WORLD TITLE JOY FOR FEBVRE AND LÄNGENFELDER AS LUCAS COENEN AND DE WOLF TAKE VICTORY AT THE MXGP OF AUSTRALIA PRESENTED BY SITZLER!
The 2025 FIM Motocross World Championships came to an amazing conclusion today at the Hidden Valley Motorsports Complex, as the brand-new venue saw three World Champions crowned in an unforgettable MXGP of Australia Presented by Sitzler.
Compared to yesterday’s blazing sunshine, the main race day was mostly overcast, although the humidity was back in its place to keep the temperatures up at extremely challenging levels for the riders in both MXGP and MX2. Storm clouds gathered before the second MX2 race, however, and a massive deluge brought a halt to that race and left the second MXGP race unable to run.
The MXGP podium was made up of the results of race one, which saw a brilliant victory for Lucas Coenen as he took second in the Championship. Jeffrey Herlings made it a Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 1-2 for the day, with Tim Gajser claiming third for Honda HRC.
Taking fourth in the race to sew up the World Championship in fine style, however, was Romain Febvre, taking the first ever title in the MXGP class for Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP!
The MX2 class saw the Championship fight intensify to new heights as Kay de Wolf did everything in his power to take the title for himself and Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing. Even though he won the Grand Prix overall, it was Simon Längenfelder who took second overall and claimed the 2025 World Championship for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing! In chaotic conditions, Valerio Lata finished his rookie season with a hard-fought third overall, his first podium for Honda HRC.
Despite the weather bringing a premature halt to the second MX2 race, and cancelling the second MXGP race altogether, the general opinion of the Hidden Valley circuit and the Darwin organisation was first class, and MXGP will be happy to return in 2026!
Romain Febvre began his day of destiny with a clear fastest lap in morning Warm-up, with JK Racing Yamaha’s Isak Gifting over a second behind him, while Qualifying Race winner Lucas Coenen came in third, unusually high for him in a Warm-up.
Coenen rocketed out of the gate to a clear Fox Holeshot Award, his 13th of the season, with his front wheel in the air for much of the start straight! Jeffrey Herlings followed in his wake to slot into second place ahead of Febvre, but Tim Gajser cut to the inside of the Frenchman on the exit of turn three to take third place as the pack blasted through the sunshine.
Behind the big four, Mattia Guadagnini, on a high from his third in the Qualifying Race for Aruba.it Ducati Factory MX Team, made an early pass on Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP rider Calvin Vlaanderen to take fifth on lap one. Vlaanderen was also relegated by Honda HRC man Ruben Fernandez. Glenn Coldenhoff held eighth for Fantic Factory Racing MXGP, but behind him there was a collision through the waves between Vlaanderen’s teammate Maxime Renaux and Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP pilot Pauls Jonass, leaving the Monster Energy Yamaha on the deck and having to retire from the race. The Latvian survived to hold ninth ahead of the other Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP pilot Jago Geerts.
Gifting moved forward well, however, passing Geerts on lap one before leaping past Jonass for ninth on lap five. Geerts also tried to make a move, but hit the rear wheel of the Kawasaki and nearly hit the floor! Sadly for Jago, he suffered a big crash on a long, rutted downhill section which ended his race on lap 15.
Coldenhoff, already assured of the bronze medal for the series after the previous round, kept steady to finish in eighth ahead of Gifting and Jonass. Guadagnini fell prey to Fernandez on lap 10, then Vlaanderen on lap 17, to finish in seventh, his best Sunday race result for nearly six months! Fernandez took fifth ahead of Vlaanderen, and all of these positions were to become their overall results for the day in the end.
Febvre did close in on Gajser and Herlings toward the end of the race, but the medical flags for Geerts seemed to slow his progress, and while Coenen powered to a four-second win over Herlings and Gajser to claim his 16th career GP win, it was the Frenchman who eased his green machine home in fourth to claim his second world title a full decade after his first!
His wait for another world crown was actually not as long as Kawasaki’s, who had to go back to Christophe Pourcel for their last men’s world title in 2006, and all the way back to 1998 for their last premiere class crown with Sebastien Tortelli! There was tears for the whole Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP squad, not least for Team Manager Antti Pyrhönen as they staged an informal champagne celebration on the start straight. So informal, they even popped the cork early!
After the track took a pounding from a massive storm during the MX2 race, which brought a red flag to stop the action prematurely, the event management decided to cancel the second MXGP race completely due to weather conditions, leaving the podium celebrations to begin in earnest!
