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Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP Holds Red Plate as Febvre Fights Through Tough Day in Arnhem
Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP’s Romain Febvre endured a challenging day in the deep sand of Arnhem, Netherlands, but the red plate holder maintains a 31-point lead in the FIM Motocross World Championship with just three rounds remaining.
Lining up alongside the other top qualifiers on the inside gates for Moto 1, Febvre got strong traction out of the gate and exited Turn 1 at the front of the pack. An early mistake cost him a position midway through the opening lap, but he recovered on lap eight and began reeling in the rider ahead. A spectacular pass in front of the pit lane moved him into second with two laps to go, though he was pushed back to third on the final lap.
Another excellent start in Moto 2 saw Febvre running third again through the opening corners. However, a crash in the second lap while attacking a berm dropped him to 10th. With the visor of his helmet broken in the fall, he battled limited visibility from heavy roost and, despite a standout pass for eighth through the rhythm section, couldn't progress further. He briefly challenged for seventh on the final lap but had to settle for eighth in the moto and fifth overall—only the second time this season he’s missed the podium.
Teammate Pauls Jonass had a solid recovery ride after a crash on the opening lap of Moto 1. Despite starting seventh, the incident dropped him to 21st. He responded with determination, making a series of clean passes and climbing back to 11th by the checkered flag. In Moto 2, a strong eighth-place start laid the foundation for a consistent ride. He maintained pace for the full race and only gave way to the two title contenders, finishing 10th in the moto and ninth overall.
Romain Febvre:
“I was happy to get another good start in the second moto, running third again like in the first race. I was trying to find new lines and make a quick pass, but I came into a turn too fast with the front wheel and went down. After that, I lost my rhythm. It’s not so easy to pass in the sand anymore—now everyone rides it well. In the past, technique and fitness were enough to be top three, but now the pace is so close. It wasn’t my best moto, but that’s racing.”
Pauls Jonass:
“It was a tough day. The track was even more technical than yesterday, and it was hard to find a rhythm. My starts were solid, and I felt I had the speed to run up front—I didn’t get tired—but I just couldn’t find the flow to maintain it for the full moto. The speed is there, but I still need to step up the race pace. I enjoy the upcoming overseas rounds, so I’m looking forward to some strong results to finish the season.”
