RIDER OF THE MONTH

THE 2021 SEASON OF THE FIM MOTOCROSS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP WAS ONE FOR THE BOOKS, AS WE ALL BARED WITNESS TO ONE OF THE MOST DISPUTED TITLE FIGHTS IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP THAT WENT DOWN TO THE VERY LAST RACE AT THE MXGP OF CITTÀ DI MANTOVA.

One of the main protagonists for this championship battle and Vice World Champion of last year was none other than Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP’s Romain Febvre�

Last season, Febvre was by far in the best shape of his career and quickly became a title threat as he fought closely with Jeffrey Herlings and Tim Gajser� At the MXGP of Garda we saw Febvre take the championship lead and he held onto the red plate until the very last race of the year, as he and Herlings lined-up for MXGP race two levelled on points� Ultimately a small mistake cost the Frenchman the title, no doubt a tough pill to swallow in the moment, but what would

come later was nothing in comparison�

While it was no doubt tough mentally, for Febvre, the team, his close friends and family to accept defeat but dwelling on that fact would not have been productive either and instead shifting the focus onto winning the title in 2023 became the goal�

As the off-season kickedoff, a number of Grand Prix riders, which also included MX2 World Champion Maxime Renaux, and the 9-time World Champion Antonio Cairoli, entered the iconic Paris Supercross event� For Febvre it was an opportunity to enjoy the event and race in front of the French crowd, but a big crash ended his 2023 season, before it even had the chance to start� Numerous problematic surgeries came next followed by more complications that took Febvre out for more than six months which was not only difficult physically but even more mentally�

With just two weeks on the bike, Febvre made his much-anticipated return in Germany and the results were very positive, considering the circumstances� In time practice, the Frenchman posted the seventh fastest time and followed it up with a strong qualifying heat where he placed sixth, which gave him a fairly good gate pick for the races� Starts were key in Germany and in the opening race, Febvre was able to start in front� He battled with Jeremy Seewer before being passed by the Swiss to finish in fourth� Then in the second race, he managed to bring it home in seventh to place fifth overall – which was impressive since he had very limited bike time coming into the race�

MXGP Mag sat down with Romain at the German Grand Prix in Teutschenthal to speak about the intensity of the 2021 season, his tough come back from injury and the motivation that kept him going in the darkest moments of his rehab�

MXGP Mag: Romain, first of all, welcome back, how does it feel to be back in the paddock after so long?

Romain: “It’s good to be back, a little bit strange because we need to get used to the routine of racing life again, so preparing stuff and seeing everyone in the paddock� It’s nice, it’s like a part of the family because I’ve been here for 10 years now, so it’s nice to see everyone and be back here in Germany”�

MXGP Mag: You’re with Kawasaki again this season, but with a completely different crew. How are you finding it? Have you spent a

Romain: “It’s a completely new team, just the bike is the same� It’s been a big change for sure, obviously I haven’t been to any races this year yet, so we haven’t spent so much time together racing or practicing because I haven’t been practicing for long� We have to learn a few things about racing and practicing and they also have to learn more about the bike and the crew, as we have new people, so everyone needs to adapt to their job� It will take some time, but I think they are getting used to it already� It’s been a big change, the team I was in last year was almost 15 years old and running the same bike every year, so they had knowledge of the bike and they had a procedure in the team, but I think so far it’s going good”�

MXGP Mag: Ok you mention that you didn’t spend so much time with the team practicing because you were injured, but have they leaned on you to take some knowledge or advice since you have more experience with the bike than them?

Romain: “They’ve been learning the bike and for sure it can always be difficult but sometimes I can teach something about the bike and also because I have both of my mechanics from last year, which is good because they bring some of the knowledge about the bike, since they know it and have been working already six years on that bike� They are helping the other mechanics which is good for the team and everyone”�

MXGP Mag: This year you have a new teammate Ben, you guys have had a nice relationship as friends for quite a few years now, it must be nice to have him on the team?

