Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP’s Romain Febvre raced to a tactical second in Qualifying for the final round of the FIM World MXGP Motocross Championship at Darwin in Australia and now needs just five points – a single sixteenth moto finish – from tomorrow’s two GP motos to secure the world title.

The Frenchman was the first to post fastest time in Timed Training through the first runs mid-session and was content to accept third gate-pick as others threw caution to the wind at the end of the session. Temperatures were in the low-thirties for the Qualifying race at the venue in the tropics but the air was less humid than one week ago in China. The Kawasaki rider had a good jump at the gate and a clear run down the start straight but could not cut across to the inside of turn one and found himself ninth heading to turn two. A superb first lap saw him execute pass after pass to already advance to third and on lap four he swept into second, the position he maintained securely to the chequered flag. He now goes into tomorrow’s two GP motos holding a forty-six point advantage over his title rival with a maximum of fifty points available so anything better than sixteenth in either moto will secure the Frenchman’s second world crown – ten years after his first – and the first for the Kawasaki KX450-SR.

Romain Febvre: “I really liked the track and the conditions are pretty good. I have a good feeling with the track and was happy with my riding. The start in the Qualifying race was good and I was second or third coming into the first turn but I touched Lucas’ back wheel and lost some positions. After practice this morning I thought it would be difficult to pass here but in the race I showed that it is possible; I managed some good passes already on the first lap and continued to finish second. Now I just need to stay focused for tomorrow.”

Pascal Haudiquert story and image