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MXGP, MXGP OF SWITZERLAND - FRAUENFELD, Switzerland, 8 Duben 2023

Romain Febvre qualifies second in Switzerland

Romain Febvre of Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP finished runner-up in Qualifying for the Swiss round of the FIM World MXGP Motocross Championship at Frauenfeld.

The Frenchman's KX450-SR got excellent drive down the start straight but had to survive a moment of bumping with another rider at turn one and was soon third behind his two main title rivals. Clearly at home on the damp rutted track he swept into second through the turn entering the pit straight at the end of the opening lap and repeated the move one lap later to take over the lead. Quickly establishing a two-second cushion as he set the fastest laps of the race the KRT leader appeared to be on his way to his first Qualifying win of the season as he retained a comfortable lead entering the final lap but, taking just a little too much care in lapped traffic, he was surprised by his closest chaser a few turns from home and had to be content with second, and nine championship points, at the chequered flag. He did however gain three points over his immediate rival for third in the championship points chase and now, in company with all competitors, has Sunday free to prepare for the two GP motos on Monday.
 
 Romain Febvre: I slipped on the gate a little, but then in the straight line the bike was so good that I recovered and was already fifth at the second corner. During the first lap I had good lines and passed all my rivals to take the lead; I had a good feeling and good lines but then, the same as my rivals, I had difficulties with the lappers and on the last lap I got passed by Prado. He took an outside line in a corner; it was faster than my line and I couldn’t resist. Of course I'm disappointed to miss a win on the last lap but it was a good day and I’m happy with my riding and with the bike."
 
F&H Kawasaki Racing Team's rookie David Braceras scored his first point in the Qualifying races for the FIM World MX2 Motocross Championship as he raced to tenth place; the young Spaniard, ever growing in confidence and experience, battled hard throughout from an initial twelfth to even hold down eighth place for a couple of laps mid-moto.
 
David Braceras: "I'm really happy with my best Qualifying of the year and my first top-ten result in the GPs; it's the first step to being there regularly. I actually took a very good start around seventh but I made some mistakes through the first few turns and had to come back from twelfth. I pushed hard with a good rhythm and almost made a pass for ninth on the final lap. I'm really enjoying the track; it's fun to ride and I now have a good gate-pick for the GP motos on Monday."
 
After setting eleventh-fastest time in timed practice Kevin Horgmo was dead-last, more than thirty seconds back, at the completion of the opening lap of MX2 Qualifying race after first spinning on the wet metal start-ramp and then being taken out by another rider at turn one but he came back resolutely to earn fourteenth gate-pick on Monday.
 
Kevin Horgmo: "Everything that could go wrong did so at the start of the race; first I slid on the metal mesh and then, after getting good drive into the first turn, someone's rear wheel slid out and took my front wheel. I was dead-last when I got back on. My riding felt good but I need to avoid those incidents. The track has many different types of obstacles and I enjoyed it; I just need a start on Monday."
 
Teams and riders will now take a rest day tomorrow before returning to action for the two GP motos in each class on Monday.