main content of page
Racing News |
Febvre Battles to Double Podium at MXGP of Europe, Jonass Breaks into Top Five
Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP’s Romain Febvre showcased his determination at the GP d'Europe in St. Jean d'Angely, charging through the field in both motos to secure second place overall at the third round of the 2025 FIM Motocross World Championship. His teammate, Pauls Jonass, also delivered a strong performance, placing his KX™450SR inside the top five.
Febvre set the tone early, topping the morning Warm-up before launching into an intense first moto. Despite starting sixth, he wasted no time slicing through the pack, moving into third within the first few turns. The leading trio quickly distanced themselves from the rest, and by lap six, Febvre made a decisive pass for second. Though the race leader had built a five-second gap, the French crowd roared as Febvre closed in during the final laps, ultimately finishing just shy of victory.
The second moto brought early drama when a wayward bike clipped Febvre’s rear wheel, costing him momentum through the uphill first turn. Undeterred, he fought back from seventh on lap one, carving his way into third by lap six. Four laps later, he thrilled the home fans by charging into second down the main straight. However, a brief rain shower made conditions tricky, forcing him to settle for another hard-fought runner-up finish. Febvre’s consistency solidifies his hold on second place in the championship standings as the series heads to the sandy terrain of Riola Sardo in two weeks.
KRT’s Pauls Jonass also put on an impressive display, charging through the field in both motos. In race one, he recovered from an 18th-place start to break into the top five within half a lap. By lap 11, he was closing in on fourth when a minor miscalculation saw him clip a rival’s rear wheel, sending him to the ground. The crash cost him a position, and with his broken front fender throwing dirt in his face, he battled to a gritty sixth-place finish.
Jonass carried his momentum into race two, making rapid moves in the opening laps to secure sixth. He held that position to the checkered flag, earning fifth overall for the weekend and moving up to sixth in the championship standings.
KRT now turns its focus to the next round in Sardinia, where the deep sand of Riola Sardo will provide a whole new challenge.
Romain Febvre: "It felt great to bounce back after last week. The track was much more technical today, which worked to my advantage even though my starts weren’t ideal. In the first moto, I was really pushing and got close to Tim at the end. The second race was tough after I got hit from behind at turn one—I nearly went over the bars and had to come from 18th up the hill! Finishing second was a solid result, but I need to improve my starts to challenge Tim for the points lead."
Pauls Jonass: "It was a really positive weekend. P5 overall is solid, but the first race was a bit unlucky. I probably rushed the move for P4, and after losing my front fender, it was tough to ride. Still, we’re making progress in every area—bike setup, fitness, and mindset. We know what we need to keep working on, and we’re improving step by step."
