A big day for Kawasaki factory rider, Romain Febvre as he took on a red hot Lucas Coenen and came away with the victory. The Frenchman, who leads the MXGP point standings fought hard for the win. Here are a bunch of rider comments from last weekend in Ernee. Check out the sensational Pascal Haudiquert image of Febvre and his pit crew.

Romain Febvre: "I just feel so good on the bike at the moment ! In fact I have felt great all season but coming home to race in France is always very special. I am trying to win every weekend but at home it feels even better and it was fantastic for the public that we stayed lucky with the weather all weekend. I had two good races and it was a really crazy battle both motos. In the first moto I had a bad start but I rode a really strong race to come back to second. In the second moto I was soon second to Lucas; I could get close and I tried many lines to pass but he was riding well; then a new line opened up on the inside coming down the hill and I could make it happen on the following uphill when he slid a little coming out of the turn. I don't usually feel pressure but I have to admit that I did for the rest of that race because I didn't want to disappoint the French public. They are really close through the valley and I could even hear them coming down the hills; it was a great atmosphere. Winning is special anywhere but to win here in France was amazing; thankyou to everyone who came here to support me !"

Lucas Coenen: “We had to put on a charge at times today and it was good for the fans here! I struggled with arm-pump a bit and got tired but, honestly, P2 and three podiums in a row: it’s really good. We’ll hope for some more strong races coming up.”

Simon Laengenfelder: “It’s a long time since I’ve had the red plate! For sure I’m happy to have it again on the bike but it’s still early in the season and there are so many fast guys in the title fight. We’ll keep trying our best. A few weeks ago, we made a few changes that have helped with my starts and it’s working out quite good for me but there are a few KTM riders here so we can all start well! Home GP now and I’m really looking forward to it; I think the German fans will make some noise!”

Jeffrey Herlings: “It was quite disappointing to have the same points as 3rd and not get on the podium. I was fighting for the lead for a long time in the first moto and at the end I had to back-it-off a bit because of arm-pump and took P3. It was a bit less in the second moto, and I then had to comeback from the start and the small crash. I just missed the pass for 4th which would have given me the podium. Very close. P4 overall and a good step. We are getting there every weekend.”

Andrea Adamo: “It was a good weekend: a 1-2-2, so, solid. I tried my best. In the first moto I struggled a bit and didn’t find the best flow. I was better in the second moto. I had the holeshot but missed the triple when my line was cut. I charged to get back to Simon but it was not easy. We were both fast. 2nd in the championship is OK. We need to have the red plate at the end of the season, not now.”

Sacha Coenen: “Being back on the podium is good but the results – 6-4 – are not really what I’m working for. I want 1st place…but we’ll take this today. We’ll continue to try and improve the speed.”

Jeremy Seewer: "Well, second podium of the year in GP number nine, so this is very positive. We are getting better. We are improving the bike. It paid off on the track all that testing during the week. We are going in a good direction, getting closer. This podium is more earned. I mean, in Switzerland I did it, but it was also a lot of luck. Today, I did it with 5-3 moto finishes, with good riding and good starts. I didn't make any mistakes. We're taking it step by step and we're on the right path."

Kay de Wolf: “This weekend was a rough one. I picked up an ankle injury in timed practice, and from there it felt like things just didn’t go our way. The conditions on Sunday were really tricky with the rain overnight, and I had a couple of crashes in the first race that set me back. In the second moto, I got caught up in a first-lap incident which made it another tough fight from the back. I did what I could and kept pushing, but obviously losing the red plate is frustrating. Still, we’re not giving up - I’ll rest up this week, reset, and come back ready to fight for the podium in Germany.”

Liam Everts: “It was a bit of a mixed day for me. I had a small crash in the first moto which cost me some positions, but I managed to regroup and finish strong. The second race was more solid – I got a good start, found my rhythm early, and held my pace to the end. The conditions were challenging all day, so I’m happy to come away with points and keep building. We’ll take the positives and look to keep improving next weekend in Germany.”

