Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP’s Romain Febvre raced to a tactical second in Qualifying for the final round of the FIM World MXGP Motocross Championship at Darwin in Australia and now needs just five points – a single sixteenth moto finish – from tomorrow’s two GP motos to secure the world title.
The Frenchman was the first to post fastest time in Timed Training through the first runs mid-session and was content to accept third gate-pick as others threw caution to the wind at the end of the session. Temperatures were in the low-thirties for the Qualifying race at the venue in the tropics but the air was less humid than one week ago in China. The Kawasaki rider had a good jump at the gate and a clear run down the start straight but could not cut across to the inside of turn one and found himself ninth heading to turn two. A superb first lap saw him execute pass after pass to already advance to third and on lap four he swept into second, the position he maintained securely to the chequered flag. He now goes into tomorrow’s two GP motos holding a forty-six point advantage over his title rival with a maximum of fifty points available so anything better than sixteenth in either moto will secure the Frenchman’s second world crown – ten years after his first – and the first for the Kawasaki KX450-SR.
Romain Febvre: “I really liked the track and the conditions are pretty good. I have a good feeling with the track and was happy with my riding. The start in the Qualifying race was good and I was second or third coming into the first turn but I touched Lucas’ back wheel and lost some positions. After practice this morning I thought it would be difficult to pass here but in the race I showed that it is possible; I managed some good passes already on the first lap and continued to finish second. Now I just need to stay focused for tomorrow.”
KRT teammate Pauls Jonass, eleventh in Timed Training, made a lightning start to hold third for most of the opening lap before surrendered that position to Febvre. The Latvian was then a comfortable fourth for nine laps before a mistake in the final sector of the last lap pushed him back to tenth.
Pauls Jonass: “The start was good in P3, then at the end of the lap I saw Romain coming and let him go; he goes for the title and that was priority. I tried to stay in my rhythm but I didn’t ride loose in the second half and on the last lap I made a really stupid crash just before pit lane; the rut was broken and I went into the banners. But you live and learn; I hope to do the same tomorrow but not throw it away.”
After a good gate Kawasaki Racing Team MX2’s Mathis Valin ran wide at turn one in Qualifying for the FIM World MX2 Motocross Championship to emerge seventh. The teenager moved into sixth on lap eight of thirteen and maintained that position to the finish. He now goes into tomorrow’s GP motos just eight points from ninth in the series standings.
Mathis Valin: “I needed time to settle down with the track in practice but it got better in the Qualifying race for sixth so I hope tomorrow will see another improvement.”
Bike It Kawasaki’s Kay Karssemakers was initially eleventh in the Qualifying race from an outside gate but quickly advanced to tenth on lap four and closed down the riders ahead of him to finish just two seconds shy of seventh.
Kay Karssemakers: “That was a really good Qualifying; the best of the season ! I hit the gate at the start but once I got going I fought to the end and stayed close to the group of the top-six; I’m really happy about that. I like Australia and found a good flow so the goal for tomorrow is two-times top-ten.”
