Romain Febvre dominates Qualifying in Sweden
Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP’s Romain Febvre dominated Qualifying for the Swedish round of the FIM World MXGP Motocross Championship at Uddevalla. He extended his lead in the series standings to fourteen points ahead of tomorrow’s two GP motos.
Selecting a safe inside gate after being narrowly edged out for fastest lap in Timed Practice, the Frenchman made three quick decisive passes. Two were with outstanding corner speed. The final move for the lead was with an exhilarating downhill charge. This was on fellow current-year GP moto winners within half a lap.
By the end of the first lap, he was two seconds clear and continued to extend his lead each lap.
Ultimately, he took the chequered flag as an overwhelming winner by more than twelve seconds. The red-plate holder gained five points over his championship rival. Therefore, he extended his lead headed into tomorrow’s two GP motos to fourteen points.
Romain Febvre:
“I made a pretty average start but I held a tight inside line through turn one and made some decisive passes already on the first lap. You can always make the most passes on the first lap as everyone is looking for lines; it becomes more difficult when everyone has settled down. I found the good lines straight away, had a good flow, rode my own pace and could gap second more-and-more every lap. It’s always nice to be in front; it’s a long time since I enjoyed a race so much ! The changes they made to the track this year were good; the rest of the track was still one-line but the sections they changed were where I could make the passes.”
KRT teammate Pauls Jonass eased back into GP racing with seventh-fastest time in Timed Practice. A mid-race pass in Qualifying saw him earn ninth. This was in his first race back at this level of competition since May.
Pauls Jonass:
“I was a little stiff this morning but that’s normal on the first race back. I was able to build my rhythm during the day, found some good lines and my flow during Qualifying. The low sun made it difficult to see at some places so it was tough to pass but I will try to get a better start tomorrow and be closer to the front.”
Kawasaki Racing Team MX2’s Mathis Valin, third-fastest in Timed Practice, made a couple of smart passes on the opening lap of the FIM World MX2 Motocross Championship Qualifying race to move into sixth. However, with all of the leading contenders at the head of the pack from the word go, there was little passing anywhere in a rapid top-ten train.
However, the five-points championship haul has lifted the French teenager into the series top-ten. He climbs back up the standings after missing several rounds earlier in the year.
Mathis Valin:
“I felt good in both practices and showed that with third-fastest time in Timed Practice. I didn’t make the best start but I could pass quickly to sixth and stayed there; I think it was the same for everyone at the front. I need to improve my starts for tomorrow, but I think the track could be better for overtaking as big ruts are starting to build where they made the changes.”
Kay Karssemakers, joining the series for the final quarter of the season on the Bike It Kawasaki, finished seventeenth in the Qualifying race.