MXGP World Championship
Chatter Box: Romain Febvre
Romain Febvre on the KRT switch, knee injuries and more.
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Romain Febvre has not really been talked about much in the 2020 FIM Motocross World Championship, as a pre-season knee injury ruled him out of the Grands Prix in Great Britain and The Netherlands. What actually happened with that injury though? It has not been explained fully, until now that is. Febvre covers exactly what happened and the recovery process in this exclusive MX Vice interview. The good news is that when the series finally resumes he should be at one hundred percent and in a spot to fight for overall victories.
MX Vice: We haven’t actually spoken since your knee injury that happened just before the Grand Prix of Great Britain, so what happened there? You didn’t even crash, did you?Â
Romain Febvre: Yeah, I did not crash. I was training in Grevenbroich in Germany. That was ten days before England. I was riding there, and my foot slid off the pegs. I hit the ground with my leg – it was like fully extended. I had like all of the impact in my knee. I felt like something was wrong straight away, but first of all I thought I broke my femur again. I had quite a lot of pain. I could feel it all in my femur, first of all, then it moved to my knee.
I have still got the screws in my femur, so I thought that I may have broken some screws close to my knee. I went to get a check at the hospital, so I had an x-ray, and nothing was broken. Nothing moved. I was happy about that, because it meant that it was not something bad. I still had a lot of pain though and I couldn’t walk anymore. We agreed with the team that we would take it day by day, and then we got opinions from many doctors in Spain, France and Luxembourg.
They all said you had to rest, because it was like inflammation on the bones. They said it could take some time, but they didn’t know how long it was going to take. They told me to have some therapy and do different exercises, which is what I did, and I tried to race in England. I was just in too much pain though. It was the same in Valkenswaard, so I could not ride one week later.
Do you think you would have been able to ride if it was a hard-pack track that was not as rutty, like St. Jean? Did the gnarly track conditions play a part in that?Â
No, no. England was really rutty and muddy in the beginning, but that was not the problem. The jumps were not too bad, but I only rode a few laps so I do not know if I could have held on for thirty minutes. It was just the corners… I could not take my leg off of the footpeg. I had no power to take my foot off and then put it back on the footpeg again. It was not possible. I tried, but I do not think I would have been able to do it even if it was flat and hard.
How are you doing now? We are a month on from Valkenswaard now, so there has been some time. Are you getting back to normal a little bit?
Yeah, now it is really good. I think that two weeks after Valkenswaard it started to be okay, so I was able to ride a little bit before everything shut down. It was not perfect, but I could ride. I think it is now close to one hundred percent. I am running a lot and have no pain when I do that. I think it is almost there. I should be able to start my training again and do everything that I can, as soon as we can ride again.
I guess this break with the coronavirus has been good in a way, because it has helped you get healthy again. Now it is hurting you though, I guess, because what you really need is bike time to build your fitness back up.Â
Yeah, for sure. It hurts, first of all, because it is quite a bad virus and people are dying from that, so it is bad to say that it was good for me. It has helped for the championship though in a way. I could not race at the first two rounds and then they stopped the championship. Everyone who was injured has an opportunity to rest and get fit again, so they can be ready when the series starts up again.
You did a couple of pre-season races before you injured your knee. Riola was tough and you could see that you were still coming back, but then I was amazed at how much better you were at LaCapelle. The progress that you made in a couple of weeks was phenomenal! What went into that?
I went to Sardinia quite early on in the winter. It was at the beginning of December that we decided to go there with the team, but we decided to do that after my injury last year so that we could take it very slowly and have time. It was time to get used to the bike too. I could not ride so much in December – I still had a bit of pain in my leg. The bone was not fixed completely. I took it really easy in December and then it started to get better at the start of January.
