Red Bull KTM Factory Racing celebrated their first FIM Motocross World Championship Grand Prix ‘double’ in 2024 as Jeffrey Herlings and Sacha Coenen both conquered the fine Kegums soil at the Latvian GP and round nine of 20. Herlings claimed his first MXGP victory in a year with a 1-3 performance on the KTM 450 SX-F while Sacha Coenen converted his bright speed with the KTM 250 SX-F to win in MX2 for the first time in his young career.
An overdue stint of sunshine greeted MXGP for the Grand Prix of Latvia at Kegums. Round nine dipped into the soft shallow soil of Kegums but the fast layout and hard base meant a typically deceptive and tricky circuit for the MXGP and MX2 classes (and European Championship support cards). Now fifteen years as a staple part of the MXGP slate and former Motocross of Nations venue; Kegums was nevertheless hit by a heavy but brief rainstorm that affected the end of the first MX2 moto and the opening MXGP outing.
Before the weather could have its say for the motos, warm and dry RAM Qualification Heats took place on Saturday where Herlings labored to 6th place in MXGP and Andrea Adamo was best-placed with 4th in MX2.
On Sunday the passing Latvian clouds made sure the track was soft and very rough in places (braking bumps and ruts) but also fast and inviting in others. Herlings started well in the initial MXGP moto with his KTM 450 SX-F and seized the lead on the first lap. He controlled the race all the way for his third success of 2024. In the second moto Herlings had no answer for the pace of Jorge Prado and Tim Gajser (despite a late rally) but his 3rd position ensured the top step of the rostrum for his first success of 2024 and his fifth trophy of the year (his eighth career GP feat at Kegums). #84 is 3rd in the standings and 68 points from P1.
MX2 belonged to Sacha Coenen. The young Belgian logged his seventh holeshot of the season (and started 2nd in the following moto) to keep strong and quick at the front of both races. #19 remained upright and in the game, and classified 3rd and 1st to achieve a series of milestones: first race win, first Grand Prix podium and first overall triumph. He was four places ahead of countryman Liam Everts who suffered a tip-off in the first moto and recorded a 5-4 scorecard for more top five regularity. A crash and damaged motorcycled meant world champion Andrea Adamo could rise no higher than 13th in MX2 Moto1 and rode to 8th for 9th overall.
Everts is the highest ranked rider in the MX2 championship in 4th and one slot in front of Adamo. Coenen’s best points haul of the year means he has moved up to 8th. MXGP travels to southern Europe and the iconic racing facility of Maggiora for the Grand Prix of Italy next weekend.
Jeffrey Herlings, 1st and 3rd for 1st overall in MXGP: “Definitely happy. Yesterday was so bad but today I was able to show people I could still ride a bit! The podium was the goal but to come out with a win was amazing. I didn’t quite have the pace for Jorge and Tim in the second moto; I was able to close them down but didn’t have the speed to pass. Anyway, very happy and two good starts today. I hope to keep that going because it’s been a weak point. Pleased with my riding and it’s nice to finally get off that #103 to #104!”
Sacha Coenen, 3rd and 1st for 1st overall in MX2: “Really nice to win my first GP. I’m feeling happy! I had good speed today and I knew I could do it! I had a really good start in the second moto and I just did my race. We need to focus and try to make every weekend a bit like this…and be on the podium as much as we can. Not many mistakes today and I kept on my wheels. This feels so nice.”
Liam Everts, 5th and 4th for 5th overall in MX2: “Hard weekend and one of my most difficult races yet. Sunday was a little bit more positive than Saturday. We need to keep on working and keep on pushing to be back at the top.”
Andrea Adamo, 13th and 8th for 9th overall in MX2: “Yesterday was good and I was happy with P4 but it felt like everything went badly today! In the first moto I had a little issue that meant I was down outside the top twenty and came back to 13th, and in the second I crashed in the second corner and had to come back from last again. The speed was good but the results were not. We need to wake up a bit, not make these silly mistakes and get back to the front and some consistency. Looking forward to Maggiora.”
Results MXGP Latvia 2024
1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED), Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, 1-3
2. Tim Gajser (SLO), Honda, 2-2
3. Jorge Prado (ESP), GASGAS, 7-1
11. Mattia Guadagnini (ITA), Husqvarna 13-9
Standings MXGP 2024 after 9 of 20 rounds
1. Tim Gajser (SLO), Honda, 454 points
2. Jorge Prado (ESP), GASGAS, 450
3. Jeffrey Herlings (NED), Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, 386
14. Mattia Guadagnini (ITA), Husqvarna, 97
Results MX2 Latvia 2024
1. Sacha Coenen (BEL) Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, 3-1
2. Lucas Coenen (BEL) Husqvarna, 2-3
3. Simon Laegenfelder (GER), GASGAS, 4-2
4. Kay de Wolf (NED) Husqvarna 1-9
5. Liam Everts (BEL), Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, 5-4
9. Andrea Adamo (ITA), Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, 13-8
Standings MX2 2024 after 9 of 20 rounds
1. Kay de Wolf (NED) Husqvarna, 443 points
2. Lucas Coenen (BEL) Husqvarna, 388
3. Simon Laegenfelder (GER), GASGAS, 381
4. Liam Everts (BEL), Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, 341
5. Andrea Adamo (ITA), Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, 327
8. Sacha Coenen (BEL) Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, 228