with riders who are still huge fans and can be positive about our beautiful sport. If you haven’t gotten the chance, go check out his Instagram, as he loves to have a good time, buying an old 1970s car, riding in his new FLY gear, or playing with his dog.
MXLarge: Thanks for doing this, Lucas. Are you in Sardinia or somewhere nice and warm?
Lucas Coenen: No problem and yes, I am in Sardinia, and it’s not bad weather here.
I wanted to ask about the opening two supercross rounds, as you are a big fan. It has been a great start with some really good racing and two different winners in the 450 class. Do you sit up and watch it, or because you have to train during the day and work with the team, watch the highlights in the morning when you wake up?
I am watching almost all of it in the morning when I wake up and it is very good. I always dreamt about it since I was a kid and when I am watching those guys, for sure the 450 class, Eli and Jett this weekend for example, it was really good.
Do you have a favorite, or like them all?
I mean, I have, and I like Jett and Hunter a lot, but I don’t have a big favorite, but I like Jett and Hunter, but I also like the battles, that I enjoy a lot. When I have Eli, a guy who was in front of me at the Nations and I see he just won in San Diego, it’s nice to see and that I rode with a legend like him already.
It is amazing that you and Jett have a lot in common, both very talented, you both have fast brothers, managed by the same person and both have a dream to be a big success in America. Is that part of why you can relate to Jett, that you have so many things in common?
I mean, he is just very special. He can ride a bike like not many people can. Also, as a person, I met them [Jett and Hunter] in 2023 at the Nations and immediately, they are really nice people. The family, they are just normal people and that is what I like and when you see what they have already achieved. It is nice to see their family, what they all do. We can only learn from that family.
My next question was actually going to be just that, about learning from the Lawrence family. They have had a lot of success in America, but they also get a lot of negative comments on social media, and I never understand that, because they are such nice people. What is your opinion on that, did you learn you have to be more careful when dealing with the negative side of the sport?
I mean, it is easy to say, but when you are in it, it’s tough. You don’t do something bad, but then you get hated by a lot of people. When you are good, they don’t like you, because they want somebody else to win. A lot of people have hate, and I understand how Jett does it, but it isn’t easy, and you want to be nice to everyone. Also, for me this year, I had difficult moments with people hating, but you need to get over it. I started understanding that this year, not everyone likes you. Let the people talk and you do your thing and if they don’t like you, it’s their problem. I am here for racing and having fun, but I understand Jett’s opinion. I don’t know why people hate so much, because seeing Jett, he is such a nice guy, and I don’t know how he gets it.
Jorge [Prado] is racing there, and he has great technical skills and is struggling a bit in the 450 class. He did have his injuries in the off-season, but what is your opinion on how he is doing?
He is doing okay, for me, he is doing good, because going there, 450 class with the big boys, if you look, they are all good. To go there, if I was in his place, I wouldn’t have any pressure on where I finish, 12th, or 15th, I wouldn’t care. Just take all the experiences, because going to the 450 class, it’s so good, they all know supercross out of their pocket, you know. To go there and race the 450 class, that is already a big thing to do.
Do you have any news on 2026 and if you go to America in that season?
You know, we still have 2025 season, and it starts now. I will do my thing and do the best I can be as a person and a rider and I don’t look at the future, I just look at the present and I just want to be the best person of myself, let’s say. The rest, the manager does his job, and I race and have fun.
The 450 class, I think we all feel, with your technique, you will be really fast, but how has the transition been, from the 250 to the 450 and have you had any crashes that have scared you yet or had any difficulties on that powerful machine, or has it all gone well until now?
No, it’s been really good. Just training, putting hours on the bike and having fun on that 450. It is really fast, that bike is no joke, but for me, it’s just to get to know the bike, because the 450 is not a 250 and some people think it’s easier to ride a 450 with more power, but to handle the bike with that power, it’s more difficult. The 250 is a joke next to that bike. So much power and you can feel its heavier when you ride it. It has been good learning already and we have had some good steps and some good testing with the team, and everybody is happy, and we have a good relationship with everyone. Everything is rolling and we are just trying to get the best out of it. I am just looking forward to Argentina.
You mentioned last time we spoke, that you wanted to race the 450 and the likes of Herlings and Gajser, to learn and be more prepared when you go to America. In saying that, does that mean your goals are just to learn in 2025 and not look at results?
I mean, I want to do my best and when I do my best, we will see what it is going to be. I am already sure about myself, and I am not going to be ridiculous, and I am just going to do my thing, take it step by step, race by race and we are going to see where we end up. I am feeling good on the bike and physically I am also good. I am just looking forward to having a good season with the team and riding in a new class. It is going to be fun.
Do you know what races you will do before Argentina?
We will do the two International Italian races, we will do those and then go to Argentina and see what is going to be, but I am excited to go to Argentina. We will do those two races in Italy to get the race rhythm and get everything ready for Argentina.
