Kawasaki factory rider Romain Febvre, has gone a long way into trying to claim his second world motocross championship with a start to finish win in the opening MXGP moto at Uddevalla today and gain a bunch of points on main rival, Lucas Coenen, who finished in seventh spot. The series lead by Febvre is now 25 points.

With his main rival, Lucas Coenen starting in around 25th place, and climbing back to seventh, the Frenchman will be very happy with his performance. Jeffrey Herlings finished second with Calvin Vlaanderen third.

Romain Febvre: It has been a good race, managed the holeshot and that makes life easier. Jeffrey was on my tow at the beginning, but then at the end lapped riders, they didn't move at all. A good win and we will see the second race. I try and do a good start and we see.

Championship points are now Romain Febvre 769 points, Lucas Coenen 744pts, Glenn Coldenhoff 556pts, Ruben Fernandez 489pts, and Calvin Vlaanderen 462pts.

MXGP Moto One

Febvre a brilliant start to lead the opening MXGP moto, with Herlings coming from a bad start into the lead on turn two. Febvre back into the lead, then Gifting, Gajser, Vlaanderen, Fernandez, Jonass, Seewer, Coldenhoff, Renaux and Coenen in 22nd place and struggling big time.

Gifting into second, but Herlings repassed the Swede and Gajser just sitting back and watching in fourth place. The track looks so difficult to ride with so many little ruts and bumps. Gifting blocking the moves of Gajser and Coenen still in 18th position.

Lap two the lead by Febvre was 2.5 seconds, with Gifting 4.1 behind and Gajser 4.7 back from Febvre. Then came Vlaanderen, Fernandez, Seewer, Pancar, Coldenhoff and Renaux. Coenen now 15th with a long list of riders just ahead of him and a chance to get into the top ten.

Gifting a big crash and dropped well back after colliding with Gajser. Gajser also out of the race with a mangled bike. So, on lap four it was Febvre with 3.9 over Herlings, then Vlaanderen, Seewer, Fernandez, Pancar, Renaux, Coldenhoff, Jonas and Guadagnini in 10th. Coenen now 13th.

Coenen really struggling to make up ground and you wonder if his sickness from Lommel has gotten worse? Coenen up to 12th place and onto Watson for 11th. Febvre with a five second lead over Herlings, with Vlaanderen three seconds behind Herlings.

Seewer a big crash ans looking hurt but still tried to get going again. Seewer also out of the race and everyone is helping Coenen get more and more points as he rides around now in 11th spot. Top ten on lap seven was Febvre, Herlings, Vlaanderen, Fernandez, Pancar, Renaux, Coldenhoff, Guadagnini, Jonass and Coenen into 10th place.

Coenen into ninth place and now chasing down Guadagnini, who is just ahead of him. With 15 minutes to go, we might see a typical Herlings charge when we het the 10 minutes to go mark. Coenen into eight place and really getting some speed up. Chasing down Coldenhoff now.

Lap nine and it was Febvre with 6.2 over Herlings, then Vlaanderen 11 seconds back, followed by Fernandez, Pancar, Renaux, Coldenhoff, Coenen, Guadagnini, and Bonacorsi. Coenen two seconds off Coldenhoff, with Renaux and Pancar not that far off the Dutchman, so Coenen could easily get to fifth.

A nice battle set to happen with Pancar, Renaux, Coldenhoff and Coenen all together. Herlings making no ground on Febvre yet, with nine minutes remaining. The gap was 6.8 seconds. Lap 11 the gap was now seven seconds.

Renaux passed Pancar and quickly made a gap, with Coenen all over Coldenhoff and Pancar to move closer to the top five. Coldenhoff passed Pancar and Coenen did the same to move into seventh spot. Top ten was Febvre, Herlings, Vlaanderen, Fernandez, Renaux, Coldenhoff, Coenen, Pancar, Guadagnini, and Bonacorsi. Febvre wins from Herlings and Vlaanderen. Coenen came home in seventh.

MXGP - Grand Prix Race 1 - Classification

1. Romain Febvre (FRA, Kawasaki), 35:15.808; 2. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), +0:01.504; 3. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, Yamaha), +0:12.414; 4. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, Honda), +0:17.972; 5. Maxime Renaux (FRA, Yamaha), +0:28.059; 6. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, Fantic), +0:33.439; 7. Lucas Coenen (BEL, KTM), +0:40.101; 8. Jan Pancar (SLO, KTM), +0:47.802; 9. Andrea Bonacorsi (ITA, Fantic), +0:50.049; 10. Mattia Guadagnini (ITA, Ducati), +0:52.273; 11. Brian Bogers (NED, Fantic), +0:53.325; 12. Roan Van De Moosdijk (NED, KTM), +0:55.164; 13. Quentin Marc Prugnieres (FRA, Honda), +0:56.116; 14. Hakon Fredriksen (NOR, Yamaha), +1:01.055; 15. Pauls Jonass (LAT, Kawasaki), +1:04.472; 16. Kevin Brumann (SUI, Husqvarna), +1:14.243; 17. Isak Gifting (SWE, Yamaha), +1:21.256; 18. Maximilian Spies (GER, KTM), +1:26.341; 19. Albin Gerhardsson (SWE, Husqvarna), +1:37.588; 20. Brent Van doninck (BEL, Honda), +1:45.118; 21. Ben Watson (GBR, Beta), +1:52.072; 22. Uldis Freibergs (LAT, GASGAS), -1 lap(s); 23. Cato Nickel (GER, Husqvarna), -1 lap(s); 24. Yuri Pasqualini (ITA, Honda), -1 lap(s); 25. Alvin Östlund (SWE, Triumph), -8 lap(s); 26. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Ducati), -12 lap(s); 27. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), -16 lap(s); 28. Adam Sterry (GBR, KTM), -16 lap(s); 29. Tom Koch (GER, Beta), -18 lap(s);

MXGP - World Championship Classification

1. Romain Febvre (FRA, KAW), 769 points; 2. Lucas Coenen (BEL, KTM), 744 p.; 3. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, FAN), 556 p.; 4. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, HON), 489 p.; 5. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, YAM), 462 p.; 6. Andrea Bonacorsi (ITA, FAN), 417 p.; 7. Maxime Renaux (FRA, YAM), 403 p.; 8. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 384 p.; 9. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, DUC), 331 p.; 10. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 313 p.; 11. Jan Pancar (SLO, KTM), 262 p.; 12. Ben Watson (GBR, BET), 257 p.; 13. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, HON), 243 p.; 14. Jago Geerts (BEL, YAM), 242 p.; 15. Brian Bogers (NED, FAN), 239 p.; 16. Isak Gifting (SWE, YAM), 225 p.; 17. Mattia Guadagnini (ITA, DUC), 185 p.; 18. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KAW), 170 p.; 19. Brent Van doninck (BEL, HON), 148 p.; 20. Roan Van De Moosdijk (NED, KTM), 145 p.;