The new season opens once again with the Internazionali d’Italia di Motocross Eicma Series 2025, a regular event for the De Carli team that in Manteca has placed Lucas Coenen on the box in MX1.
DDC: “As you know, we are here every year at the Internazionali d’Italia di Motocross, I think it is very important to do these two pre-season races, because they are a good test to face before the world championship starts in a few weeks. In the race you can try everything you have done during the winter, the work on the bike, the physical preparation of the riders and it’s an excellent training before flying to Argentina. It is good for the riders to line up at the gate, the Internazionali always take place on beautiful tracks and this year is also confirmation of this; Mantova and Montevarchi are two beautiful circuits with very different characteristics.”
The big news is the two new riders who have joined Simon Langenfelder, the Coenen brothers.
DDC: “The Coenen brothers are definitely the most emerging and talented riders around at the moment, I have been following them for a long time, since the 85, then from the 125 I told KTM to set their sights on them. They have been in our group for a long time but in different teams and it has always been one of my biggest dreams to have them with us and finally it happened. Now we have to do a good job and see where we can get to.”
In addition to two riders, the bikes have also changed
DDC: “The guys are giving it their all and are doing a good preparation; the bike is good, we have the same chassis as the GASGAS with different plastics but the basic bike is the same. We worked on developing the suspension, doing a good job in Sardinia and then in Rome. These are small details that can ultimately make the difference.”
What are the goals for the season that started in Mantova?
DDC: “With the guys we have to work on what they did last year, start from there to improve. Lucas is super fast, he has won 9 Grand Prix, proving to be the fastest on the track, but some inconveniences and some races that went badly have affected him. Now we start from scratch, in 450, he is very young, I don’t remember anyone ever moving up to the premier class so early and it’s a super challenge, I don’t want to go too far, because there’s a lot of work to do, but I can say that he has a lot of talent and speed and that he works hard. The first podium of the year is a good result to start from.”
What’s the goals for MX2?
DDC: “Sacha was fast last year, he won two Grand Prix but he lacked consistency, he made a few mistakes, so we have to work especially on this and help him find consistency in results. We still don’t know if it will be Simon’s last season in MX2 but you can always count on him, he has all to do well, we know each other well and he will give everything to win this world championship. Last year, his collarbone fracture in Portugal stopped his rise, but it allowed him to show how strong he is. He returned on Sunday after surgery and these are things that remain. He has everything he needs to make it and together with De Wolf he is among the 5 riders contending for the title.”
The moment is not easy but it does not seem to affect the racing spirit of the group.
DDC: “The strength of our group is in the men who take the bikes to race every Sunday, we are always ready and competitive and we are at the forefront of motorcycles. We are “Ready to race” as our motto says and we are aware of the challenge we are facing. On the racing side, nothing has been left out, success on the track motivates the entire company and I firmly believe that our commitment to racing shows how much KTM wants to do everything to return to the top everywhere. The start of the season is excellent so far with successes in the Dakar and in Supercross, we are here and we are ready to face any challenge.”
