Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP’s Romain Febvre made significant steps towards his career-second FIM World MXGP Motocross Championship title with two tactical rides at Shanghai in China; he now needs just fourteen points from the final round of the series at Darwin in Northern Australia next weekend to secure Kawasaki’s first world title in the premier off-road world series.
Claustrophobic climatic conditions and a compact circuit on the outskirts of the Chinese metropole presented a severe challenge to the competitors and tactics played a significant role. A nervous opening lap in race one saw Febvre pushed temporarily back to seventh on a track left sticky after monsoon-like rainfall overnight but he sooned regained his composure to make a dramatic pass for sixth on lap two and continue to build momentum in his championship duel as he out-foxed the rider in fifth past the VIP stand on lap six before switching into tactical mode to maintain a safe fourth through the last ten minutes as his points-rival faded in the heat. Having extended his series lead to thirty-six points the greater picture gained even more relevance in race two when his title-rival fell at turn two. He quickly settled into third place and was looking at yet another GP podium before wisely avoiding any potential incident from any over-energetic challenger to bring home another solid fourth. He missed the podium on the tie-break for only the third time this season, but the bigger picture has seen him extend his advantage in the championship to forty-seven points; he now needs just fourteen points from the final round of the series next weekend at Darwin in Northern Australia to clinch his second personal and Kawasaki’s first title in the premier off-road world series.
Romain Febvre: “This was one of the toughest GPs of the year and today was a good day for the championship; it feels like a win and I don’t care about missing the podium. I got a really good start in the first moto but I didn’t have a good first lap and some guys passed me. I knew I needed to come back at them but I took it really smooth and didn’t risk attacking too hard and hitting the wall in the heat. I knew Lucas was behind me and that was the most important thing as I came back to fourth. I had another good start in race two but Lucas came across us from the outside. However he then went over the front at turn two and I knew he would need to come back through the pack so I just rode a steady race. In my head I was focused on the front and I wanted to stick with them but Ruben had a better line and when he came through I decided to concentrate on keeping fourth.”
KRT number two Pauls Jonass displayed a great turn of speed in both motos. The Latvian, again starting well, was a secure fourth for twelve laps of the first moto before a single slip after twenty-five minutes cost him two positions but he regrouped immediately to bring home sixth. Another excellent getaway in race two saw him fifth through the first few turns until he fell in a muddy turn and had to come back from dead-last to reach his eventual twelfth just after half-distance for ninth overall. His points haul sees Pauls leap to fifteenth in the points standings despite missing half of the series through injury.
Pauls Jonass: “It was tough and heavy with the heat but there were many positives this weekend with two good starts and I also showed that the speed is there; I just need to stay on two wheels. I was running fourth in the first moto until I had a small tip-over and I also got a good start in second race but I lost the front in the mud at the fourth corner and had to come back from last.”
Antti Pyrhönen (KRT team manager): “It’s been a long season with just a few points difference so it’s great to gain so many points this weekend. Romain managed the races so superbly with good starts, fast pace and managing the heat and humidity. He was so strong, but we still need to stay focused as it’s never over until it’s completely over. First of all we need to get all the stuff to Australia and we face another hot and humid weekend ahead of us so let’s maintain the focus to the end. It’s brutal and tricky in this weather for the riders because you don’t know in advance how everyone will handle the heat. And not only the riders; every staff member has stayed focused through long, hot days and I am so proud of all of them.”