I could ride for two days in a row, whereas in December that was not possible. I just felt like there was some pain still and when you feel that you knock down the speed a little bit. You just go slower, even if you think you are going fast. I was riding with Ben Watson, and I could see that my speed was not where it should be. I was not worried about this. I knew it would easier to go faster once the pain stopped.
Riola came about quite fast and I wasn’t going to do it, but we had one week of testing before and it went pretty well. We decided with the team to do it after that, even though I knew the speed was not there. I thought that maybe during the race I could do a bit better. The speed was not there in the time practice, of course, and the races were tough with arm pump, which I didn’t have all winter long. I had a conversation with my trainer, Jacky Vimond, at Riola and I said that maybe I need to go through the pain, just to push.
If it hurts then I needed to slow down and take care, but if it was just a little bit of pain then I needed to go through it and then the speed would be much better. We had a couple of weeks before LaCapelle, and I had really good training again. We built my speed and confidence too. At LaCapelle I did not think about my legs anymore, so it was starting to be really good. I had a good race there and fought for the victory in both heats. That was a pretty good feeling before England.
How was it getting used to the Kawasaki after so long on the Yamaha? Was there one thing that you really liked about it and then one thing that maybe took a while to get used to?Â
I changed from Yamaha, because first I tried the bike and I felt good on the Kawasaki straight away. I felt that I could do really good with that bike, so I changed because of that and also to find some new motivation with a new team. I knew that the team was good, and I really like some stuff on the bike. That is why I chose to go with them. I didn’t have too many issues getting used to the bike.
It is just about the suspension and the tyres really, because I have never ridden with Showa or Dunlop. I had to tell the Showa guys what I like and then they had to figure out what they needed to do. It was just getting used to the suspension, and a little bit the tyres, but the rest was quite easy.
You have missed two rounds, so the championship is done. There is no reason why cannot still do well though. Riders have missed two rounds before and still finished in the top five in the points. It is not like this season is lost, right?
Yeah, for sure. Even if we have twenty rounds, which I don’t think we will, then missing two Grands Prix makes it very difficult to fight for a podium finish or even a top five. That is just how it is. We spoke with the team before, and I was injured so I could not ride. I did not even crash, so it is not even really my fault. I was on the bike, yeah, so it is my fault. It was a little bit of luck too. That is just how it is.
The team were really nice to me – they told me that if it was not going to work out this year then we will continue next year and fight for the championship. They see a long-term partnership between us, which is really good. I feel really at home in the team and with them. Hopefully I will be a little more lucky in the future, and then I can have some good results with them.
Interview: Lewis Phillips | Lead Image: Ray Archer
MXGP World Championship
2024 Spain Intu Xanadú – Arroyomolinos – MXGP Results
We will post the 2024 MXGP results of Spain Intu Xanadú – Arroyomolinos GP all weekend. Get the latest updates to your phone through MX Vice.
MXGP Championship
MXGP Overall
MXGP Race Two
MXGP Race One
MXGP Qualification Race
MXGP Timed Practice
MX2 Championship
MX2 Overall
MX2 – Race Two
MX2 – Race One
MX2 – Qualification Race
MX2 Timed Practice
WMX Race Two
WMX Race One
EMX 250 Overall
EMX 250 – Race 2
EMX 250 – Race 1
EMX 250 – Timed Practice
MXGP World Championship
//PEARCY Stats Preview MXGP Intu Xanadu-Arroyomolinos
Once again, our resident stats guru, Paul Pearcy, provides a breakdown of the MX2 class going into Intu Xanadu. Famed more for its access to a shopping mall and McDonald’s than actual passing, the MX2 contenders will be looking to make their mark. Last year, Simon Laengenfelder reigned supreme and was unstoppable on Sunday, with no rider able to match his pace. If you were a betting man, who would be your winner?
