Kawasaki Racing Team's Mathis Valin and Romain Febvre assured France of first gate-pick in each of the races in tomorrow's main programme of the 79th FIM Motocross of Nations on home soil at Ernée with stunning rides in Qualifying. Febvre laid the base with a no-risk second in MXGP before Valin, racing for the first time in three months, swept to victory in MX2 to seal pole for La Grande Nation.

Pascal Haudiquert images

To the delight of the massive French crowd Febvre gave the host nation a superb start to Qualifying with a clear holeshot from gate 22 in the opening MXGP moto and was soon racing clear of the pack. With two scores from three to count for team gate-pick during the main programme on Sunday the onus is high on the MXGP rider to avoid risks and give his teammates a solid base so Febvre was not concerned as a sole rival could stay his pace with third almost twenty seconds back after fifteen minutes.

He took the opportunity to check out his rival's lines before closing back onto the rear wheel at will with four laps remaining. He even drew alongside but a pass was hindered by a backmarker and the Frenchman was then content to finish a safe second.

Valin, making his second appearance in national colours, was immaculate in his first race back from an enforced three-month injury break. Second though the first turn of the MX2 Qualifier he was content to shadow the leader before moving to the front on lap five and surged clear to the delight of the massive crowd for a secure six-second victory which ensured France of first gate-pick on Sunday even before the final MX Open Qualifying race.

Mathis Valin (France, MX2): "It's such a crazy comeback after three months without a race. I took it easy through the first few laps after a good start; I knew I had the speed to come back to Sacha, then I put the pressure on him and he made a mistake. I had so much arm pump after such a long time out of racing but the crowd helped me put it out of my mind; I couldn't even hear my own bike through the waves in front of the main gallery."

Romain Febvre (France, MXGP): "It was a good day for the team. We got the job done and are now first to the gate tomorrow but we must stay concentrated to finish the job. It was a little tricky through the first laps of my Qualifying as the track was completely flat for our only practice in the morning but the ruts had formed for our race so I needed to learn the track again. After Prado passed me I could check his lines; I came close to him again but couldn't quite make the pass."