Yamaha Factory Racing Yamalube’s Romain Febvre picked up his ninth consecutive podium finish with third place overall across the almost-impossible sand of Lommel at the Grand Prix of Belgium. The fourteenth round of eighteen in the 2015 FIM Motocross World Championship was played out in front of more than 24,000 spectators and in hot sunshine. Teammate Jeremy Van Horebeek endured back pain to take fifth overall.
After running to a strong second spot and tussling for Pole Position on Saturday, Febvre knew he had the settings, the feeling and the speed to mark a career-best performance in the sand on Sunday. He started well in the first moto with the holeshot and began an intense tussle with Shaun Simpson until a small slip while entering a deep hole caused him to lose control and crash. Another mistake meant that he lost second place to Gautier Paulin so then rode out the rest of the laps to a safe third position.
In the second race a lightening start – another holeshot – was again nullified by Simpson and the exertions of the first moto caught up with ‘461’ who was unable to push to follow the British racer and also with Paulin again for company. Febvre secured third to go 3-3 on the day.
Van Horebeek rode a conservative moto to fifth on Saturday. The Belgian was hoping to improve his 2014 result at Lommel where a heavy impact attempting the quad jump led to a cut eye and he could only classify eighth. In the first moto he made a satisfactory getaway but was caught up in the second group and had a small dispute with Evgeny Bobryshev before defeating the Russian for a well-earned fourth place. JVH was already struggling with a sore back and the condition worsened in the second moto when ’89’ lacked the strength to attack the sand. A late crash meant that he managed to reach the finish in ninth.
Romain keeps a healthy advantage in the MXGP FIM World Championship standings. He came to Lommel with an 88 point gap and leaves with 84 over Gautier Paulin with just 200 left to win in Grands Prix in Italy, Holland, Mexico and the USA. Van Horebeek is eighth.
DP19 Yamaha Racing’s David Philippaerts was not fit enough to compete at Lommel due to the injuries picked up in the first moto at Loket for the Grand Prix of Czech Republic last week. The Italian hopes to be back in play for his third home round of the season at Mantova and the Lombardian fixture in three weeks time.
Romain Febvre
3rd and 3rd for 3rd overall. Championship Position: 1st
“I’m happy with the day overall. In the first moto I felt really good and I was very close to Shaun at one moment but I crashed and I lost the ‘feeling’. It came back after a couple of laps but then I crashed again in the waves section. I think I used a lot of energy to get back on the bike and charge again. I wanted to catch Gautier but I pushed myself for nothing because I couldn’t pass him. I got another holeshot in the second moto but I could feel my legs [getting tired] and it was very difficult. To be third twice is a positive weekend for the team and myself.”
Jeremy van Horebeek
4th and 9th for 5th overall. Championship Position: 8th
“It was so tough. I gave it my all but it was already tough for me in the first moto. In the last few laps I had a lot of pain in my back, which is still from a crash I had at Kester [Belgian Championship]. After five minutes in the second moto I could not stand up anymore. I was empty. I don’t have much to say. It has been a difficult year and we will keep working.”