Red Bull KTM dominate MXGP of Sardgena
By Team TMX on 13th Apr 26
Round four of the 2026 FIM Motocross World Championship delivered a brutal test of endurance and skill on the deep sand of Riola Sardo, with standout victories for Lucas Coenen and Simon Laengenfelder in the MXGP and MX2 classes respectively.
Held at the Crossodromo Comunale “Le Dune” on the Mediterranean island of Sardegna, the event lived up to its reputation as one of the toughest stops on the calendar. Minimal overnight track preparation and a late rain shower created punishing, ever-deepening conditions that tested even the sport’s elite.
MXGP championship leader Coenen delivered a commanding performance for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, securing a perfect 1-1 result to claim his first-ever Sardegna Grand Prix win. However, the Belgian’s dominance was far from uncontested.
Jeffrey Herlings pushed Coenen relentlessly across both races, finishing second twice for Honda HRC Petronas and closing to within just over a second in race two.
Coenen’s decisive moment came in race one, where a bold overtake on Herlings early on allowed him to break clear. A blistering pace - highlighted by laps significantly faster than the rest of the field - saw him stretch his advantage to nearly 20 seconds by the finish.
Race two proved more dramatic. Despite a late mistake that briefly allowed Herlings to close in, Coenen held his nerve under intense pressure to secure his 18th career Grand Prix win, drawing level with Dutch legend Kees van der Ven.
Behind the leading duo, Kay de Wolf delivered a breakthrough performance, charging to third in race two to secure his first MXGP podium for Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing.
The demanding conditions led to multiple incidents throughout the field. Tim Gajser suffered one of the heaviest crashes of the day in race two but remarkably fought back to finish eighth. Meanwhile, reigning champion Romain Febvre was edged off the podium despite consistent rides.
Coenen now extends his championship lead to 14 points over Herlings, with Tom Vialle slipping to third after a difficult second race.
In MX2, Laengenfelder emerged victorious in a dramatic contest that saw fortunes swing rapidly across both races.
After finishing second to Sacha Coenen in race one, the German seized his opportunity in race two when Coenen crashed early while leading. From there, Laengenfelder controlled proceedings to secure the overall win and his second consecutive Grand Prix victory.
Coenen recovered impressively to second overall, while Liam Everts continued his consistent form by claiming third despite riding through injury.
Further down the order, Camden McLellan produced two strong comeback rides to narrowly miss the podium, while rising talents like Julius Mikula and Janis Reisulis impressed with career-best performances.
Laengenfelder’s victory extends his MX2 championship lead to 24 points over Coenen, with Everts climbing into third overall.