Romain: “I was really happy when I heard that Ben was

joining the team� I know him now for a long time, and already we had the same trainer for two or three years, so I was used to training together like on the bike and also outside� He’s a nice person so for sure it’s always nice to have a teammate that you like and spend some time together”�

MXGP Mag: Now let’s rewind to the 2021 season, it was a really intense championship as you were fighting so closely for the title with Jeffrey and Tim until the very last race, just how intense was it for you?

Romain: “It was a nice battle and I think everyone who watched and was in the paddock was really happy to see that because it was very close until the end� Only one could win, we knew it from the beginning and yeah, I didn’t make it happen� But still, after one week I was happy of what I had achieved because I think I reached the best level I have been at in my career so far� The bike was good, I was physically on point, I didn’t have any trouble in the year and it was one of those years where you feel like everything goes right and then it goes so easy and so smooth and it was also really enjoyable� Among me, Tim and Jeffrey, it was really close until the end and we had a good battle, but this year it’s completely the opposite� It’s how it is, that’s racing and hopefully we can have the same battle next year”�

MXGP Mag: Not to dwell too much on it, but how hard was it to have that title within reaching distance but not getting it in the end?

Romain: “It’s hard� You are the first loser and to be that close, especially because I came there with the red plate� It’s really hard to accept but I did my all, I made one mistake in the last race, but that’s how it is� I tried my best and like I said, I felt I was in the best shape in my career� I tried everything and it didn’t work out and, in the end, in that moment,

you are really sad and mad and there’s nothing that can make it better� But after a week or something, you realise what you achieved and you have to accept sometimes that you lose, that’s it, and you try again next year”�

MXGP Mag: I guess once the off-season kicked off your focus was to put that behind and instead work for the 2022 campaign� But then as we know you entered the Paris Supercross and unfortunately picked up a really nasty injury… What do you remember from that moment?

Romain: “I was really happy to go to Bercy because it’s in France and it is always crazy and nice with the public� Obviously, I was going out of a good season, and I was feeling good� I was there just to enjoy myself� I was enjoying it so much and then I crashed… The pain wasn’t that crazy, but I felt I broke my leg and I knew before they took my boots off, I said I broke my tibia and fibula, but I didn’t know how bad it was� When I saw the x-ray at the hospital, I knew it was going to be long… I was not operated on that night because the doctor said we had to figure out how to fix it first� They did the operation the following morning and they did a really good job because my tibia bones were broken between 10 and 15 places, it was like a puzzle�

MXGP Mag: and then you also had some complications?

Romain: “We had some more complications� We had to remove some screws and do some bone transplantation� It’s always hard hearing the doctor say that it’s going to take longer and longer every time� But at the end I had to deal with that� At some point, I was really close to say “maybe that’s over” because with so many bad moments and you think “do you want to continue to do that? And what if you have another bad injury, do you want to live through that again?” But that’s when it goes bad, then when

MXGP Mag: This injury was very complicated with a lot of setbacks which must have been hard and in those moments when you feel like giving up almost, what was it that kept you going and kept you motivated?

Romain: “As soon as it gets better and you have some good news from the doctor you say, ‘maybe in two weeks I can go cycling or whatever, and you’re like that’s good!’ And then once you are cycling, you’re like oh yeah, I’m close maybe to ride … and it goes like this, and you forget about saying to stop� It’s just in the moment, in the really bad moment� And then once you are on the bike, you say, I love to do that� And maybe it’s the age too, when you race all your life it’s difficult to stop� And when you feel like you can get in a good shape and still get some nice results, that helps�”

MXGP Mag: I guess to recap; how many surgeries did you have and what were the complications because you also had to take a bone graft?

