Kawasaki factory rider Romain Febvre continues to show us that he belongs in amongst the best motocross riders in the world. One of the few men who can on a regular basis battle the big three of Jorge Prado, Tim Gajser and Jeffery Herlings. At the MXGP of China over the weekend Febvre took home the first moto win, and finished second overall on the day (meanwhile there was a shakeup upfront as Prado took over the points lead from Gajser). Geoff Meyer of MX Large was able to catch up with Febvre after the race.
MX Large: Second on the podium and it was a tough GP. What can you tell us about this day?
Romain Febvre: I think it was really tough for everyone. It is a little bit like Indonesia, really humid and very hot and the second moto was even hotter than the first one. I had a really good first moto, I started around fourth or fifth and I passed everyone and took the lead. I then made a small gap and won the race. It has been a long time that I have done that, so I am happy to do that. For sure, I used a lot of energy in the first moto, but when you win, it gives you more energy for the second one.
How about that second moto?
The second race, I had a bad start, but some good first corners and I was really quick. I was behind [Ruben] Fernandez, and I had a big fight with him. He was riding good at the beginning, but I was faster and somehow to make the pass, I had to find some other lines, eventually I passed him, but then I was alone in third place and the two guys in front were too far ahead of me. I finished third in the race and 1-3 to finish second overall, that is okay for me.
Why is it you don’t have that much trouble with the hot conditions, you always show you have a good strength in these types of conditions?
I think, it is just I don’t have bad times, and I like it when it is really warm. For sure to ride, it is difficult, and it makes it easier than for the others, but I don’t struggle. Maybe I need to move from Belgium, because there it was 13 degrees and we come here and its 36 and humid, so it is a shock to the body, but I don’t mind it.
The schedule was completely different and the short break between motos, in these hot temperatures must have been hard to deal with. How did you find the day, with such a tight schedule?
Yes, we are not used to such a small break between races. For sure, you have less time to recover and with the short break, it was hard, we are just not used to it. In U.S. they have less time, same as the Nations, we have less time. You have to just manage as well as possible.
MXGP of China - MXGP
September 15, 2024
| Rider | Motos | Bike | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Jorge Prado |  | 2 - 1 | GasGas |
| 2 |  Romain Febvre |  | 1 - 3 | Kawasaki |
| 3 |  Jeffrey Herlings |  | 3 - 4 | KTM |
| 4 |  Ruben Fernandez | | 4 - 6 | Honda |
| 5 |  Jan Pancar |  | 8 - 5 | KTM |
What did you think about the whole Chinese experience?
Actually, my first time in China, I missed 2019 because I was injured. The track is good, a little short, the laps, but it is a pretty good track with good dirt and one day it was not bumpy and fast, but I liked it. The weather is hard, and the organizers expected a lot of fans for the Monday race, so that is unfortunate that those fans couldn’t make it, but for me, it was a good GP.
Your season was a bit ruined by injury, but with des Nations coming up, it’s a big one for yourself and France. Can you tell me how you feel about this event?
Yes, like, again, the Nations is something I look forward to, but it isn’t like it is a championship or anything. I want to finish the season strong and that is what I am doing and that is good. Nations, it would be nice, many good riders coming over and Matterley is a good track and hopefully we have good weather and some nice races.
Do you look forward to racing guys like the Lawrence brothers, because they are the top guys in America, or you don’t really care who you race?
I don’t really care. Just nice they are coming and that will bring fans and it’s the only time we can compete with these guys. The guys from U.S. and Australia, its good, but it is something, a two-day event, and it is special, and the goal is to win with the federation and that is it really.
You doing anything in the winter, or just taking it off?
Maybe we go to Japan, to race that championship, but the Japanese guys come to the Nations and the plan was to race in Japan after the Nations, but now we just do testing with the Japanese after Nations. So, no extra races in the winter.
How will the bike look for next year, do you have many changes?
We have the testing, a bit of everything. The frame will not change, but some engine changes and some new parts and also for the chassis. It won’t be like a new bike, just some testing.
