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Romain Febvre secures the silver medal
Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP's Romain Febvre is assured of the FIM silver medal in the World MXGP Motocross Championship after racing to his 10th GP podium of the season with second overall in the penultimate round of the series at Shanghai in China. KRT teammate Pauls Jonass again made it two Kawasakis in the Top 5.
The Frenchman needed a couple of laps to find his usual rhythm in Race 1 after a third-placed start, but once he settled he was lapping faster than the leaders on a regular basis and was on the rear wheel of second after 20 minutes before making a decisive pass with six laps remaining. The leader was still in sight but tantalizingly just too far to mount a challenge for victory and he eventually settled to a safe second at the checkered flag. Gating third in Race 2, he needed half the race to find a way through to second but maintained the pressure at the front, racing onto the rear wheel of the leader through the last two laps before running out of time to mount a decisive final challenge. The brace of runner-up moto finishes secured his 10th podium from 18 GPs with second overall. Now 93 points clear of third in the series rankings prior to the final round in Australia next weekend, Febvre cannot now be beaten for runner-up and the FIM silver medal, in the ultimate standings of the world championship.
"I always feel good when it's really warm, though at least it's not as hot as last year. I have always been physically fit, so I don't miss any energy and can push even when it's hot. After the first moto, I knew it would be the battle between Jeffrey [Herlings] and myself; I could not quite make the pass even though I tried everything, but it was good to finally battle with him at the front again. With two laps to go, I was there; we were close on the last lap, but I cross-rutted on a jump, got sideways, and I said OK."
- Romain Febvre
KRT teammate Pauls Jonass rode a tight line through Turn 1 in the first race to hold an initial sixth as an intense battle for placings developed through the first couple of laps. As the race pattern settled, the Latvian found himself in a lonely fifth until half distance, at which point the action heated up again before the Kawasaki rider established himself in a firm fifth to the checkered flag. An aggressive opening lap from a midpack start in Race 2 saw him quickly into fifth, a position he held until the finish to secure his second consecutive fifth-placed overall GP result. He is now assured of a Top 10 ranking in the series final standings and heads to Australia next weekend needing 29 points to advance from 10th to ninth.
"No mistakes today, but I just couldn't find my flow in the first moto. I had a good jump in the second moto, but I was just a bit too far outside going into the first turn; then I made some good moves through the first lap. It was hot and humid again, but at least it wasn't crazy like last year. Fifth doesn't look bad on paper, but it would be nice to end the season next week with a podium in Australia."
- Pauls Jonass