Romain: “I had my first surgery and they put a pin through my tibia bones, from the knee till the bottom� After they made some screws on the top, close to my knee and close to my ankle to stop the pain� And then on the fibula I had a plate with some screws to fix the fracture, because the fibula was broken clean in one piece, so it was easy – that was the first operation� And then the second one, I just removed some screws from the top, close to my knee and that was maybe one month and a half, because then they said the bones of the tibia can grow together again with the pressure of your legs� Then I had a problem and an infection with the screw on my ankle, so they removed that� And then after three and a half, almost four months, they saw that the tibia was growing everywhere but not on the face

and they said that was not good, and after a certain amount of time, if it was not growing, then it would never grow anymore� We made another operation to take some hip bones and put it there� It was quite a big operation and I asked how long it was going to take and they said the bone was still broken so maybe eight weeks… I felt like I was never going to see the end of that� But straight away I felt less pain and directly it gave me good vibes to continue”�

MXGP Mag: I guess one positive of spending so much time at home, you got to see those early stages of your daughter’s growth, and you saw moments that maybe you must have missed if you were training and racing fully as you would have been. How are you finding dad life?

Romain: “For sure it’s good to spend some time with the family, especially with my daughter now, because she is growing so fast and you can see every step which is really nice� But also, too much time at home, because I’m not the guy that would sit and do nothing, I cannot do that� Even injured, I could not do that� It was really hard as at some points I could not do much, even working out and stuff, so it was tough�”

MXGP Mag: It must have been a shock to the system to be at home for so long since you’ve been travelling to the GP’s for so many years…

Romain: “Yeah� I had some previous injuries and when it’s like maybe one and a half months or two maximum, then it’s not too bad� But in like six and a half years, it’s been a while� It was nice to be home, but for sure it’s definitely nice to be back in the paddock�”

MXGP Mag: During the time that you were not able to ride, how were you keeping fit and what rehab did you need to have?

Romain: “In the beginning, maybe the first month I could not do so

much because I had a lot of pain� Then I could not push on my legs or put any weight for six weeks, so obviously I wasn’t doing much� And then after I could go cycling quite early after that� I did a lot of gym and sport� But the biggest thing was to ride… I tried a few times, one time before England, I remember because my goal was to race in England and I told the team, even if I can ride one week before, I will just go and try� And that’s what we tried, I only did one lap and said, no way I can do that�”

MXGP Mag: Ok now let’s put this behind us and look at the positives. You are here in Germany, what are your expectations for the weekend?

Romain: “Obviously, I have no expectation about results because I never went to a GP this year, so I don’t really know with the level and how they are riding� And in the two weeks that I had some practice, I didn’t see many riders, I was alone most of the time, so I cannot really compare myself� And I don’t want to have any target for results because I could be disappointed as I’m not where I should be in my physical condition� Just to be here, finish the race, in good shape, not completely exhausted and to have good speed and not too far from the top, then I know the race condition will come after a few races”�

MXGP Mag: And for the rest of the season, are you looking to use these next races to get up to speed and be ready to fight for the title in 2023?

Romain: “Yeah, that’s the goal� Because like you said, championship is gone� So, just to get back to my level where I was, is really the goal until the end of this year�

And maybe I can do some podiums and win some races, some GP’s, then for sure I will take that, but the main goal is to reach my level from last year and then start preparing for next year�”

We’re just at the halfway mark of the 2022 season and with a positive first GP back, it will be interesting to see what progress Febvre can make before the end of the season, as he sets his sights on a mega title fight in 2023!

THE CIRCUIT OF ERNÉE IN FRANCE HAS BEEN HOSTING EVENTS SINCE 1972 BUT IT WASN’T UNTIL 1990 THAT THE CLUB WELCOMED THE FIM MOTOCROSS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP. BUT THERE IS ONE RIDER WHO STANDS ALONE ON THE ALL-TIME WINNERS LIST AND OVER THE YEARS, THIS RIDER PRETTY MUCH MADE THE RAYMOND DEMI CIRCUIT HIS HOME. STEFAN EVERTS HAS BEEN VICTORIOUS AT ERNÉE ON FIVE OCCASIONS, THE FIRST OF WHICH WAS 2001 IN THE 500CC CLASS. HE THEN DID THE UNTHINKABLE WHEN HE WON ALL THREE CLASSES ON THE SAME DAY IN 2003, AND IN HIS FINAL SEASON AS A PROFESSIONAL RACER, EVERTS WON HIS FINAL GP HERE IN PERFECT STYLE WITH A 1-1 TO CELEBRATE HIS 101ST GRAND VICTORY IN 2006. WE CAUGHT UP WITH HIM RECENTLY TO GET SOME INSIGHT ABOUT SOME OF THOSE MOMENTS, BUT BEFORE THAT, A QUICK TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE.

