Romain Febvre was impressive en route to victory at the MXGP of the United States at Glen Helen. Photography by Kit Palmer
Yamaha Factory Racing/Yamalube’s Romain Febvre showed everyone why he’s the new MXGP World Champion after outdueling Josh Grant and everyone else at the final round of the 2015 FIM Motocross World Championship at Glen Helen Raceway.
On sunny, bright and hot Sunday in the Southern California foothills, the Frenchman, Febvre, claimed the overall win on a track that he has never raced on before, beating many who have and all of the regulars on the FIM tour.
Febvre came from behind to reel in former MXGP Champion Antonio Cairoli, early leader Grant and Cooper Webb to take the first-moto victory. Early in the race, Grant looked like a sure winner before running over his own foot, causing him to slow because of the pain. After a tough skirmish with Cooper, Grant dropped back to third, letting new leader Webb and Febvre to battle it out for the win. With the laps winding down, Febvre got around Webb and barely held him off for the first-moto win. Webb took second, followed by Grant and Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Jason Anderson
Grant, after getting the ankle taped up, again got into the early lead in the second moto, but this time he kept his factory backed Monster Energy Kawasaki there the whole way, fending off Febvre the whole way.
Febvre did get close to Grant at the end, but a small tip-over that cost him just a few seconds a few laps from the finish sealed the deal for Grant to take the second-moto victory. But it wasn’t enough to keep Febvre from getting the overall win, his 1-2 topping Grant’s 3-1. Webb filled out the MXGP podium in third with a 2-3.
Great Britain’s Dean Wilson, on the Red Bull KTM, ended up fourth overall with a 7-4, while Dutchman Glenn Coldenhoff, on the Rockstar Energy Suzuki, grabbed fifth overall.
After a strong fourth in the first moto, Anderson pulled out of the second moto when he started feeling dizzy, most likely because of the excessive heat.
Other notable overall finishes included BTO Sports/KTM’s Davi Millsaps in 11th and Red Bull KTM’s Marvin Musquin 16th (10-DNF).
The MX2 podium was filled with TLD/Lucas Oil KTM riders.
In the MX2 class, Slovenia’s Tim Gajser wrapped up the 2015 title for the Honda Garibodi Team. He came into the race leading nearest rival Pauls Jonass by 18 points and finished ahead of the KTM rider in both motos. Gjaser went 5-3 for third overall.
Finishing ahead of him was a pair of TLD/Lucas Oil KTM riders Jessy Nelson and Shane McElrath. Nelson dominated both motos, while McElrath went 3-2 for second overall.
Swiss rider Valentin Guillod, on the Standing Construct Yamaha/Yamalube YZ250F, finished on the podium in third with a 4-3. Gajser and Monster Energy/DRT Kawasaki’s Max Anstie of Great Britain rounded out the top five overall.
American Chris Alldredge was sixth overall. Alldredge finished second in the first moto but had problems early in the second moto and had to work his way up through the pack.
We’ll have a complete report on the race in tomorrow’s issue of Cycle News magazine, which can be found at www.www.cyclenews.com.