MXGP Intu Xanadu-Arroyomolinos Preview
MX2
Kay de Wolf
Venue Visits: 21’, 23’
Averages
- Timed Practice: 3rd
- Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 3rd
- Qualifying Race Finish: 4th
- Qualifying Points: 7
- Race First Lap Position: 6th
- Race Finishes: 5th in Race 1, 11th in Race 2
- Overall Finishes: 8th
- Race Points: 54
Total Points: 61
Simon Laengenfelder
Venue Visits: 21’-23’
- Race Podiums: 4; 22’, 23’
- Race Wins: 2; 1-1 in 23’
- Overall Podiums: 2; 22’, 23’
- Overall win: 1; 23’
- Race Laps Led: 34; all in 23’
Averages
- Timed Practice: 4.667
- Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 4th
- Qualifying Race Finishes: 3rd
- Qualifying Points: 8
- Race First Lap Position: 5.167
- Race Finishes: 4.333 in Race 1, 5th in Race 2
- Overall Finishes: 4.333
- Race Points: 113
Total Points: 121
Thibault Benistant
Venue Visits: 21’-23’
- Race Podium: 1; 23’
- Race Laps Led: 1, 23’
Averages
- Timed Practice: 6.667
- Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 4th
- Qualifying Race Finishes: 5.5
- Qualifying Points: 5
- Race First Lap Position: 12.667
- Race Finishes: 5.667 in Race 1, 6.333 in Race 2
- Overall Finishes: 6.333
- Race Points: 92
Total Points: 97
Mikkel Haarup
Venue Visits: 21’-23’
Averages
- Timed Practice: 9th
- Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 12th
- Qualifying Race Finishes: 12th
- Race First Lap Position: 12.5
- Race Finishes: 12.333 in Race 1, 9.667 in Race 2
- Overall Finishes: 10.667
- Race Points: 60
Total Points: 60
Andrea Adamo
Venue Visits: 21’-23’
- Race Podium: 1; 23’
- Overall Podium: 1; 23’
Averages
- Timed Practice: 11th
- Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 9.5
- Qualifying Race Finishes: 6.5
- Qualifying Race Points: 6
- Race First Lap Position: 11.667
- Race Finishes: 9.333 in Race 1, 12.667 in Race 2
- Overall Finishes: 10.333
- Race Points: 70
Total Points: 76
Lucas Coenen
Venue Visit: 23’
Averages
- Timed Practice: 6th
- Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 2nd
- Qualifying Race Finishes: 2nd
- Qualifying Points: 9
- Race First Lap Position: 17.5
- Race Finishes: 6th in Race 1, 26th in Race 2
- Overall Finishes: 14th
- Race Points: 15
Total Points: 24
Sacha Coenen
Venue Visit: 23’
Averages
- Timed Practice: 19th
- Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 24th
- Qualifying Race Finishes: 17th
- Race First Lap Position: 8.5
- Race Finishes: 9th in Race 1, 11th in Race 2
- Overall Finishes: 9th
- Race Points: 22
Total Points: 22
Rick Elzinga
Venue Visits: 22’, 23’
Averages
- Timed Practice: 10th
- Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 14th
- Qualifying Race Finishes: 21.5
- Race First Lap Position: 4.25
- Race Finishes:13th in Race 1, 10th in Race 2
- Overall Finishes: 14.5
- Race Points: 27
Total Points: 27
Jack Chambers
Venue Visit: 23’
Averages
- Timed Practice: 22nd
- Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 15th
- Qualifying Race Finishes: 15th
- Race First Lap Position: 24.5
- Race Finishes:17th in Race 1, 16th in Race 2
- Overall Finishes: 17th
- Race Points: 9
Total Points: 9
Oriol Oliver
Venue Visits: 21’, 23’
Averages
- Timed Practice: 17.5
- Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 16th
- Qualifying Race Finishes: 13th
- Race First Lap Position: 12.75
