Red Bull KTM factory rider Lucas Coenen is very much the man of the moment as he takes his Saturday qualification win into today’s opening MXGP moto, with a brilliant victory performance and again, closed the points gap to Romain Febvre of the Kawasaki factory team.

Febvre finished second, and only lost three points to the Belgian, but it is without question, battle stations as the series starts to heat up. Third was another Red Bull KTM factory rider, Jeffrey Herlings, who is definately finding some form.

Lucas Coenen: It wasn't easy, I had arm pump from lap two and could hardly hold on, and Jeffrey was pushing really hard and then Romain came and my arms were pumped up and I didn't think I could do it. I try and relax and try and get a win in the second one.

Championship points are now Romain Febvre 416 points, Lucas Coenen 372pts, Tim Gajser 305pts, Glenn Coldenhoff 290pts, and Maxime Renaux 283pts.

MXGP Moto One

Coenen with the lead in the opening MXGP moto, followed by Herlings who tried to push past Coenen, but both stayed up. Herlings is pushing hard and Fernandez down. Renaux was third, then Seewer, Guyon, Bonacorsi, Horgmo, Vlaanderen, Febvre and Pancar.

Coenen getting away in first as he showed the changing of the guard is very much order of the day. Herlings a slight gap over Renaux, with Febvre into seventh place and the crowd are loving this is Febvre moved into sixth place and clearly on a mission.

Lap one and the lead by Coenen over Herlings was three seconds, as Renaux was six seconds back and Seewer all over Renaux for third, then came Febvre now in fifth, Bonacorsi, Horgmo, Guyon, Vlaanderen and Pancar. Watson a nice 11th place, Coldenhoff 13th, then Bogers.

Coenen quickly makes the gap four seconds, and he is looking very, very smooth and fast. Lap four and it was Coenen with 3.3 over Herlings, then Renaux 11.4 back in third, followed by Febvre, Bonacorsi, Seewer, Horgmo, Vlaanderen, Pancar and Guyon in 10th. Herlings continued to close the gap on the leader. Are we about to see “The Bullet” and one of his charges?

On lap five, Herlings cut the lead to 2.4 seconds and Herlings is definitely making a charge. Soon after it was less than two seconds. Febvre moved into third with a pass on Renaux, but 13 seconds off the leader. The gap suddenly, 1.3 seconds and Herlings is flying.

Coenen had mentioned to us he wanted this (a Herlings battle), and you can be sure, Herlings is pushing hard in his 200th Grand Prix race. Coenen trying to match Herlings and gets the lead back to 1.8 seconds. Both riders looking very comfortable at this frantic pace. Herlings all over the back wheel of Coenen and the series needs this, a battle of the eras.

Febvre slowing catching the two guys in front and making also wanting to join the party. On lap eight it was Coenen, Herlings, Febvre, Renaux, Bonacorsi, Seewer, Horgmo, Vlaanderen, Pancar and Watson now in 10th.

Febvre catching the front two and Coenen remaining a safe distance away from the Dutchman behind him. On lap nine it was Coenen with a one second lead and Febvre eight seconds back in third. Renaux 20 seconds off the leader.

Coenen continued to maintain the lead over Herlings and Febvre was just seven seconds off the leaders and cutting it back slightly. The French crowd are getting involved now and its typical Ernee. The lead by Coenen was 2.4 and the young Belgian showing maturity. Febvre just 6.4 off the leader. This is going to turn into a three-way battle.

This is classic Grand Prix motocross as Coenen, Herlings and Febvre might be into a big battle as the race closes up. Herlings responded and closed up closer to Coenen, but Febvre cutting the lead to Coenen to just 5.5 seconds. Ernee always delivers.

Coenen sensing the Febvre speed has opened the gap to 3.3 over Herlings, but the Frenchman is closing up on the Dutchman. Top ten on lap 13 was Coenen, Herlings, Febvre, Renaux, Bonacorsi, Seewer, Vlaanderen, Pancar, Watson and Coldenhoff. Horgmo a crash and out of the top ten.

Febvre into second as Herlings allows him to pass, and while the gap to Coenen is 4.9 seconds, Febvre is really on a roll and getting huge support from the hillside spectators. Febvre looking so aggressive in second, but Coenen looking smooth and just as fast. The gap now 5.3 and Coenen in complete control. Febvre closed right up on Coenen, but was the Belgian playing games and making the Frenchman use more energy? Coenen wins from Febvre and Herlings.

