We saw major improvements with Romain Febvre in Trentino in Italy a couple of weeks ago and last weekend in Portugal, the Kawasaki Racing Team rider made even more ground on the red plate. Despite not winning a race the Frenchman finished second in a horrendously muddy Portuguese round of the FIM World MXGP Motocross Championship at Agueda.

“Looking at the big picture this weekend was good for the championship as I pulled back points so I remain positive but I want to win GPs and motos and both were in my hands until I threw it away. All of the crashes were my mistake but at least they happened late in the races when they did not cost too many positions. In the first moto I was second entering the last lap but I cross-rutted on landing over the finish-jump and crashed. I wasn't sure if it had cost me a position at first as I didn't know if Pauls was on the same lap; I passed him back through the waves but my gloves were full of mud and I crashed again at the last corner. I was second through the first turn in race two but Tim slid out and crashed right in front of me. I had no chance to avoid him and I thought I would crash too but somehow I stayed on; I hope Tim is OK. I was soon third and six laps from the end I almost passed Pauls but I crashed again. It was really tough for everybody this weekend so my congratulations to Pauls for the win; he made no mistakes and deserved it. But I remain positive; the points are still close and it's only five down with fifteen to go.”

Febvre finished third in a muddy qualifying race on Saturday and again showing amazing speed, the Frenchman needed less than a lap to storm from sixth to third in extremely muddy conditions. Setting the fastest early laps of the race he also closed down the championship rival ahead of him before losing contact as they encountered lappers during the final few laps; such was the dominance of the front-three that they established a lead of more than a minute over fourth. Further rainfall is forecast for the region during tomorrow's GP motos.

“The conditions were tough as it had been raining most of the afternoon and we could hardly make some of the jumps in Qualifying; it's a shame because the track was really good this morning. I made a good start but I made a mistake through the long long second turn and that cost me a few positions. I managed to come back to third already on the first lap and I tried to find some lines to pass Jeffrey; I felt sure I could pass him but then I made a couple of mistakes and lost contact to him in the last couple of laps.”

With the rain bucketing down on Sunday afternoon, the first MXGP moto burst into life it was clear that not only speed but also survival would be a key factor.

A top-three start for Febvre was an excellent base for success in race one and the leading trio were soon pulling well clear; on lap nine of fourteen the Kawasaki rider took over second as one of his rivals faltered and track conditions were inevitably become more-and-more demanding by the lap as he chased down the leader.

Entering the final lap he surrendered second briefly with a crash but he had regained the position until the final corner of the race when another fall pushed him back to third.

A clear second through turn one in race two the Frenchman survived a hair-raising moment when the leader slithered to the ground and, unable to avoid the carnage, he launched over the stricken bike but stayed aboard and within a few corners had regained third position.

He relentlessly chased the rival in second and, in the knowledge that a pass would secure the overall GP victory, he mounted an energetic challenge as the race entered the closing stages.

A slip just before a sticky climb cost him the hopes of GP victory and also a position in the race but his perseverence ensured second on the day and, more significantly, his forty-six championship score over the weekend has reduced his deficit to the series pacesetter by thirteen points as the top-three at the top of the standings tighten up.

Now, as he told us last week, he will be looking to win in Lugo, the home race of Prado and put even more pressure on. Now with Tim Gajser as the red plate owner, you just know that Febvre will be working overtime to make even more ground on the leader in the MXGP points and head to his home GP in France a week later with either a GP victory, and maybe even the red plate.

Pascal Haudiquert image