Red Bull KTM Factory Racing has confirmed that Lucas Coenen will not compete at this weekend’s Grand Prix of Sweden, round 15 of 19 in the 2026 FIM Motocross World Championship. The Belgian rider continues to recover from a left hip injury that has sidelined him for multiple rounds.
Coenen has been undergoing intensive treatment for sciatic nerve damage stemming from the hip injury, which previously forced him to miss races in the Czech Republic and Belgium due to severe pain. The 19-year-old, who held the red plate earlier this season and has claimed five Grand Prix victories in 2026, had been making progress with his rehabilitation programme.
However, following consultation with the Red Bull KTM team and the squad’s physiotherapist, Coenen decided that the trip to Uddevalla has come too soon. The team determined that returning to racing at this point could risk a setback and potentially cause further complications to the injury.
“Obviously this is big shame for me and for the team,” said Coenen. “It was already tough to miss my home GP and I hoped the extra days would let me get fit for Sweden but we ran out of time. I still have some pain and another crash could put us back to the beginning or create something worse. I feel I am getting close to fitness but not yet.”
The former championship leader will continue his intense treatment programme, with his return to racing being assessed on a day-by-day basis. The team remains cautious about rushing the young rider back onto his KTM 450 SX-F in the premier class.
Davide De Carli, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing De Carli Team Manager, emphasised the importance of patience with this type of injury. “This is hard for Lucas and his family but this is an injury that you cannot rush. You need to be as close as possible to 100% to do anything in MXGP and he is simply not ready for Sweden. All we can do is keep making treatment and keep patient.”
De Carli added: “In the meantime, we’ll do all we can to help Sacha in MX2 and just hope that both brothers can be racing together soon because the GPs will count down very fast to the end of the season.”
With only four rounds remaining after Sweden, Coenen’s championship aspirations have taken a significant hit. The team has not confirmed a timeline for his return, maintaining a cautious approach to ensure full recovery before the Belgian talent returns to Grand Prix competition.
Photo: KTM Media
