Motocross is without question a very passionate sport and there are not many more passionate in the GP paddock, than the Kawasaki factory team manager, Antti Pyrhonen. Pyrhonen, who was a top Grand Prix racer back in the day and a top three rider in the 2009 MX3 championship, lives for motocross, his team and his riders.

Having lost out the chance to be crowned world champion himself and been loyal to his teams throughout his managerial career, the likeable man from Finland was finally rewarded for his passion, when his rider, Romain Febvre was crowned World MXGP Champion in Australia a month or so ago.

Kawasaki hadn't won a world motocross championship in the premier class since Sebastien Tortelli did it in 1998 after a season long battle with Belgian legend, Stefan Everts. This time around, it was another Frenchman, who battled another Belgian, Lucas Coenen. This time, it was again a green machine that picked up the number one plate.

We have known Antti for decades, all the way back in the early 2000s, when he raced the MX1 class and our relationship has always been an enjoyable one. We caught up with Antti recently to talk about the victory by Febvre, the joy at Kawasaki and his good mate, Formula One legend, Kimi Raikkonen.

MXLarge: Firstly, a big congratulations. I remember you for many years fighting for points in the world motocross championship, finishing third in the MX3 world championship and now, you are team owner of a world motocross championship. I cannot imagine how that feels after so long.

Pyrhonen: It is incredible. With Kimi, we started this team, 14 years ago, so we have been together for 13 seasons. We have had our ups and downs, but one thing is for sure, we never gave up. Are target being once to win a world title and mission accomplished. I am extremely happy and proud of this. You know, we just kept working, kept trying. Getting through severe rider injuries or some years not having a rider with the capacity to battle for a title and now we did it. This is also a moment that I felt a big stone has rolled out of my heart, that after so many years of trying, I was able to reward Kimi and Kawasaki. Also, a big relief.

MXLarge: What about Romain, what a quality racer he is and this year under really tough conditions?

Pyrhonen: Romains season, just incredible. What an athlete, character and person he is. Never gives up and his mentally is pure racing minded, pure winning minded. For him, he has been in so many seasons, so close to winning, or fighting for GP wins against really quality racers. Some seasons injuries and for a winner like him, it was eating him up, just eating him inside. All the sacrifices, and hard work is rewarded with this championship. I know how much it means to him to get this championship and for him, it is also a big relief to finally get a second championship in a very tough era of racers.

MXLarge: This era he raced in, with Tony, Tim, Jeffrey, Jorge, so many legends of the sport, real legends, who often stole the limelight. As you said, Romain never gave up, but to win a world title in this era, really a tough job. Motocross of Nations has always been a stand-out. Had he not won a second one, it would have really been wrong.

Pyrhonen: Just what you said, it is like that, and I have worked for him now for four seasons, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025. In the 2022 season, he came with the bad injury from the Paris supercross, in 2023 he was second in the championship and we need to remember, he was close to Jorge Prado in the points and he had that big crash at Madrid in a qualification race and missed qualification race points and first and second moto points but still came close to Prado in the championship points and finished second (70 points down, but as Antti said, could have easily lost 60 points in Spain – He came back to win the France GP the next round, only to have it taken from him by the officials and docked points). In 2024, he was again battling Jorge when he broke his thumb. This year he didn’t have an injury, and he won, and every year he isn’t injured, he is up there, battling with the great riders of this era. This is the reward for all those years of believing and even despite his age, he doesn’t accept lack of speed, or doesn’t accept any excuses, he just really wants to win. That is why I am so happy for him and proud of him. He is an example for everyone, to show how to win titles, even at his age.

MXLarge: Coming to Australia, from memory, you are a fan of travelling to the different countries and even finishing the season outside of Europe. Romain mentioned, it was a bit like going to Qatar, where everything was organized so well. A special feeling and there was something different about it, it isn’t just a normal GP. What did you make of the Australian Grand Prix?

Pyrhonen: Absolutely, what you said. Coming to Australia from China, we got such a warm welcome, and the infrastructure is incredible. We also saw what a difference the track makes, with the soil. The whole paddock was happy to be here, riders were giving positive comments, and we saw really spectacular riding. Maybe the racing wasn’t mega close, but the riding on such a track, was really impressive. The riders could really express themselves on this track. We have had two really nice GPs overseas this year, with Argentina being really great, a great track and a great facility and so was Australia. These two tracks, added to the calendar, has made a very successful addition.

MXlarge: Romain wants to race with the number one on the bike in 2026, which is very cool. Kawasaki got a lot of shit from Jorge in America and Kawasaki hadn’t won a premier class championship in a long time. Next year is going to be a big year for your team, isn’t it?

Pyrhonen: It is very important for Kawasaki and Romain is a guy with a big heart and he is a big champion and that is why I support that we carry the number one plate on his bike in 2026. Kawasaki’s last major title was 27 years ago with Sebastien Tortelli in 1998, and they deserve that title. Kawasaki, all the people there who supported this and they have given us the maximum support, and I am happy and proud to give them this title. Our Japanese colleges, they would fly in fly out and also because of the new regulations, everyone needed to work super hard. I can say else but my humble thank you, to Romain, to our team, ever staff member and of course Kawasaki. This has been team work at its very finest.

Pascal Haudiquert images