After posting fourth-fastest time in Timed Practice the Frenchman faced an awkward run to turn one to run eighth through the first few turns before making two quick passes to move into the top six on lap two. Two further decisive inside passes at the same corner on the third and fifth lap saw him move impressively to fourth and his raw speed saw him close down the two riders ahead of him before he was frustratingly denied further advances before the chequered flag. His seven-point championship haul has however seen the defending champion move from third to second in the series standings headed into tomorrow's two GP motos.
Romain Febvre: "My start was OK but it was so difficult to pass Maxime (Renaux); I passed some other guys but then I got stuck behind him. I felt comfortable on the track and my speed was really good when I was free but I just couldn't find a way past Maxime. I tried everything the last ten minutes and it was a little frustrating as Tom (Vialle) was just ahead of us and second would have been possible."
It was a disappointing day for KRT teammate Pauls Jonass. The Latvian was tenth in Timed Practice but was hindered when other riders crashed at turn one of Qualifying to hold twelfth through the first few laps before slipping back to sixteenth at the finish as he didn't find his usual rhythm.
Pauls Jonass: "I really don't know what to say. I'm OK physically but somehow I just struggled with the feeling for the track as it changed so much during the day. It was really fast in the beginning but got really tricky with square-edged bumps later. It wasn't the easiest track but it was the same for everybody so we will analyse everything and I need to do better tomorrow."
Kawasaki Racing Team MX2's Mathis Valin finished sixth in the Qualifying race for the FIM World MX2 Motocross Championship. The French teenager chose a central gate after earning third-choice in Timed Practice and swept around the outside of turn one to emerge fifth. After a cautious approach through the opening laps temporarily cost one position he regained fifth on lap six by building momentum through the waves and lapped faster than the leaders to close them down before a slower rider cost him his momentum and the defending champion was able to take advantage to slip past both of them.
DRT Kawasaki's Kay Karssemakers made a good jump out of the gate in Qualifying but was squeezed by his neighbours on the run down to turn one to emerge twelfth. The Dutch youngster was soon on the move to take over tenth by the end of the lap but then faced a long chase in a fast-moving leaderboard before making a decisive pass for ninth on the final lap.
Kay Karssemakers: "Ninth is a good result; all of the guys ahead of me were on factory bikes! The track has a sandy surface but it's really fast and the ground is hard underneath so we changed a few settings for Qualifying and I felt comfortable in the race. I got a decent start and just rode my laps to the end to finish ninth, right on the back wheel of eighth. I'm hoping for two good starts tomorrow so I can race top ten both motos."