Andrea Bonacorsi: “It was a good weekend! I struggled a bit on Saturday but didn’t want to take too many risks either. On Sunday, we started well with fifth in the warm-up, then took two sixth places in the races – and my first holeshot, hopefully the first of many – actually, I am sure of it. The key? The team atmosphere, how calm we are before going to the gate, and above all, the bike, because at the start you need to get the power to the ground. The whole package is helping me improve a lot. I am happy with the steps I am taking. We are becoming more and more consistent in the positions that matter. Now the goal is to take the next step to get on the podium. I have to thank the whole team and everyone at Fantic because we are doing a great job.”

Glenn Coldenhoff: “I am facing some issues with my body. When I woke up on Sunday morning, I immediately felt that I wasn’t at my best – and you could see it in race 2. Normally, I am physically strong, but I was really dropping back. The mind wanted to go, but the body said no. Of course, I am disappointed with a 10-9 – these are not the positions I should be in. We have to accept it for now and focus on getting better for next week. Hopefully, I can recover well and be back where I belong in Teutschenthal.”

Brian Bogers: “Feeling-wise, it was one of my better weekends. Still, these are not yet the results we want, but the feeling is getting better and better. I am also happy with my start in race 2, because that is one area I used to struggle with. The riding was quite good in the second moto as well, especially towards the end. So that was another positive. We need to take all these good things into the next weekend – and we will get there.”

Pauls Jonass: "I knew it was going to be a tough day at the office after being sick all week; particularly the intensity during the first fifteen minutes were difficult. I just didn't feel strong enough on the bike, but I now have a week to recover to be ready 100% for Teutschenthal."

Ruben Fernandez: After the past couple of weeks, I really was looking forward to getting on the podium here in France, but it seemed that luck wasn’t on my side. I got tangled up on the first lap of race one and had to pass twenty riders plus just to finish 11th. The start was better in race two but still not good enough to give me a chance with the leaders and it was difficult to make the moves I needed to. Seventh overall is not what I’m aiming for and now I will make sure that I’m higher up the field in Germany next weekend.

Ferruccio Zanchi: Not the weekend I was hoping for, and definitely not my best results on a track I really wanted to do well at. I just never gave myself a chance after the result yesterday and neither moto today was the level I expect from myself, so I need to regroup quickly because the next round is next weekend and I don’t want to be riding around in these positions in Germany.

Valerio Lata: After the first race, I had a lot of hope that I would be able to do the same again, but unfortunately I wasn’t able to get such a good start and passing wasn’t very easy in this moto. Still, to get a third in race one is something I am happy with and proof that I have the speed so I need to be able to do that consistently now and really make my mark in this class. After the last two rounds, my confidence was a little bit down, but this is nice and I am excited to do even better in Teutschenthal.

Mattia Guadagnini: “There’s not much to say, it was a complicated weekend, with a very difficult Saturday. I struggled to find a good feeling with the track in the two practice sessions. Then, luckily, the qualifying race went a bit better, which gave me some positives to take into Sunday. The track was really tough, though, and I made several mistakes. I took some risks trying to push and lost my rhythm and never really rode the way I know I can. In the second moto, I tried to reset and start fresh, but right after the start, several riders crashed in front of me, and I ended up way at the back. Unfortunately, I made contact with another rider while I was coming back through the pack, which damaged the rear brake. I tried to continue and finish the race but had to stop to avoid unnecessary risk - especially on this track with such big jumps, where it was nearly impossible to keep going.”

Calvin Vlaanderen: Today was OK. My results don’t show it, but I’m happy with how I rode. My speed is good – I just need better starts to run up front like I did in Lugo. So that’s what I’ll be working on ahead of the next Grand Prix.

Maxime Renaux: A tough day. I didn’t ride my best in the first race but the result was good. I was hoping for a much better ride in Race Two, but I crashed in turn two and then again when I tangled with a lapped rider. So, overall, it’s been a disappointing GP for me.

