Initially it was a bit of a shock to hear the rumours during the latter half of the MXGP season that Lucas Coenen might be moving to a 450 whether he wins or loses the 2024 MX2 world title.
In the end, despite a close fight, it was teammate de Wolf who won the title and, the rumours proved to be true, Lucas was moving up anyway!
If anything, you would think it would be the other way round, tall super talent de Wolf moving to the 450 division with Coenen staying back to clinch that first world title but it is the other way around.
Lucas is a kid in a hurry and in some ways he doesn’t get the hype he should. Coenen was winning GP races quicker than Deegan was winning in the USA, Coenen was just 16 winning his first GP and pushed hard for the title this year at 17. Coenen, like de Wolf and the aforementioned Deegan, is a very special generational talent.
And when you saw him at the MXoN you saw why, the kid is simply not intimidated by anyone and was catching Prado, Tomac and Febvre on a 250 at Matterley Basin until he had a problem with his goggles and crashed. An unfortunate end to a memorable ride.
And it was that speed in that company that made you think, maybe Coenen on a 450 is a pretty interesting move and it could actually work. Speaking to Geoff Meyer on MXlarge, Coenen is clearly in a big hurry to go to the US and racing Herlings, Gajser, Renaux and Febvre is a great way to get experience with the best before going to the USA but importantly, Coenen said he was two seconds faster on a 450 than his 250!
After that ride at the MXoN and looking at the way he rides the bike with so much flow and momentum – Coenen could be a real threat for race wins in 2025. The big question in still the experience, we saw Sebastian Tortelli move as a teenager to the 250 class in 1997 after his 125 world title in 96, Tortelli was fastest and battled Everts for race and GP wins, but crashes and injury prevented a title change, but he would win the title one year later in the final moto of the year against Everts in a legendary battle.
It seems Lucas Coenen won’t have year two but he is good enough to be up there in year one, and he has a team that knows exactly how to win an MXGP world title, with Prado gone, Coenen will bring an injection of excitement back into the class and sometimes we maybe forget just how special Coenen is.
Both he and De Wolf were sensational this year with searing speed and they both might be even better on a 450. And we get to see just how good Coenen will be on the big bike against some of the biggest legends in the sport in 2025. In terms of the big picture it could be invaluable for his experience, it will be great for the fans and Coenen’s talent, like Jett Lawrence, should have an ever higher ceiling on a 450.
Lucas Coenen is the big story of 2025. The kid is special and he has the chance to show the world just how special next season.