Despite injuries affecting some leading protagonists, the 2025 MXGP World Championship has been an enthralling season-long battle with many star players bringing copious moments of Motocross magic! Lucas Coenen put in a fantastic first year in the class, but the biggest congratulations have to go to Romain Febvre, with this title making up for the heartbreak of 2021 and rewarding a decade of persistence and hard work at the top of the sport!
Romain Febvre – MXGP World Champion: „A lot of emotions are coming up. I just remember the hard times, the injuries, and everything I went through. It took me 10 years to become World Champion again, and I feel like I’ve achieved something really important in my career. I feel on top of the world. Thanks to all the sponsors, my team, and everyone at home. I’ve made a lot of sacrifices for my family through my career, and today it feels worth it. Now it’s time to enjoy this moment.“
Lucas Coenen – MXGP Vice World Champion: „I’m happy because when you’re 18 and people are doubting you, saying bad things, you just want to show them. Honestly, even after Argentina I felt it could be done, but finishing second in my rookie season is still amazing. Of course, I wanted to win, but Romain [Febvre] was really strong, so congratulations to him. It was a good season, even if I missed a couple of races. I proved myself, and at 18 years old, being vice-champion is something I can be proud of. Thanks to my team for everything, we’ll keep working, and maybe next year both me and my brother can fight for the title.“
Glenn Coldenhoff – MXGP Third in the championship: „It’s been an incredible season. To finish third and take the bronze medal, before the season I would have dreamed of this, but we made it happen. Six podiums, a race win, and so much consistency. It’s a shame I didn’t win a GP, but I think we can all be very proud. Fantic has made big improvements, and it’s paying off. I’m proud of my team, my crew, myself, and my family. Having my wife and daughter here makes it even more special.
MXGP – Grand Prix Race 1 – Top 10 Classification: 1. Lucas Coenen (BEL, KTM), 34:56.200; 2. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), +0:04.241; 3. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), +0:05.838; 4. Romain Febvre (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:32.121; 5. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, Honda), +0:36.535; 6. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, Yamaha), +0:43.791; 7. Mattia Guadagnini (ITA, Ducati), +0:46.182; 8. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, Fantic), +0:52.512; 9. Isak Gifting (SWE, Yamaha), +0:54.547; 10. Pauls Jonass (LAT, Kawasaki), +1:12.641
MXGP – Grand Prix Race 2 – Top 10 Classification: Due to weather conditions the event management decided to cancel MXGP Race 2
MXGP Overall – Top 10 Classification1. Lucas Coenen (BEL, KTM), 25p; 2. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 22p; 3. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), 20p; 4. Romain Febvre (FRA, Kawasaki), 18p; 5. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, Honda), 16p; 6. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, Yamaha), 15p; 7. Mattia Guadagnini (ITA, Ducati), 14p; 8. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, Fantic), 13p; 9. Isak Gifting (SWE, Yamaha), 12p; 10. Pauls Jonass (LAT, Kawasaki), 11p
MXGP – World Championship – Top 10 Classification: 1. Romain Febvre (FRA, KAW), 956 points; 2. Lucas Coenen (BEL, KTM), 917 p.; 3. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, FAN), 678 p.; 4. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, HON), 620 p.; 5. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 608 p.; 6. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, YAM), 582 p.; 7. Maxime Renaux (FRA, YAM), 527 p.; 8. Andrea Bonacorsi (ITA, FAN), 518 p.; 9. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 490 p.; 10. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, DUC), 377 p.
MXGP – Manufacturers Classification: 1. KTM, 1026 points; 2. Kawasaki, 962 p.; 3. Honda, 864 p.; 4. Yamaha 794 p.; 5. Fantic, 737 p.; 6. Ducati, 490 p.; 7. Beta, 314 p.; 8. Husqvarna, 108 p.; 9. Triumph 10p.; 10. 7p;
Sacha Coenen took the fastest time in the morning Warm-up, but only just from Kay de Wolf, while Monster Energy Triumph Racing rider Guillem Farres took third, just as he did in yesterday’s Qualifying Race.
It was all about the Championship contenders from the very beginning of race one, as Simon Längenfelder took his eighth Fox Holeshot Award of the season, after a little contact with teammate Coenen in the first corner! De Wolf was immediately on his tail, and in the first downhill corner the Dutchman cut across the German, immediately showing his intent to disrupt his rival in order to claw back the points he needed! His first effort was mis-judged, however, as Simon got back in front of him, while Farres took the chance to tuck inside the duelling pair to lead the race!