Camden McLellan: “A tough weekend for me. Saturday was a bit of a struggle and couldn’t put a full lap in during time practice. A crash in the qualifying race made things difficult too. I turned it around today with my riding, but I just didn’t get good starts, which were important on this track. The positives are that my speed is good, I just need better starts.”

Guillem Farres: “I’ve always liked the track in Ernee, and this year it was good, nice and technical, and the rain Sunday morning made it perfect for the races. After my crash on Saturday, I had last gate pick today, but I was able to make the best of it and get some good starts. Ninth overall after what happened yesterday is OK and it’s a result to build from as we head to Germany next weekend.”

Jago Geerts: My riding was good and I felt more comfortable on the track as the weekend went on. But two crashes in Race One held me back from finishing closer to the top 10. My start in Race Two was really good, but then I made a big mistake and lost a lot of time. So, another challenging weekend for me, but 10th in Race Two was a good result.

Thibault Benistant: Not the weekend I was hoping for at my home race. A crash in the first turn of Race One made that one difficult, but I came through well for 11th. My start in the second race was much better, and I made a lot of passes through the first few corners to move into third. It was then a good race for me to finish third, but I’m still not riding in the races like I do during training. So, I need to work on this and then I can ride much better in the Grand Prix races.

Karlis Reisulis: Today wasn’t my best day. One positive was my start in Race Two, but then I got landed on over a jump, which really affected my rhythm. I lost a lot of places and I was lucky to not crash or be injured. I’m working hard to prepare for the races, but at the moment I’m not making the progress I should be, so it’s frustrating.

Mathis Valin: "I made a good start from the outside in the first moto and found a good rhythm to finish P5. The second moto was a little more difficult as I was stuck behind another guy for too long but once I got past him I again found a good rhythm and had some nice battles all the way to the end. I am coming back to speed little-by-little and was pushing a lot in both motos; the GPs are much more intense than the European Championship, particularly at the beginning of the races. Now we will continue to train and work; see you in Teutschenthal !"

Jake Cannon: "We're heading in the right direction with top-ten in both motos. I still have a lot of things to iron out and put together but we're getting there. This was a proper race track where you had to be smart and be patient because things could happen quickly. And the public were crazy; there was a hillside there but all I could see were people and you could hear them all moto!"

Oriol Oliver: “Thats for sure my best MX2 race I ever did in this championship, and I am not surprised to be honest after spending some races with the team. Last weekend we made an improvement with the suspension and it felt directly better. P4 overall after two consistent motos, and 1 point to the podium, it was a close one. First moto couldn’t pass for 3rd all moto having the speed, and second moto I could catch 6th, but was not enough with a p7. We will continue in this direction and I am happy for the team for the good weekend we had, gyan on the podium and me inside the top 5!”

Ben Watson: The weekend did not start in the best way. Saturday was good feeling but I made too many mistakes to be able to set a good time. Sunday morning the track was very technical. In the first heat I finally got a good start, passed a couple of opponents and finished the race in ninth position. In the second heat the start was not so good but my pace was okay, during the heat I made a few overtakes and finished eleventh. I am happy with the way I raced but I think my results could have been better. Let's take the positive things and work to improve in the next rounds.

Tom Koch: The track was very well set up and already in free practice it was soft and very technical. Unfortunately, the feeling was not good and despite a good first lap, I finished twenty-first in qualifying. On Sunday in the first heat, I was not comfortable on the bike. It's really a shame, but I can only look forward. In race two I tried to focus on riding; the start went well but at the second corner I crashed with another rider, our bikes got stuck and I lost a lot of time starting again. My delay from the points zone was considerable but I tried to push hard. This time the feeling with the bike was better but I am very disappointed that I finished the race without gaining any points. Let's focus on the next race, I can't wait to line up at the start of my home GP and to see the German fans cheering again.