main content of page
Racing News |
Febvre Retains Red Plate as Kawasaki Extends Lead in Manufacturers' Championship
Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP’s Romain Febvre retained the coveted red plate as the FIM Motocross World Championship leader at the halfway point of the season, earning his eighth consecutive podium at the iconic Teutschenthal circuit in Germany. Kawasaki also extended its lead in the Manufacturers’ Championship.
Febvre was quietly confident after setting the fastest time in the morning Warm-Up. However, a loss of traction halfway down the start straight in the opening moto saw him emerge fifth after a tight turn one. Navigating heavy first-lap traffic, he quickly advanced to third, but a deep rut caused a brief loss of momentum on lap two, dropping him to fifth. Undeterred, he regained fourth and began closing in on the leaders—lapping two seconds faster at times. Despite relentless efforts to pass on the narrow, one-line track, he was forced to settle for fourth.
A second-place start in race two looked promising, but a storm during the interval left the track slick and treacherous, making passing extremely difficult. The decisive moment came on lap ten when Febvre was hindered by a back marker, allowing a rival to slip past. He ultimately finished third in the moto, securing his eighth straight GP podium and extending his championship lead to 36 points. His performance also contributed to Kawasaki’s expanded 20-point advantage in the Manufacturers’ standings.
Romain Febvre:
“Everyone has a bad weekend at some point, so I’m happy to still make the podium. We’re only halfway through the series, and consistency is key. Passing was so tough today—everyone saw that in the first moto when we ran 1-2-3-4 nose to tail the entire race. My speed was there, but the inside line was dominant, and I made mistakes trying alternate lines. My starts weren’t great all weekend, and I paid for it. The track opened up slightly in race two after the rain, but the lapper was frustrating when Jeffrey passed me. I’m looking forward to Kegums next weekend—at least in the sand, you can pass.”
Teammate Pauls Jonass endured a difficult day. The Latvian settled into seventh early in the first moto and held the position until a crash two laps from the end—caused by running off-track into an advertising arch—forced him out. He was taken to the trackside medical center and did not line up for race two. Jonass now sits thirteenth in the championship standings.
