Coenen Brothers' US Supercross Debut May Not Go as Planned
Paddock rumours suggest brothers Sacha and Lucas Coenen could change plans before their US supercross debut because of injuries. Nothing is official, and KTM's boss urges realistic expectations.
Commentators in the United States are questioning whether brothers Sacha and Lucas Coenen will begin their American supercross careers as originally planned. Supercross is a motorcycle racing discipline held in stadiums on artificial tracks with jumps and obstacles. Both riders are with the KTM team, and injuries are affecting their plans. The AMA Supercross season, the US championship, opens on 9 January in Anaheim.
Rumours of changes
Lewis Phillips, host of the radio show "Vital MX Post-Race Show", said talk of possible adjustments has been circulating among mechanics and team staff. According to him, rumours emerged last week that Sacha would skip supercross, while Lucas would ride the 250cc class in the East Coast championship to ease the effects of his injury. Phillips admitted he doesn't give the claims much credibility, since they didn't come from someone very close to the situation, but said his source has rarely let him down.
He stressed that nothing has officially changed. Sacha is still entered for the season on the 250-class team, while Lucas continues recovering so he can join the 450-class squad.
Doubts over Lucas's fitness
Analyst Michael Lindsey doubts Lucas will be ready for the season opener. He points to the condition of the rider's leg and the visible limp during the Motocross of Nations.
Call for patience
KTM boss Roger De Coster urged fans and media to temper their expectations. In his view, the move to American supercross remains a huge technical challenge, as it is a completely different championship in a different environment. He said expectations should stay realistic and riders given time to adapt.
