Romain Febvre started his 2025 World Championship season on a high note, securing a second place finish in Argentina. It was a solid performance from start to finish, with the only rider ahead of him being Maxime Renaux. The two Frenchmen finished tied in points on Sunday. It was an encouraging opening weekend for the Kawasaki rider, who leaves South America just one point behind the championship leader.
After securing second place in Saturday’s qualifying race, Romain Febvre led the first MXGP moto on Sunday from start to finish, holding off the pressure from Maxime Renaux – who eventually went off track. Clearly a level above the rest this weekend, the two French riders knew everything would come down to the second moto. Febvre got another strong start alongside Renaux and Mattia Guadagnini, but he lost some valuable time trying to get past the Italian rider, allowing Renaux to extend his lead at the front.
“In the second moto, I didn’t get as good a start as in the first one, but I was right there with Maxime and Mattia,” Febvre explained in the press conference. “Maxime overtook him, and it actually took me a while to get past Guadagnini. In the meantime, Maxime had already built a gap, so by the time I moved into second, he was quite far ahead. I tried to close the gap, but even if I had managed to gain another second or two, it would have taken me several more laps, and Maxime would still have been out of reach.”
Febvre spent three laps trying to get past Ducati rider Mattia Guadagnini at the start of the moto, while Maxime Renaux was putting in consistent 1:50 lap times. Despite his efforts to reel in the Yamaha factory rider, the Kawasaki rider had to settle for second place, also dealing with some interference from lapped riders. “The time lost at the beginning of the moto was tough to make up. Sometimes, with lapped riders, it was difficult to choose the right lines.”
Strong Physical Condition After the Off-Season
Beyond the result itself, Romain Febvre was particularly satisfied with the solid physical condition he built up during the off-season. “Tim Gajser was behind me in the second moto, but it didn’t affect me. I rode well all weekend, and I’m really happy. Physically, I feel great. I know I’m ready for a long season. On top of that, the bike feels perfect. Everything was dialed in this weekend.”
Just like last season, Romain Febvre kicks off his 2025 campaign with a second-place finish in the opening GP. “I’m only one point behind the red plate. Of course, this is just the first Grand Prix of the season, but I’m in a good position right now. I feel like I’ve never been in this good of shape at the start of a season. Now, I’m happy to return to Europe for the next rounds.”
Initially skeptical after Neuquén was removed from the MXGP calendar, Febvre was pleasantly surprised by the new Córdoba track. “It was a beautiful track. I really hope we come back. When I heard we wouldn’t be returning to Patagonia, I was a bit disappointed because it was my favorite track. But now, I actually think this place is even better. Honestly, I really hope we return.”
A historic best opening round for Febvre
Romain Febvre has never won the season-opening GP in MX2 or MXGP. However, this weekend marked his best-ever start to a championship, as he leaves Argentina just one point behind the red plate. (For comparison, in 2024, he was five points behind Prado after the first round, and in 2016, he trailed Tim Gajser by eight points.)
Off the track itself, changing weather conditions were a factor riders had to manage throughout the weekend in Argentina. “On Saturday, the track was perfect – faster than on Sunday, and without too many bumps. That was also because there were only two categories racing this weekend. The track was relatively easy on Saturday. Then, the rain came, and on Sunday morning, it was a bit muddy. But it dried really fast with the weather. In just an hour, the track was already dry for the first moto, and it was in perfect condition. On Sunday, there were more bumps and ruts, making it more technical than on Saturday.”
Track adjustments can improve racing
While Romain Febvre enjoyed the Córdoba circuit, the Kawasaki rider still had a few suggestions before heading back to Europe. “This track in Córdoba is great. It’s an open track with a lot of wide turns, which creates overtaking opportunities. But sometimes, especially in Europe – and I’ve said this before – they should completely reshape some corners when there are deep ruts everywhere. That would actually help create passing opportunities. That was exactly the issue in the second moto. If the rider in front of you is slower and there are only a few good ruts, you get stuck behind them, and nobody can really pass. You can’t just plow through the ruts, so it becomes quite tricky to find a way through. In Europe, this happens a lot, and they could simply reshape some corners between races to give riders more options here and there.”
Pleased with his season opener in Argentina, Romain Febvre – along with the rest of the MXGP paddock – will head to Spain in two weekends time for the second Grand Prix of the season in Cozar. The track was widely criticized last season but has undergone numerous modifications for this year’s edition. Once again, it’s all to play for – may the best rider win.