Coenen had recovered from the first corner contact to sit in fourth ahead of Kawasaki Racing team MX2’s Mathis Valin and the second Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing rider Liam Everts. In the stifling heat, De Wolf seemed to be keeping patient, but nearly went over the handlebars on the finish line jump as he was getting close!
Längenfelder responded by making a forceful pass on Farres, the only kind of pass you can really pull on the Spaniard, to take the lead on lap six. De Wolf was in no mood to let his title rival escape however, and also worked his way past the Triumph before the end of the lap. The tension was building!
Further back, Monster Energy Triumph Racing’s Camden McLellan worked his way forward to claim seventh ahead of Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2 team leader Rick Elzinga, whose teammate Karlis Reisulis rounded out the top ten behind Valerio Lata.
Coenen had dropped behind Valin for fifth on lap seven as he nearly crashed trying to pass Farres, but quickly grabbed the position back from the Frenchman to close in again! He passed the Triumph sweetly on lap ten, but the Spaniard was not done as he leapt alongside the Belgian on one of the biggest jumps on the circuit, just as Sacha scrubbed to stay low! The pair touched briefly in the air and the KTM came off worst, suffering damage in a big crash that put him back to 13th.
The incident moved Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Andrea Adamo up the order into sixth behind Everts, with Valin fourth just two seconds shy of Farres.
It was all about the title combatants, however, as De Wolf closed in on Längenfelder and struck on lap 14, heading from the inside to the outside of a right-hand corner as the German was committed to build speed for a jump! The impact put the KTM on the ground spectacularly, but they were so far ahead of Farres that Simon could remount to keep second place, leaving the gap at ten points for the final race of the Championship!
The storm clouds were looming in more ways than one for MX2 Race 2, and Coenen grabbed one final Fox Holeshot Award for the season, his 17th, with Längenfelder on his tail, while De Wolf battled past his teammate Everts and made another unsuccessful lunge in that downhill corner!
It simply had to happen – the reigning Champ went around the outside of his rival in the s-bend before Pit Lane, and took the German down with a brake-check around the next hairpin! Quickly remounting and incredibly only dropping to sixth, it looked like the move had not paid off, although Längenfelder had Farres, Adamo, and Everts between him and De Wolf, so it was far from over!
Suddenly, the heavens opened with a massive torrent drenching the circuit almost in a heartbeat! As Längenfelder lined up a move on Everts, his front wheel washed out on that tricky downhill corner and he was on the muddy floor, with wet grips and gloves, and even collided with an errant KTM BTS Racing rider Jens Walvoort at the top of the next hill, restarting in 13th!
Coenen did well to hold De Wolf back as the rain drove onto the track, with Farres the first victim as he fell from third on lap four! Längenfelder started to make progress, up to ninth on lap 12, needing just one place if De Wolf stayed in second. Conditions became atrocious, and suddenly McLellan, Everts, and Adamo were either crashing out of the race or having their bikes give up the ghost due to the massive puddles of water! And they weren’t alone!
De Wolf suddenly slowed, unable to get onto terms with Coenen, and it became clear that the bike did not sound right! On lap eight, he struggled through the same corner where he clashed with Längenfelder on lap one, and had to push his bike from there! Crucially, Lata, Elzinga and Reisulis got past him before he could limp across the finish line, then Längenfelder was next along, greeted by the sight of the #1 Husqvarna being pushed off-track! The pack struggled on for another lap and a half, but then the red flag came out for safety reasons as lightning was also in the area.
Confusion reigned as Coenen took the race win, ahead of an exultant Lata with the Yamahas of Elzinga and Reisulis fourth and fifth. Then came Längenfelder, unsure of where he was until he saw his team going wild with celebration after the finish line jump! Initially called as the GP winner, the results were counted back to put De Wolf in fifth place and therefore give him the GP victory, but with Simon already up to sixth it was not enough to deny the German of the world crown!
Lata’s second place was enough to claim his first podium of the season, and his second in MX2, while Elzinga took a season-best of fifth overall behind Coenen. Farres, Reisulis, Everts, Valin, and Walvoort all took top ten results overall thanks to their battles through the mire!
Simon Längenfelder, after finishing third in each of the last three MX2 World Championships, finally struck gold in Australia to become the first German World Champion since Ken Roczen in 2011, and wept with relief as the rain continued to hammer down!
The MX2 World Championship stayed completely wild right up until the end, and with many riders returning in 2026 it should continue to excite throughout next year too, but for now let’s applaud the efforts of Simon Längenfelder after battling all the way through 2025 to become your new MX2 World Champion!