- Race Finishes:17th in Race 1, 17th in Race 2
- Overall Finishes: 17.5
- Race Points: 19
Total Points: 19
David Braceras
Venue Visit: 23’
Averages
- Timed Practice: 16th
- Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 14.5
- Qualifying Race Finishes: 15.5
- Race First Lap Position: 12.75
- Race Finishes:14.5 in Race 1, 16th in Race 2
- Overall Finishes: 16.5
- Race Points: 23
Total Points: 23
Emil Weckman
Venue Visit: 23’
Averages
- Timed Practice: 17th
- Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 10th
- Qualifying Race Finishes: 11th
- Race First Lap Position: 12.5
- Race Finishes: 15th in Race 1, 19th in Race 2
- Overall Finishes: 18th
- Race Points: 8
Total Points: 8
Bobby Bruce
Venue Visit: 23’
Averages
- Timed Practice: 20th
- Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 12th
- Qualifying Race Finishes: 26th
- Race First Lap Position: 23rd
- Race Finishes: 27th in Race 1, 21st in Race 2
- Overall Finishes: 17th
MXGP
Jorge Prado
Venue Visits: 20’-23’
- 1st in Timed Practice: 1; 22’
- Qualifying Race Podiums: 2; 22’, 23’
- Qualifying Race Win: 1; 23’
- Qualifying Race Laps Led: 12
- Race Podiums: 6
- Race Wins: 2
- Overall Podiums: 2; 20’, 21’
- Overall Win: 1; 20’ (1-1 in 20’)
- Race Laps Led: 56
Averages
- Timed Practice: 3rd
- Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 2.5
- Qualifying Race Finishes: 1.5
- Qualifying Race Points: 10
- Race First Lap Position: 2.125
- Race Finishes: 2nd in Race 1, 5th in Race 2
- Overall Finishes: 3rd
- Race Points: 160
Total Points: 170
Romain Febvre
Venue Visits: 20’, 21’, 23’
- Race Podiums: 3
- Race Win: 1; 21’
- Overall Podium: 1; 20’
- Race Laps Led: 11
Averages
- Timed Practice: 5.667
- Race First Lap Position: 8.5
- Race Finishes: 1.5 in Race 1, 5th in Race 2
- Overall Finishes: 3.5
- Race Points: 81
Total Points: 81
Tim Gajser
Venue Visits: 20’-22’
- 1st in Timed Practice: 1; 20’
- Race Podiums: 4
- Overall Podiums: 2; 20’, 21’
Averages
- Timed Practice: 1.667
- Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 5th
- Qualifying Race Finishes: 11th
- Race First Lap Position: 3.5
- Race Finishes: 3rd in Race 1, 3.333 in Race 2
- Overall Finishes: 3rd
- Race Points: 119
Total Points: 119
Pauls Jonass
Venue Visits: 21’, 22’
Averages
- Timed Practice: 8.5
- Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 3rd
- Qualifying Race Finishes: 9th
- Race First Lap Position: 7.25
- Race Finishes: 7.5 in Race 1, 7th in Race 2
- Overall Finishes: 7.5
- Race Points: 55
Total Points: 55
Maxime Renaux
Venue Visit: 22’, 23’
- Race Wins: 2; 22’ (1-1 in 22’)
- Overall Win: 1; 22’
- Race Laps Led: 31
Averages
- Timed Practice: 4th
- Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 5th
- Qualifying Race Finishes: 13th
- Race First Lap Position: 2nd
- Race Finishes: 1st in Race 1, 1st in Race 2
- Overall Finishes: 1st
- Race Points: 50
Total Points: 50
Jeremy Seewer
Venue Visits: 20’-23’
- Qualifying Race Podium: 1; 23’
- Qualifying Race Laps Led: 1; 22’
- Race Laps Led: 5
Averages
- Timed Practice: 6.5
- Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 2nd
- Qualifying Race Finishes: 4th
- Qualifying Race Points: 8
- Race First Lap Position: 5.375
- Race Finishes: 8.5 in Race 1, 5.25 in Race 2
- Overall Finishes: 7th
- Race Points: 115
Total Points: 123
Jeffery Herlings
