Round 3 of the 2026 AMA Pro Motocross Championship at Thunder Valley proved to be a breakout U.S. appearance for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Belgian twins Lucas and Sacha Coenen, with both brothers delivering standout performances during the MXGP mid-season break.
For current MXGP points leader Lucas Coenen, the 450MX debut could hardly have gone much better. The 19-year-old immediately adapted to the high-speed Colorado circuit, qualifying second with a 2:02.201 lap and carrying that speed into racing with a pair of runner-up finishes.
In Moto 1, Lucas charged through the field to finish second, closing to within 1.4 seconds of the winner Jett Lawrence, before backing it up with another second place in Moto 2 to secure second overall in his first-ever Pro Motocross appearance.
Reflecting on the experience, Lucas said he was thrilled to immediately run at the front in a new championship environment.
“This was amazing! My start wasn’t that good, but I managed to go quick in the first corner and then just enjoy [myself] out there,” Lucas Coenen said. “I can’t thank the team enough for making this happen, and with the Roger De Coster kit, it’s amazing – I loved every lap out there.
“The second moto was hectic with lapped riders, but you know, I am racing the best riders in the world, and it’s a lot of fun. Now, I will go back racing our series in MXGP, and we’ll see when we can come back again in the future.”
Behind him, Sacha Coenen also made a major impression in his first U.S. appearance in the 250MX class, qualifying second before a dramatic weekend that showcased both resilience and race-winning speed.
A fall early in Moto 1 left the MX2 World Championship leader down the order in 14th, but he rebounded in emphatic fashion in Moto 2. After launching into the lead with a holeshot, Sacha controlled the race from the front to claim a dominant moto victory and secure fourth overall with a 14-1 scorecard.
“I’m really happy to come over [to America] – this was our dream! We made it happen and the second moto was really good,” Sacha Coenen said. “I had a good start and the riding was really perfect.
“I’m just bummed about the first moto, but we need to accept it, and I am just really happy with the second moto. Thanks to everyone, it’s good confidence to take knowing that I can win a moto, so I am feeling very confident.”
With both riders now returning to Europe for the next phase of the MXGP World Championship, their Thunder Valley performances added another layer of momentum to already impressive 2026 campaigns.
