Romain Febvre and Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP extended their lead in both the individual and manufacturers’ standings of the FIM World MXGP Motocross Championship at Matterley Basin in southern England with their fourth GP win of the season and the eleventh podium in twelve rounds.
The Frenchman already converted a sixth-placed start to fifth on the opening lap of race one but further advances proved difficult as all of the championship front-runners were up front and running a strong pace and it was lap nine of sixteen before he could force his way under Fernandez for fourth. Four laps later he advanced to third but the leaders made no mistakes and he had to accept that position at the chequered flag. The KRT team made a few technical adjustments before race two and they paid dividends as Febvre took a clear holeshot – his fourth of the series – to lead throughout the race. Setting the fastest racing laps of the entire weekend he eased clear of the chasers to control the race which ran one lap longer than the opener, punching the air with delight as he clinched his fourth GP victory of the season and extended his lead in the series standings to thirty-two points. Kawasaki also extended their advantage in the Manufacturers’ standings. There was a poignant conclusion to the winners’ ceremony as Kawasaki Europe Managing Director Shigemi Tanaka San was honoured to present the victor’s trophy to the Frenchman.
Romain Febvre: “I actually had a really good jump in the first moto; the track was harder than I expected and I had gone for a different tyre so I missed something on the straight. I could come close to the guys at the front but in the end they had a little more pace in some places so I couldn’t mount a challenge. We went back to my regular tyres for the second race and made some small changes to the suspension for race two and I had more traction. I took the holeshot and that changed my life ! I could ride free, take my own lines and control the race, even when Fernandez came back at me strong at the end. The top five guys can all match the speed of each other so it is so important start in front.”
Photocredits – Pascal Haudiquert
