Febvre Rings Podium Bells in Switzerland

2016-08-07 10:12
Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP rider Romain Febvre landed on the podium on Sunday at MXGP of Switzerland, launching over the technically challenging motocross circuit at Frauenfeld on his YZ450FM in front of 25,000 cheering fans. Teammate Jeremy Van Horebeek put together a steady pair of top 10 motos over the deeply-rutted hardpack.

Swiss rider Valentin Guillod dazzled the home crowd in the first moto aboard his YZ450F, but crashed in the second moto and left the race early. The Kemea Yamaha Official Team rider was not injured, and did not require medical assistance after crossing wheels with another rider in the air during a 30-meter tabletop jump.

Febvre was on his way to a podium finish in the early moto, but sunk his footpeg in the deep ruts on a right turn and came off his motorcycle with three chasers more than midway through the race. By the time the 2015 World Champion remounted he had slipped to eighth and remained there until the finish. Motivated to do better in the second moto, Febvre set his mind on victory, and was head-to-head against Slovene Tim Gajser until two laps to go. As the ruts ruled the race and would not allow for many passing opportunities, Febvre came across the line in moto two in second, for third overall.

Van Horebeek finished a strong and steady fourth in the first moto, capitalizing on the work he and the team have done on starts throughout the 2016 season. But the Belgian was no luckier than the rest of the pack in the late race, or the cumulative carving effect of six race categories over two days on the newly-constructed motocross circuit in Fraunfeld. Van Horebeek finished 10th in the second race and eighth overall in Switzerland.

Guillod raced for the first time in his native Switzerland at an MXGP event, and drew thousands of cheering voices each time he crossed the temporary stadium bleachers that organizers built at Frauenfeld. In the first moto he finished a very fast fifth, passing Tommy Searle of the United Kingdom. Jordi Tixier of France and even his own Yamaha colleague Febvre. But an unforced error on a long jump midway through the second moto put Guillod on the ground, and he finished 14th overall in the final standings.

In the 2016 FIM World Championship points standings, Febvre moves closer to third overall after round 15 in Switzerland, and now sits just 10 points behind German Max Nagl. Van Horebeek remains sixth overall, 24 points behind Russian Evgeny Bobryshev. Guillod is seventh, more than 130 points behind Van Horebeek but just one point ahead of Glenn Coldenhoff of the Netherlands.

Romain Febvre Romain Febvre
8th and 2nd for 3rd overall. Championship position: 4th

"The first moto was good, but I made a mistake and lost positions and lost my rhythym here on this track. In the second moto the start wasn't as good, but I came back after the second lap and gave everything to try and win. Physically I was on the limit, so with two laps to go I didn't want to make the same mistake. I'm really happy to be on the podium with this result."

"Next we go for some testing in Italy all week, and then two weeks off to be prepared for the sand in Assen."
Valentin Guillod Valentin Guillod
5th and 37th for 14th overall. Championship position: 7th

"The atmosphere at home is really cool. To ride for the Swiss fans is really great. I'm proud of my first race, and fifth place is really terrific here."

"In the second race I crashed really hard and couldn't do anything about so I'm disappointed about that. In three weeks in Assen we can come back stronger."

Source: Yamaha Motor Europe N.V.

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