After winning his seventh world title in 2003, Stefan Everts had already decided that he would line up at the final round of the season with the aim of entering all classes� Back then, the world championship was run by Dorna, the same people who run MotoGP, and that meant running grand prix events in the same way, with three classes racing one race per weekend�

After struggling to get into his rhythm at the first couple of rounds where he was racing only the Motocross Gran Prix class, Everts hatched a plan with team boss Michele Rinaldi to allow him to race the remainder of the season in the 125cc class as well - this race was directly before his preferred race category, but it gave him the chance to get rid of arm pump, and therefore be able to push from the very first lap� It proved to be a game changer� Suddenly, Everts was not only winning the 125cc race, but he was rushing from the podium to get ready for Motocross GP, where he would win again�

From Round 4, Everts was unstoppable in the premier class, winning 8 GP’s in a row, and in the 125cc class, he won first time out (round 4), had a 4th next time out before winning the next six� With the title already wrapped up, when he arrived for the final GP in Ernée, fans all around the world waited to see what happened next�

Picture the scenario:

The one-race format in 2003 was coming to an end, and the dawn of a new era beckoned, that of MX2 and MX1� Everts was about to become the first rider in history to attempt to start three GP’s, let alone win all three� The chance of winning all three, was a once in a lifetime opportunity; lose the first race, that possibility is dead in the water� After that, it doesn’t matter� WIN the first TWO races though, and that is a different scenario completely, but then … THEN the pressure is really on� Okay, you could argue that Stefan’s only intention was only to enter all three classes, but when you’ve won seven world titles, and already the greatest rider in history at that time - Joel Robert had won six titles - then you know that Everts is only going there to make history … again!

In morning warm up on Sunday, Everts rode his YZ250F in the 125cc practice, and completed a few laps at a pretty rapid pace� He then went out in the MXGP class, but chose not to go out for the 650cc warm up, the other category on the bill that day� The first race of the day was the 125cc class, and on his sighting lap, Everts went as fast as he could, to re-adjust from having just jumped off the 450cc he rode in the MXGP warm up session� He needed to attack the lap to judge his speed for the jumps, where to get on the gas on the exit of the turns, etcetera, etcetera …

Race one and BOOM! The win was in the bag� However, there was no rushing back to get ready for the MXGP race: No, no! Instead, he had to go through with the podium ceremony, the trophies, the red plate, the national anthem and post-race TV interview� Only when he’d finished all of that could he even think about returning to the Paddock to get ready for his second race of the day, the Motocross GP class, switching from a 250F to a 450cc�

When the riders came out for the sighting lap, Everts had managed a very quick turnaround, regrouped and just when you thought he would take a few extra minutes to catch some breath, and remain in the waiting zone … out he came with another flying sighting lap� This time to re-adjust to the 450cc power, having just raced the 250cc�

Gate drops, BOOM! Race win number two� Suddenly, Stefan Everts had just got our attention, if he hadn’t already� Of course, winning meant doing the whole podium thing again before hurrying off to the paddock to get ready for race three, the 650cc class� This time however, the ‘72’

did not come out for the sighting lap� Was he okay? Had he changed his mind? No! This time he didn’t need to re-adjust as the power between his 450cc and ‘650cc’ machine were very similar� This time he could enjoy a few extra minutes whilst the rest went on the sighting lap�

Gate drop … and Everts was a little laboured in the beginning, but he was still involved in a tense threerider battle for the lead, until Joel Smets had a small crash and fell out of contention� And then there were two; Everts and Javier Garcia Vico� Everts then fell and at that moment it looked as though the dream was over, but the Belgian re-grouped, found himself back on the rear wheel of the Spaniard before taking the win in what was a dramatic and tense race� Everts crossed the line as a winner, history had been made once again, Everts was headline news all over the world� To witness it, was something very special� That the same venue would be the scene of his final GP, and his 101st victory after clinching his tenth title at home in Belgium with three rounds to spare … what a way to bow out! Anyway, before we shed some tears, here’s what the great man had to say when we caught up with him in Germany�

MXGP Mag: In 2006 you raced your final GP at Ernée, explain the emotions going into the final race of your career. You’d already decided that it was going to be your last year competing, so going into the final round, what emotions were you expecting, if any, because you’d already won the championship at that point?

