The 79th FIM Motocross of Nations drew a huge record crowd of 105,000 to the ‘amphitheater’ setting of the Ernee circuit in northern France where Red Bull KTM’s Lucas and Sacha Coenen contributed to Team Belgium first victory in the annual contest since 2013. Red Bull KTM also had SMX champion Jorge Prado inspiring Team Spain to 2nd place and their first ever podium result.
Ernee welcomed the Motocross of Nations for the fourth time in the past two decades; the last edition had come in 2023. The biggest and most popular offroad motorcycle race of the year was won by Team USA (2005) and Team France (2015, 2023) in previous events at the steep, hardpacked course located west of Le Mans.
Red Bull KTM had a total of five athletes representing four of the 32 entered countries at the annual fixture. SMX Champion Jorge Prado led the line for Team Spain with the KTM 450 SX-F while 2026 Grand Prix winners in MXGP and MX2, Lucas and Sacha Coenen, starred for Team Belgium.
Each nation presented three-man teams; with a rider in MXGP, MX2 and Open classes. Five of the six results posted on Sunday from three 30 minute and 2 lap motos (with the top twenty of two classes from Saturday’s Qualification Heats combined in the start gate: MXGP & MX2, MX2 & Open and MXGP and Open) counted towards the final score.
On Saturday Prado took victory in the MXGP Qualification race while Lucas Coenen was 5th in the same outing, despite a crash at the start and a damaged seat. Adamo grabbed 4th in Open as Sacha Coenen ran to 7th in MX2 after leading early on.
Sunday was hotter and breezier and Ernee was at capacity. Prado finished 1st overall in the MXGP class. He led the first moto until a small tip-off and finished 2nd in the third moto – against the Open category – the SMX champion was again 2nd for 2-2 on the day. Lucas Coenen’s first race since wildcarding at the Southwick National in July led to a productive 3rd overall. The 19-year-old ran to a lonely 3rd in the first moto and then took 5th later in the afternoon. His twin, Sacha, crashed in the first race but recovered to 12th on his KTM 250 SX-F against the bigger bikes. Coenen’s run to 7th in the second moto helped Belgium to their superior points tally. Julien Beaumer was 7th overall in MXGP and posted a 10-17 for Team USA. Adamo rode well to P2 in the second race of three on the day and was circulating inside the top ten during the final outing until a brief crash caused damage to his radiator. The Italian tried to continue but was eventually forced to retire.
The 2027 Motocross of Nations is set to take place at the TT Circuit Assen in the Netherlands on October 9-10.
Jorge Prado, 1st in MXGP, Team Spain finish 2nd: “With the whole team we put Spain on the box. We have never achieved a podium and to take 2nd place is amazing. There are a lot of people behind this and a lot who have been waiting, waiting and waiting for us to be up here. We had some amazing performances today and I’m really happy I can live this with them.”
Lucas Coenen, 3rd in MXGP, Team Belgium finish 1st: “I cannot thank these guys enough. It’s unbelievable. Last week I could barely do [ride] 10 minutes but we kept working and on Tuesday I managed to do one moto. I don’t know how I did it today, especially with [Cooper] Webb on my wheel and I was nervous for the second start. A big thanks to Joel [Roelants, Team Manager] and everyone behind the scenes. This is amazing. Belgium is back on top and I love it.”
Sacha Coenen, 3rd in MX2, Team Belgium finish 1st: “It feels unreal to be up here with my brother and the whole team rode amazing today. I didn’t have the best first moto but the second was really good. I was quite happy enough. I really want to thank the whole team. It’s an incredible day.”
