When people look through the record books in 20, 30 or 40 years’ time, they might see names like Antonio Cairoli, Jeffrey Herlings, Tim Gajser and Jorge Prado winning from this era, but what future motocross fans won’t see as much, is the name of the brilliant Frenchman, Romain Febvre, who made life difficult for all these men.

Febvre, who obviously won the 2015 MXGP championship in his 450 rookie season has been a contender on many occasions, often falling just short, like in that 2021 battle with Herlings and Gajser, or even in other seasons, when injuries ruled him out of being a contender.

For us, the lucky ones who have seen him race over the last decade, we all know his worth and I don’t think there are too many of us who would be disappointed to see him win his second World MXGP title, a decade after his first.

Of course, just like in 2015, an MXGP rookie is standing in his way, as Lucas Coenen tries to deny the Frenchman that second title and wouldn’t it be some type of irony, that a rookie beats one of the oldest riders in the class and denies Febvre that second title?

Last weekend at the Matterley Basin circuit, Febvre got another Grand Prix victory, his fourth of 2025 and his 25th in his brilliant career. Another irony, Febvre joins just Stefan Everts and Clement Desalle as a 450 winner at Matterley, without the name Herlings, Gajser or Cairoli. The three men that have made sure his World title tally remains at one. Sometimes in their shadows, but yesterday the shining glory of French and World motocross. Congratulations Mr Febvre.

Below is a very cool gallery from yet another Frenchman, this time Pascal Haudiquert, who himself is something of a legend in the paddock, having attended more than (I think) 350 GPs, since he too was a rookie back in the 1980s. Without doubt, the best press man in the paddock and a World of knowledge of our great sport.