Lucas Coenen secured his first-ever MXGP podium at the weekend during the MXGP of France, marking a significant milestone in his young career. The Factory KTM rider has been steadily improving since the start of the season, and his performance in France demonstrated his growing confidence and determination.
Reflecting on his achievement, Coenen expressed his satisfaction, telling GateDrop.com:
“It feels good, I’ve struggling a bit since the beginning of the season but getting back to it and just building in confidence. Now we got a podium under our belt, three rounds in, it’s not bad but now we have two weeks of rest and recharge the batteries and to be ready for Sardinia.”
The weekend was a culmination of hard work and perseverance, especially after a challenging start to the season. His victory in the qualifying race was a key highlight, with Coenen explaining,
“I was really happy about it because we had a lot of tough times since the beginning of the season and now we are getting better and better but not still where we want to be. But it takes time, no pressure, so we just keep building.”
Despite facing fierce competition, Coenen remained composed and strategic in his approach.
“Yeah for sure, I can learn everything from them (Gajser and Febvre) but I was just a bit mad because normally I can run with those guys but now I was more leaving them because I wanted to get the podium under the belt and stay calm. It was good, I know if we have to fit, the speed is there. We can only be better, so that’s a good win.”
Competing against top riders like Tim Gajser has also been a valuable learning experience for the Belgian talent:
“No, for me it’s still the same with Tim. Riding against each other is like how I ride with my brother also, so for me it’s all good. I respect him a lot, he’s a good rider and a legend. He’s really fast, I can learn a lot from him. I love it and I can only learn.”
His pre-season injury undoubtedly posed challenges, but Coenen has remained focused on his recovery and progress.
“No, we can’t go into the details, but just a bummer. Now we are getting better and better, so just working. No, a bit of everything, but it’s life. We take it step by step. Rome wasn’t built in a day, so we have got to learn and improve. We will get some rest and then we get to the sand, so that’s going to be nice.”
With his first MXGP podium secured, Coenen is eager to continue building on his momentum. The upcoming races, particularly in Sardinia, present another opportunity for him to showcase his potential. His recent success is a testament to his resilience, and as he puts it, “We can only be better,” highlighting his ambition for greater achievements in the season ahead.
