Current MXGP World Championship points leader Lucas Coenen completed a successful Pro Motocross debut with second overall at Thunder Valley, in the mix throughout the day at the head of the 450MX category. Check In gets the 19-year-old’s take on the first step of his American adventure, detailing his weekend in Colorado.

Image: Octopi Media.

Lucas, second overall with 2-2 moto scores here at Thunder Valley. I’m sure everyone is curious what your take is on the track today and your whole experience here in the US, as well as maybe your excitement for future rounds.

I mean, today was a good day – new track on elevation, so it was kind of hard. On Friday, luckily, we had two sessions to figure it out a little bit, but every time I went out, I felt better. The track’s pretty tricky, like some ruts and then some parts were really loose, so I guess it was more about a feeling to find. It was a fun day of racing.

Did you have any expectations coming into this, and did you exceed those expectations if you did?

Honestly, I didn’t have any expectations – I just wanted to learn and enjoy. All the GP guys were telling me, ‘Hey, come over, you’ve got to beat everyone to show a level.’ I was like, ‘No, if you want to come over, just come over and race.’ You know what I mean? So, I feel like those two, Jett and Hunter [Lawrence], are on another level, and it’s good. So, I guess it’s going to be nice racing if we can come more and just enjoy good racing. Like, today was fun, even though I didn’t have a big battle, it was a nice day.

There’s been a lot of talk today, just listening to the broadcast media coming into this about MXGP versus AMA bikes, and I’ve seen in years past where maybe the MXGP KTM has been a big difference to the US bike because of no chassis regulations. You now have firsthand experience going straight from MXGP a week ago to getting to ride this week on a US spec KTM. Is there really that much of a difference? How much did you notice? Did you feel like it hindered you in any way this weekend?

I just trusted the team so much that I went on [what they told me], and every day, [after] two days of testing, I felt better. So, when I went out there, I was just telling the team [that] whatever you think is the best for me, just make it happen. And I just tried to figure out how to get better on the track.

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And then another direct comparison from MXGP to the US, just the way the track shapes up – one-day format instead of two, fewer classes, more guys in qualifying. Was there anything unexpected to you with the situation there, the way the tracks formed up, or were they kind of what you expected?

It’s nice, the one-day program, because I was a bit lost during the break when it was really short. So, honestly, it was a bit like you had to be fast between moto one and moto two. I liked how it was, and the track was fun but tricky, [it] could catch you quick, but it was a good day.

You finish 2-2. Both times, it didn’t look like it was very hard for you. It looked like you found a good pace. And did KTM or did anyone tell you, like, ‘Hey, our goal is MXGP,’ so just come here [and be consistent]. Was there any need to try to catch Jett, or were you riding as hard as you could?

They were kind of stressed over in Europe because coming over when you’re a championship leader is kind of a risk, but I feel like with the team here, they made it good, and we were in good hands. I didn’t have any expectations, as I said. So, I was just learning every time out. I finished 2-2, but as you know, moto one, both [Hunter and Haiden] crashed, so I got second like that, even though I was pushing from the back. So that was a nice thing. In moto two, I got second, I was pleased with that.

Can you elaborate a little bit on elevation? And I saw you and Jade [Dungey] were practicing second and first gear starts. Did you end up just going with first gear for both motos?

I was checking a little bit how it could work. But we’re high in elevation, so first gear start is…you need it, I think. Overall, we just clicked into the first gear and stayed with that.

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The next track’s going to be remarkably different than this one if you guys come to Southwick, but did you learn anything coming through the pack or racing with our riders both days of the weekend that you’re going to be able to carry forward?

You’ve got to get the start. So when you have the start, you can try to follow and latch on to the top guys. So, I felt like the jumps weren’t good, but I got lucky in the first corner to be somewhere in the top five in both motos. After that, I just did my moto and enjoyed it.

Red Bull KTM on both sides of the pond is one of the most premier teams you can race for, especially in the MXGP side. But you came over this winter, did a little bit of Supercross, so you have some firsthand experience with the staff here. What do you think of the group here? I know you want to come here and race with them. What do you think of the differences between operations and stuff, and how comfortable are you with this team?

I mean, they have a lot of experience, and they know what they are doing, so I felt good out here, and I trust them a lot. I feel like we have a good base, and their work is doing well. So, I feel like it’s clicking well with my brother also – I can’t ask for better.