Lucas Coenen after their MXoN triumph: “I had tears in my eyes”

The Belgians fought tooth and nail in Ernée. This was essential, as in the end it came down to a difference of one or two points between Team Spain and Belgium – meaning a place higher or lower in the standings. Sacha Coenen’s 12th place in the first race had to be their discarded result; otherwise, the Belgians would have slipped down the rankings. MXGP rider Lucas Coenen pushed himself to the absolute limit, particularly in the second race. As it only became clear after the race, he was far from his usual form, as he is still struggling with problems relating to the hip injury he sustained at Foxhills. He had finished the first final in third place. In the third race, he finished in 5th place behind his team-mate Liam Everts. The Belgians absolutely had to get 4th and 5th places across the finish line to secure victory.

Lucas could barely walk

The full extent of the agony Lucas had endured only became clear after the finish: his younger twin brother Sacha had to support him because Lucas could no longer stand on his own two feet. On his way to the paddock, Lucas needed help from his mechanic just to get there. And so Lucas Coenen limped his way to the podium.

Faith moves mountains

During the winner’s interview, Lucas admitted that just a week earlier he’d feared he wouldn’t be able to see the race through. “I was in tears because I couldn’t last more than 10 minutes on the motorbike. But Joel [Roelants] believed in me and somehow I managed to get through both 30-minute races.”

I was in tears because I couldn’t last more than 10 minutes on the motorbike.

Lucas Coenen

Harry Everts kann den belgischen Erfolg kaum fassen

Foto: MXGP-TV

Belgium, the proud motocross nation

Stefan Everts also had tears in his eyes when his son Liam accepted the Chamberlain Trophy. Harry, Stefan and Liam have now all won the trophy. Ernée 2026 will remain an unforgettable event not only for the Everts dynasty, but for the whole of Belgium. After 13 years, they have once again won the most important race of the year, and one can only congratulate Europe’s proud motocross nation on this achievement. They fought hard and more than deserved this success.

Der zehnfache Weltmeister Stefan Everts wird von Gefühlen überwältigt

Foto: MXGP-TV