MXGP - Grand Prix Race 1 - Classification

1. Lucas Coenen (BEL, KTM), 35:42.734; 2. Romain Febvre (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:03.978; 3. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), +0:08.809; 4. Maxime Renaux (FRA, Yamaha), +0:30.697; 5. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Ducati), +0:31.483; 6. Andrea Bonacorsi (ITA, Fantic), +0:35.916; 7. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, Yamaha), +0:50.741; 8. Jan Pancar (SLO, KTM), +0:52.647; 9. Ben Watson (GBR, Beta), +0:54.452; 10. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, Fantic), +0:55.284; 11. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, Honda), +1:19.778; 12. Isak Gifting (SWE, Yamaha), +1:22.154; 13. Brian Bogers (NED, Fantic), +1:24.700; 14. Pauls Jonass (LAT, Kawasaki), +1:26.092; 15. Adam Sterry (GBR, KTM), +1:44.797; 16. Mathys Boisrame (FRA, KTM), +1:46.875; 17. Marcel Stauffer (AUT, KTM), +1:48.871; 18. Tom Guyon (FRA, Triumph), +1:50.513; 19. Mattia Guadagnini (ITA, Ducati), +1:51.304; 20. Jago Geerts (BEL, Yamaha), +1:52.566; 21. Noah Ludwig (GER, KTM), +1:56.648; 22. Alberto Forato (ITA, Honda), +1:58.239; 23. Cornelius Toendel (NOR, Honda), -1 lap(s); 24. Federico Tuani (ITA, Honda), -1 lap(s); 25. Tom Koch (GER, Beta), -1 lap(s); 26. Victor Alonso (ESP, Honda), -1 lap(s); 27. John Adamson (GBR, Honda), -1 lap(s); 28. Calvin Fonvieille (FRA, KTM), -1 lap(s); 29. Mark Scheu (GER, Husqvarna), -1 lap(s); 30. Loris Freidig (SUI, Husqvarna), -2 lap(s); 31. Jason Clermont (FRA, Beta), -3 lap(s); 32. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, Honda), -7 lap(s); 33. Brent Van doninck (BEL, Honda), -8 lap(s); 34. Arnaud Aubin (FRA, GASGAS), -12 lap(s); 35. Josh Gilbert (GBR, Honda), -16 lap(s);

MXGP - World Championship Classification

1. Romain Febvre (FRA, KAW), 416 points; 2. Lucas Coenen (BEL, KTM), 372 p.; 3. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 305 p.; 4. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, FAN), 290 p.; 5. Maxime Renaux (FRA, YAM), 283 p.; 6. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, HON), 278 p.; 7. Andrea Bonacorsi (ITA, FAN), 238 p.; 8. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, YAM), 215 p.; 9. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, HON), 204 p.; 10. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, DUC), 199 p.; 11. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KAW), 149 p.; 12. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 147 p.; 13. Ben Watson (GBR, BET), 143 p.; 14. Jan Pancar (SLO, KTM), 131 p.; 15. Jago Geerts (BEL, YAM), 126 p.; 16. Mattia Guadagnini (ITA, DUC), 123 p.; 17. Isak Gifting (SWE, YAM), 90 p.; 18. Brian Bogers (NED, FAN), 88 p.; 19. Valentin Guillod (SUI, YAM), 72 p.; 20. Roan Van De Moosdijk (NED, KTM), 71 p.; 21. Adam Sterry (GBR, KTM), 55 p.; 22. Kevin Brumann (SUI, HUS), 50 p.; 23. Tom Koch (GER, BET), 35 p.; 24. Marcel Stauffer (AUT, KTM), 27 p.; 25. Brent Van doninck (BEL, HON), 22 p.; 26. Josh Gilbert (GBR, HON), 21 p.; 27. Noah Ludwig (GER, KTM), 19 p.; 28. Maximilian Spies (GER, KTM), 13 p.; 29. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, DUC), 10 p.; 30. Alessandro Lupino (ITA, DUC), 9 p.; 31. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, YAM), 8 p.; 32. Cornelius Toendel (NOR, HON), 7 p.; 33. Ivo Monticelli (ITA, KAW), 6 p.; 34. Fabio Aparecido dos Santos (BRA, YAM), 5 p.; 35. Mathys Boisrame (FRA, KTM), 5 p.; 36. Cato Nickel (GER, HUS), 4 p.; 37. Tom Guyon (FRA, TRI), 3 p.; 38. Romain Pape (FRA, YAM), 3 p.; 39. Alberto Forato (ITA, HON), 2 p.; 40. Mitchell Evans (AUS, HON), 1 p.; 41. Mark Scheu (GER, HUS), 1 p.; 42. John Adamson (GBR, HON), 1 p.;