Venue Visits: 21’, 23’
- 1st in Timed Practice: 2; 21’, 23’
- Qualifying Race Podiums: 1; 23’
- Race Podiums: 4;(Jeffrey has podiumed 100% of the races he has competed in)
- Race Wins: 3; (Herlings has won 75% of the victories he has vied for)
- Overall Wins: 2; (100% win rate)
- Race Laps Led: 27
Averages
- Timed Practice: 1st
- Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 2nd
- Qualifying Race Finishes: 2nd
- Qualifying Race Points: 9
- Race First Lap Position: 4.75
- Race Finishes: 2nd in Race 1, 1st in Race 2
- Overall Finishes: 1st
- Race Points: 95
Total Points: 104
Glenn Coldenhoff
Venue Visits: 20’-23’
- Qualifying Race Win: 1; 22’
- Qualifying Race Laps Led: 12
- Race Podium: 1; 22’
- Overall Podium: 1; 22’
Averages
- Timed Practice: 7.25
- Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 4th
- Qualifying Race Finishes: 3.5
- Qualifying Race Points: 5
- Race First Lap Position: 5.125
- Race Finishes: 6th in Race 1, 6.5 in Race 2
- Overall Finishes: 5th
- Race Points: 123
Total Points: 128
Calvin Vlaanderen
Venue Visits: 20’-23’
Averages
- Timed Practice: 12th
- Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 14.5
- Qualifying Race Finishes: 11th
- Qualifying Race Points: 2
- Race First Lap Position: 15.625
- Race Finishes: 11.5 in Race 1, 12.75 in Race 2
- Overall Finishes: 12.25
- Race Points: 71
Total Points: 73
Valentin Guillod
Venue Visits: 20’-23’
Averages
- Timed Practice: 18th
- Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 19.5
- Qualifying Race Finishes: 12.5
- Qualifying Race Points: 1
- Race First Lap Position: 14.75
- Race Finishes: 12th in Race 1, 15.25 in Race 2
- Overall Finishes: 14.25
- Race Points: 62
Total Points: 63
Ben Watson
Venue Visits: 21’-23’
Averages
- Timed Practice: 14.667
- Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 20.5
- Qualifying Race Finishes: 24.5
- Race First Lap Position: 16.5
- Race Finishes: 19th in Race 1
- Overall Finishes: 22nd
- Race Points: 2
Total Points: 2
Ivo Monticelli
Venue Visits: 20’, 22’
Averages
- Timed Practice: 12th
- Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 9th
- Qualifying Race Finishes: 24th
- Race First Lap Position: 16.75
- Race Finishes: 15th in Race 1, 13th in Race 2
- Overall Finishes: 13th
- Race Points: 28
Total Points: 28
Kevin Brumann
Venue Visit: 23’
Averages
- Timed Practice: 17th
- Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 20th
- Qualifying Race Finishes: 20th
- Race First Lap Position: 20th
- Race Finishes: 14th in Race 1, 17th in Race 2
- Overall Finishes: 15th
- Race Points: 11
Total Points: 11
Photo: KTM Group
MX Vice Podcasts
Between The Races Podcast: Adam Sterry – MXGP of Patagonia-Argentina Recap and Spain Preview
Listen now.
The Between The Races podcast returns with Adam Sterry, Ed Stratmann and Brad Wheeler, as they review the 2024 MXGP season opener and look ahead to Spain.
The Between The Races podcast is always available to listen to on Spotify, iTunes, SoundCloud, Stitcher and Google Play. Thanks to Fly Racing, Monster Energy, Fox Racing, Parts Europe, Scott, Bell Helmets, Acerbis, AS3 Performance, Kawasaki UK, KTM UK, O’Neal and Even Strokes for supporting the show. If you would like to become a part of the show, don’t hesitate to get in touch.
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