SE72: Yeah, I decided already in 2004 that I would retire in 2006 …

MXGP Mag: Based on if you make it ten titles or something else?

SE72: No, I just woke up one day and said I stop in 2006 and IF I win in 2004, and IF I win in 2005 and IF I win 2006, I can finish with ten championships, and I never came back to that decision� Okay, everything went as, I wouldn’t say planned, but just everything went good and we finally won the

championship in Namur, so I was quite relaxed, then I wanted to get those 100 GP wins … but Josh Coppins came in between there in Ireland (laughing) but then we went to Ernée and of course, it was very emotional; not only for me but also for my fans� There were a lot of big coaches full of fans going there to see me race for the last time� Yamaha had planned something nice with the chequered flag on my bike and Acerbis made the special gear and we had the white tyres, so it was a really nice ending of my career, also doing it with a doublewin� I remember going to the start line for the last time, there were tears in my eyes; it was emotional�

MXGP Mag: How about your family? How was it for them seeing you race for the final time? We assume that they were all there, right?

SE72: Everyone from the family was there, yes! My mum didn’t go to so many GP’s anymore in the last years, but of course she had to be there at the last one and she was there, and my dad, yeah, he was there for most of the GP’s� Liam was also there, he was only two years old …

MXGP Mag: And he held the red plate on the podium?

SE72: (laughing) … yeah, he started off with the plate like this (Stefan indicates Liam’s hands were down by his knees) and then finally he ended with putting it all the way above his head�

MXGP Mag: Every time you went out on track, from free practice, time practice and your first race, you felt oaky; it was only the last time you went out, for your final race that the emotions hit you? Before that, it was business as usual?

SE72: Yes, pretty much�

MXGP Mag: And what about the GP itself, was it an easy victory?

SE72: I don’t know actually; I saw recently on some things on YouTube that it wasn’t that easy�

Josh Coppins was riding well and good, but I don’t know if it went down to the finish line or not� But I don’t think so; I think at one point I had it in my own hands� But it didn’t go so easily� Every GP you have to win is not easy, and for some people, especially if you are striking for many wins, they easily say ‘oh, it’s easy for you, you’re so good …’ but it’s not, you know? Every time you go out you’ve got to prove yourself and make no mistakes and be focussed, and you have to put the puzzle together every race you go out there! And when you miss one piece, you don’t have the win� If you have a lot of experience, it helps of course, and it makes it a lot easier but still, even after 100 GP wins, for me it was still a case of going ‘can I do it again? Can I prove it again to myself and put the puzzle together?’

MXGP Mag: What about the bike itself; you’d been with Yamaha since 2001, so how was that bike, that year? Was it the best Yamaha you had ridden or would you say the one from 2001 or 2003 for instance was better, or did all of them bring something to the table?

SE72: I think they all had something, you know? When I came from the Husky to the Yamaha it was the prototype Yamaha that we had, the 500cc or whatever we called it; it was a big step forward for me coming from the Husky� Then in 2003, they came with this new steel frame and that was another big step forward, but after one year I already felt I was pushing the limit with that bike, and then 2006 they came with this new aluminium frame, and for me, this was one of the best bikes I had in my career; together with my 2006 Honda, those are my two best favourite bikes where man and machine was one, and you have to add the track to that, and then you have magic� With those bikes I felt I could bring magic, especially for myself and my own feeling� And the Yamaha when I tested it at the end of the season before, I was like ‘damn, that’s a good bike!’

