An outstanding ride through the pack in race two of the Czech round of the FIM World MXGP Motocross Championship at Loket earnt Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP’s Romain Febvre his fourth consecutive podium and sees him close dramatically on second in the series standings.
The Frenchman was sixth at the first timing split after being squeezed off the gate in race one, but was already fourth at the end of pit straight as the leaderboard pattern settled quickly with all of the quick men at the front. A classic pass, lined up over several turns, on lap six saw him advance to third and at twenty minutes he timed his challenge for second perfectly to charge through in front of the main gallery after building exhilerating drive through a long sweeping first turn. With the leader already twelve seconds clear he maintained his second place securely to the chequered flag. His podium expectations appeared to suffer a serious blow at turn one of race two as he was dragged to the ground by a crash in his path but the Kawasaki leader showed great character and outstanding pace to charge dramatically through the pack. Fired up by the first-turn incident he was into the top-twenty by the end of the first lap, was tenth by lap four and at half-distance had taken eighth – and already the virtual podium – with a stunning outside pass through the valley. But he was still not satisfied, making three further dynamic passes to finish fifth in moto and confirm his fourth consecutive podium. Though still third in the series standings, he is now just twenty-five points shy of second.
Romain Febvre: “After I came back strongly to second in the first moto I knew the start would be important in race two but I got caught up in a crash at the first corner; my bike was blocked with that of other riders; I was stuck on the top of one bike with another on top of mine and it took me something like twenty seconds to rejoin the race. I thought the podium was over but I dug deep and had good lines to finish fifth; I am so proud for this podium. Nothing has changed in my approach to the championship. I always try to ride as well as I can; that’s the only way to fight for the title.”
DRT Kawasaki’s Kay Karssemakers also showed tremendous spirit in the FIM World MX2 Motocross Championship racing as he also overcame a first turn incident to finish tenth overall.
Racing started with misfortune for the Dutchman; after posting ninth-fastest time in morning Warm-up he made a good jump from mid-gate but was dragged to the ground on the exit from turn one when other riders fell in his path and he had to charge from the back of a full grid. Thirtieth on lap one, he was already up to a points-paying twentieth by the end of lap two and kept charging to take the chequered flag thirteenth. Escaping drama at the first corner of race two he quickly made decisive moves to complete the opening lap twelfth and continued to push, moving into the top-ten on lap two and advancing to eighth, a position he maintained comfortably to the finish, by lap five. Tenth overall was his reward for two battling rides and he has confirmed his eleventh place in the series standings.
Kay Karssemakers: “Liam Everts and a few others crashed in front of me at the first corner in the first race and I could not avoid them, but I was really happy with my riding as I came back from last to thirteenth; it’s not the easiest track to pass on and we have a full grid today but I fought to the end. My lap times were good so I knew that if I rode like that again in the second moto I could be top-ten … and that is exactly what I did! I made several good passes during the first few laps and just did my thing, riding smooth. I really enjoyed the track today and now I’m looking forward to the sand next week at Lommel; the track is fifteen minutes from my home, just over the border in Nederland.”
