Back in 2015, Romain Febvre won himself a world MXGP championship in his rookie season. It was a championship filled with drama, injuries and everything else. Still, that title in 2015 springboarded his career, where he became one of the best motocross riders in the world, both in Grand Prix and MXoN battle.

A rider who never gave up, but had some inconsistency problems in his seasons, an injury here and injury there, many times bad luck, but sometimes bad management.

In 2025, at 33 years of age, and a decade after his first title, the Frenchman is close to adding another world title to his first one. I don't think too many people will be disappointed when Febvre crosses the finish line in Darwin, Australia and is a world champion again.

Febvre made significant steps towards his career-second FIM World MXGP Motocross Championship title with two tactical rides at Shanghai in China; he now needs just fourteen points from the final round of the series at Darwin in Northern Australia next weekend to secure Kawasaki's first world title in the premier off-road world series.

On the Saturday, Febvre extended his lead in the FIM World MXGP Motocross Championship to thirty points by coolly racing to a secure third-place finish in a rain-affected Qualifying at Shanghai in China.

"It was an OK day and good for the championship to take some points. It's a tiny track but I was feeling good all day; it's really warm here but it's the same for everybody. I didn't get a really good jump at the gate but I turned well in the first turn to be fourth and I could pass Maximeon lap two. I was feeling comfortable behind the two leaders, but I let them go in the last few laps; they are not my points rivals so it was good to finish third. We know now why we didn't get the jump today so we can make some adjustments to the settings for tomorrow."

Light rain immediately prior to the MXGP Qualifying race on the hard-pack track with a slight covering of loose dirt urged caution as it made the surface extremely slippery. The Frenchman emerged fourth from turn one and made a smart move for third on lap two but, secure in the knowledge that his title rival was four placed further back in seventh and with passing opportunities rare, he wisely maintained his secure third place to the chequered flag to extend his advantage at the head of the championship to thirty points with just five races remaining.

Claustrophobic climatic conditions and a compact circuit on the outskirts of the Chinese metropole presented a severe challenge to the competitors and tactics played a significant role. A nervous opening lap in race one saw Febvre pushed temporarily back to seventh on a track left sticky after monsoon-like rainfall overnight but he sooned regained his composure to make a dramatic pass for sixth on lap two and continue to build momentum in his championship duel as he out-foxed the rider in fifth past the VIP stand on lap six before switching into tactical mode to maintain a safe fourth through the last ten minutes as his points-rival faded in the heat.

Having extended his series lead to thirty-six points the greater picture gained even more relevance in race two when his title-rival fell at turn two. He quickly settled into third place and was looking at yet another GP podium before wisely avoiding any potential incident from any over-energetic challenger to bring home another solid fourth.

He missed the podium on the tie-break for only the third time this season, but the bigger picture has seen him extend his advantage in the championship to forty-seven points; he now needs just fourteen points from the final round of the series next weekend at Darwin in Northern Australia to clinch his second personal and Kawasaki's first title inthe premier off-road world series.

"This was one of the toughest GPs of the year and today was a good day for the championship; it feels like a win and I don't care about missing the podium. I got a really good start in the first moto but I didn't have a good first lap and some guys passed me. I knew I needed to come back at them but I took it really smooth and didn't risk attacking too hard and hitting the wall in the heat. I knew Lucas was behind me and that was the most important thing as I came back to fourth. I had another good start in race two but Lucas came across us from the outside. However he then went over the front at turn two and I knew he would need to come back through the pack so I just rode a steady race. In my head I was focused on the front and I wanted to stick with them but Ruben had a better line and when he came through I decided to concentrate on keeping fourth."

Now onto Australia, where it seems the Frenchman will be crowned World MXGP Champion, for the second time in his career, a career that has seen him miss out by a handful of points before, where he has battled the likes of Jeffrey Herlings, Tim Gajser and Jorge Prado, three of the all-time greats. Nobody in our sport deserves a championship as much as Romain Febvre, and no doubt, it will be a celebration of all celebrations.

Pascal Haudiquert/Geoff Meyer story and Haudiquert image