MXGP Mag: So, you already knew at the end of 2005, you knew it would be a good bike …

SE72: But … I was like, ‘stay calm, we will see when we start racing GP’s because that’s another thing!’ Testing is one thing but racing is another thing, and in the past I had already misjudged things; like f***, that’s a good bike, I’m gonna be good on that one� And then it didn’t go good! And then I struggled� So, this time I said let’s see how it goes in the races, and I won every race almost, apart from two or three moto’s, but even in the pre-season international races, I won everything� It was so good, and I felt so good on that bike� It was a completely new bike; new chassis, new engine, I remember also the cable clutch� My starts were so good! I did so many holeshots that year�

MXGP Mag: When you won all three races here at Ernée in 2003, you had already won your seventh title; you’re a big James Bond fan and all your fans arrived wearing tuxedo’s like ‘007’. Did you have anything planned for title number ten and Ernée in particular in 2006?

SE72: Yeah, I’ve been a Bond fan since I’ve been alive; James Bond has been a hero for me, and I know it’s just a movie thing but anyway, you have to dream away and when I came to that seventh championship it was like ‘007, finally!’ so I kind of motivated my fans to do something around that theme, and they did, which was cool�

MXGP Mag: How was the party after your last GP? You probably didn’t have too much time to celebrate did you, with the Motocross of Nations coming up?

SE72: We planned to do a big farewell party, ‘The End’ they called it� Normally we would do the world championship party the day after we won it on Monday, and we were always full gas with ‘Praga Khan’ (a Belgian electro musician/DJ)� So, we decided we would plan it a week after the Nations and it would be something special, so we had to wait after the racing for the parties� And then I did a great MXoN (Stefan went 1-1 in his last ever professional race at Matterley Basin) so there was even more reason to celebrate (laughing), but we got back from

Matterley on Monday and the same evening I was already building up my museum� We had a big tent/marquee and we made the theme like ten years, from the ten championships, the best trophies and outfits and the nations stuff, and it was really nice� We did this at my home track, Neeroeteren from 12:00 midday until 00:00 midnight� It was a whole day of celebrations, with things to do and I wanted to show the museum to the people� The best comment I got from it … it was dead silent! No-one spoke; they just looked and took it all in�

MXGP Mag: Liam just raced in Ernée for the first time in MX2; surely, he has seen the races from there before (2003/2006) on video maybe, did he go there with any kind of expectation, did you have any expectation or was that all just media hype?

SE72: Not at all! He didn’t go there with the higher pressure of okay, ‘my dad did this and my dad did that!’ Not at all� He’s just focussing on his career and that’s it� Actually, we didn’t speak about it once, of the past what’s happened there

But people will bring it up and then we have to speak about it, but privately, we didn’t speak about it� Once in a while he might be watching a race and ask ‘hey dad, what did you do here, why did you do that there, what year was that when you were riding that Kawasaki …?’ so he knows already a lot, he knows his stuff� He’s been studying a bit those things� Like the new generation, they don’t know that much anymore from the past, but me as a kid, I knew everything; André Malherbe, three times world champion, Eric Geboers, five times, Georges Jobé, five, Gaston Rahier, three times …

MXGP Mag: Harry Everts, four …

SE72: Yeah, laughing … but I knew a bit my history, you know?

MXGP Mag: But Ernée, good memories … good� When we got to the track I told him, ‘that’s a track for you, man … but not yet! Not yet, it will come�’ It’s so technical, lines, ruts, up hills, the traction; it’s an Everts style track�

MXGP Mag: When our TV camera’s follow Liam on track, it is uncanny how similar his riding style is compared to yours. Is this something you’ve taught him or is that just his style?

SE72: It’s mainly how he rides; when I first put him on a motor cycle I told him ‘watch where you put your feet, focus on your feet like this, and also on your elbows and arms like this; position, where you sit … but the feet is what I told him from day one� And I think the style he has, you can’t teach someone style; you’ve got it! That’s nature, it’s inside you and you can’t change that� But it’s funny, when I see the son from Marnicq Bervoets (Jarne), I see things from Marnicq in there; when I see the son from Joel Smets (Greg), I see the same from him� But that’s what you give forward, the DNA you pass forward and that’s nice to see