LUCAS COENEN TOOK THE OVERALL MX2 WIN IN FRANCE

The Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing Team delivered an outstanding performance with Lucas Coenen at the 2024 MXGP of France. Lucas Coenen dominated MX2, celebrating 1-1 finishes in both motos to take the overall win, while Kay de Wolf secured second place, maintaining his lead in the championship standings. In MXGP, Mattia Guadagnini finished a solid 14th, securing valuable points to move-up in the world championship standings.

Held at the historic St. Jean d’Angely circuit, the French venue hosted its 18th MXGP, providing a thrilling backdrop for the third consecutive weekend of action in the 2024 FIM Motocross World Championship. Despite muddy conditions on Friday and Saturday due to heavy rain, Sunday started out with dry conditions, though heavy rain returned in the afternoon, challenging riders on the 1620m hardpack circuit.

In MX2, Lucas Coenen was in a class of his own, winning Saturday’s qualifying race in sticky muddy conditions. On Sunday, he showcased his dominance again, starting 4th in race one, moving to 2nd by lap two, and taking the lead by lap seven. By lap 13, Coenen had stretched out a 10.5-second lead over Andrea Adamo, eventually finishing 11 seconds clear at the flag. In race two, he quickly swept into the lead by lap three, set the fastest lap on lap six with a time of 1:49.9 and stretched his lead to over nine seconds by lap 7. Despite worsening weather, Coenen secured his third Grand Prix victory, moving to third in the championship and closing in on second place.

At the same time, championship leader Kay de Wolf arrived in France with a 44-point advantage. In race one, he grabbed the Fox Holeshot and, despite an early setback dropping to 11th, battled back to finish 3rd. In race two, de Wolf moved up to 2nd by lap five, capitalising on a mistake from Sacha Coenen. Eventually taking the flag in second place, de Wolf’s 3-2 results for the weekend extended his championship lead, completing an incredible performance for the Nestaan Husqvarna MX2 squad.

In MXGP, Mattia Guadagnini showcased his raw speed and huge potential in the world championship’s premier class. In race one, he rocketed to third place at the start, an impressive feat from his 15th place gate slot. Though he slipped to 7th by lap two and finished 13th, his performance earned him eight valuable points. Race two was even more challenging with heavy rain lashing down from the start. A crash at the first corner put Guadagnini in 24th place, but he steadily worked his way back up to finish 17th, moving up one spot in the championship standings to 21st.

After three consecutive races, the Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing Team will regroup during a one-week break before heading to Teutschenthal for the MXGP of Germany on 2nd June.