Published On: 20 mei 2026
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HThe rumor had been circulating for some time, but now Red Bull KTM Factory Racing has officially confirmed it: both Lucas Coenen and Sacha Coenen will make their debut in the AMA Nationals in 2026.

According to Steve Matthes of PulpMX, who broke the news yesterday, it was initially supposed to involve the race at Thunder Valley National. Interestingly, however, KTM speaks of “Wildcards” and “Nationals” in the plural in the official Instagram post. The press release makes it immediately clear that it is not about one race, but about three. In addition to Thunder Valley National, they will also compete in the AMA National in Southwick and Ironman.

The announcement comes as a surprise nonetheless. Both Lucas and Sacha Coenen are currently among the absolute title contenders in their respective World Championship classes. The fact that KTM is giving them permission to participate in the prestigious AMA Nationals in the midst of that title battle demonstrates how much confidence the Austrian brand has in the talent of the young Belgians.

For both European and American motocross fans, it will in any case be a unique opportunity to finally see the Coenen brothers in action on the iconic American outdoor circuits.

Press release

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing MXGP and MX2 Grand Prix winners Lucas Coenen and Sacha Coenen plan three appearances in the 2026 AMA Pro National Motocross Championship, part of the SuperMotocross (SMX) series.

Lucas Coenen currently leads the MXGP World Championship on the Red Bull KTM 450 SX-F and has already secured two victories in the first five motos of the season. Sacha Coenen is second in the MX2 championship on the Red Bull KTM 250 SX-F. He has led the most laps so far, taken one victory and three podium finishes, and also won all Saturday qualifying heats. The twin brothers are eager to get a taste of the American racing scene, and thanks to the partnership with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing in SMX – based in California – a provisional plan has been drawn up regarding their Grand Prix commitments.

Lucas and Sacha, together with the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing crew led by Davide De Carli in Europe and Ian Harrison's team in the United States, have confirmed the following options: the Thunder Valley National in Lakewood, Colorado on June 13 (between the Latvian and Italian Grands Prix), the Southwick National in Massachusetts on July 11 (between the South African and British Grands Prix), and the Ironman National Finals on August 29 (between the Dutch and Turkish GPs).

These potential participations constitute the third, fifth, and eleventh rounds, respectively, of the 11-race AMA calendar and depend on the outcome of their battle for the motocross world titles in 2026.

The Coenen brothers will compete in the 450MX and 250MX classes, fitting their current competitions. Their first 'wildcard' follows as early as next month in Lakewood, a former venue for the Motocross of Nations.

Lucas Coenen: “It is official: we are aiming for three rounds of the AMA Outdoor Championship. It is a dream to be able to do this while simultaneously remaining focused on our season. I am really looking forward to it and want to enjoy it as much as possible. It is going to be an incredible experience. I am also looking forward to meeting many fans. Super motivated.”

Sacha Coenen: “I am really incredibly excited to ride a few races in the US this year. We’ve been watching those races since we were kids, so it’s going to be amazing to go there and try those tracks ourselves. I am incredibly grateful to KTM and all the people who made this possible. See you there!”

Ian Harrison: The Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team will be a bit bigger this year at Thunder Valley, with Sacha and Lucas Coenen joining us for this event. Due to a short break in the MXGP calendar, they are excited about the opportunity to race at altitude and in the United States. I had the chance to see them both in action last year at the Motocross of Nations, where they showed exceptional speed and talent. We look forward to welcoming them and seeing them compete in the AMA Pro Motocross Championship.

Article photo: Tschann E. – KTM Images