So, the MXGP season has come to a close, but 2025 is not quite over. We head to the USA in two weeks’ time for the Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations at Ironman in Indiana, and what a climax to the World Motocross season that will be! See you there!
Simon Längenfelder : „Honestly, it’s been a tough season, but I gave everything I had. There were ups and downs, but I’m proud of the way we kept pushing and always tried to fight at the front. We’ve had strong races, and I know there is still more to come. The support from the team and the fans has been amazing, and that means a lot. We’ll keep building from here.“
Kay de Wolf : „It is what it is, I gave it everything, no regrets. I tried everything I could, and I’m proud of myself. I was 70 points back after Matterley Basin, so everything I did from then was already amazing. Of course, it’s a bummer that the season ended like this, with the rain, and my dream just slipped away. But I’ve shown I can be a champion. I wanted to finish it off like one, but it wasn’t to be. Next year I’ll bounce back and give it everything again.
Andrea Adamo: „It was a positive year for sure, but in the end the only thing that counts is winning. Nobody remembers who finishes second or third, so of course it’s a shame to finish like this. Still, my season was good, could have been better, could have been worse. I’m happy with the work we did, but I know we want more. We’ll take the positives and keep moving forward.“
MX2 – Grand Prix Race 1 – Top 10 Classification: 1. Kay de Wolf (NED, Husqvarna), 33:42.445; 2. Simon Längenfelder (GER, KTM), +0:04.481; 3. Guillem Farres (ESP, Triumph), +0:08.935; 4. Mathis Valin (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:11.146; 5. Liam Everts (BEL, Husqvarna), +0:11.969; 6. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), +0:28.086; 7. Camden Mc Lellan (RSA, Triumph), +0:32.265; 8. Rick Elzinga (NED, Yamaha), +0:33.989; 9. Valerio Lata (ITA, Honda), +0:42.533; 10. Karlis Alberts Reisulis (LAT, Yamaha), +0:45.306
MX2 – Grand Prix Race 2 – Top 10 Classification: 1. Sacha Coenen (BEL, KTM), 17:09.073; 2. Valerio Lata (ITA, Honda), +0:21.452; 3. Rick Elzinga (NED, Yamaha), +0:36.523; 4. Karlis Alberts Reisulis (LAT, Yamaha), +0:39.592; 5. Kay de Wolf (NED, Husqvarna), +0:41.121; 6. Simon Längenfelder (GER, KTM), +0:41.546; 7. Kay Karssemakers (NED, Kawasaki), +0:49.311; 8. Liam Everts (BEL, Husqvarna), +0:56.026; 9. Jens Walvoort (NED, KTM), +0:57.476; 10. Guillem Farres (ESP, Triumph), +1:15.176
MX2 Overall – Top 10 Classification: 1. Kay de Wolf (NED, HUS), 41 points; 2. Simon Längenfelder (GER, KTM), 37 p.; 3. Valerio Lata (ITA, HON), 34 p.; 4. Sacha Coenen (BEL, KTM), 33 p.; 5. Rick Elzinga (NED, YAM), 33 p.; 6. Guillem Farres (ESP, TRI), 31 p.; 7. Karlis Alberts Reisulis (LAT, YAM), 29 p.; 8. Liam Everts (BEL, HUS), 29 p.; 9. Mathis Valin (FRA, KAW), 28 p.; 10. Jens Walvoort (NED, KTM), 22 p
MX2 – World Championship Classification: 1. Simon Längenfelder (GER, KTM), 928 points; 2. Kay de Wolf (NED, HUS), 919 p.; 3. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), 845 p.; 4. Sacha Coenen (BEL, KTM), 798 p.; 5. Camden Mc Lellan (RSA, TRI), 636 p.; 6. Liam Everts (BEL, HUS), 635 p.; 7. Thibault Benistant (FRA, YAM), 603 p.; 8. Guillem Farres (ESP, TRI), 500 p.; 9. Valerio Lata (ITA, HON), 481 p.; 10. Mathis Valin (FRA, KAW), 467 p.
MX2 – Manufacturers Classification: 1. KTM, 1110 points; 2. Husqvarna, 1003 p.; 3. Yamaha, 733 p.; 4. Triumph, 726 p.; 5. Honda, 579 p.; 6. Kawasaki, 481 p.; 7. TM, 208 p.; 8. GASGAS, 38 p.;
Bild/Text: Infront