Image: Supplied.

Teenager Lucas Coenen will make the significant step up to the MXGP World Championship with Red Bull KTM in 2025, joining twin brother Sacha Coenen in the title-winning De Carli-operated team that will revert back from GasGas to KTM.

The 17-year-old Belgians will headline the new-look, Rome-based program, which all but confirms that new two-time MXGP champion Jorge Prado will head to the US – expected to be with Kawasaki – next year.

“I am very happy to have the talents of Lucas and Sacha onboard for next year,” commented Davide De Carli, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team manager. “I have always admired their potential since they were racing in the EMX125 European Championship and clearly the results have started to come in the world championship.

“I cannot wait to start working with them! This winter they will arrive in Rome and we will start preparing for 2025. It is the first time that a team at our level has had twins under the same tent – a great challenge is about to begin.”

As part of the Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing roster, Lucas finished runner-up in the MX2 World Championship in 2024 behind teammate Kay de Wolf, winning nine grands prix and falling just 20 points short of the title after it went down to the wire. It’s yet to be determined if de Wolf will defend or transfer to MXGP with Husqvarna.

“It’s official!” Lucas Coenen said. “Red Bull KTM Factory Racing next year and I’m really looking forward to it. The team have so many titles, it’s a dream come true, and also to be in the same team as my brother. I’ll be working my butt off to have the best year possible.

“I’ll be racing the KTM 450 SX-F and it’s a new chapter with the big boys! Everybody is fast in that class and it will be interesting to see how much margin there is because the times are so tight. I want to learn as much as possible and get the most experience.

“I have support for what I want to do, and the people around me believe in this choice and this project. It will be really nice. I know the team will help me a lot. Right now I just need to get fit again after the operation to fix my left collarbone [injured at MXoN], which went fine, and then we can start work for next year.”

Next year will mark Sacha Coenen’s – winner of two GPs this year – third term with Red Bull KTM onboard the 250 SX-F after he finished eighth in the 2024 standings. He moves across from the existing Red Bull KTM team helmed by Harry Norton, which also housed Jeffrey Herlings, Andrea Adamo and Liam Everts this season. It’s unclear

“I’m really happy to continue in Red Bull KTM and to work with Davide and his crew next year,” Sacha Coenen said. “I’ve been learning a lot about the bike and the MX2 class these last two seasons and also my speed from the first laps of the moto until the end.

“We still have some work to do but we have made steps and I am ready to progress again. I’m really motivated and really looking forward to 2025, as well from having Lucas next to me! We’ll do the best we can.”