Having spent the majority of the season, thus far, recovering from a severely broken ankle, Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP's Romain Febvre's MXGP return has been incredible. The Frenchman shook the effects of a stomach bug he suffered throughout the week leading in and was completely untouchable in the Qualifying Race as he put his YZ450FM at the front of the pack and led every lap for the win. The 27-year-old has only started four Qualifying Races this season and has been victorious in two of them.
In the opening race of the Russian Grand Prix, Febvre got off to a rip-roaring start on his YZ450FM and awarded Yamaha a fourth consecutive holeshot as he led the way around turn-one before being forced back to fourth amidst the craziness that always occurs on the opening lap inside the premier class.
Amongst the three riders that pushed past the Pole Man was Arnaud Tonus who further improved his impressive form from the previous Grand Prix rounds where he has mounted the podium twice. The Swiss rider was flawless in his pursuit from fifth to the front of the field where he was the only rider to challenge the new championship leader, Tim Gajser, in what was a thrilling chase all the way to the flag.
Tonus finished second-place, only 2-seconds shy of Gajser but 29-second clear of Febvre who backed off after catching his ankle on a rut and finished a comfortable third. Credit where credit is due, Jeremy Seewer charged hard for fifth position after starting outside of the top-10.
Like Seewer, Gautier Paulin wasted no time charging through the field after a mediocre start. The Frenchman, who was the fastest man on track yesterday, had caught the top-six in record speed before suffering from a horrific crash on lap-3. Fortunately, the 29-year-old was able to remount his YZ450F, but the bike was too damaged to continue.
In the second and final race of the Grand Prix, the Swiss duo of Tonus and Seewer were quick off the gate as they chased Glenn Coldenhoff and Gajser around turn-one. Behind them, Febvre hit a ski jump wide open and impressively launched his YZ450FM past three riders to move into seventh before falling one lap later and dropping back to 13th.
Tonus set the fastest lap of the race as he worked hard to make a pass on the new championship leader, Gajser. He showed Gajser a wheel on countless occasions and tried to force his way through but clipped a hay bale on the side of the track and crashed. Fortunately, he was able to make a quick remount and had enough of a gap over Seewer in third to finish second position.
Seewer was able to achieve yet another goal with a career best race finish, third, which meant he joined fellow Swiss rider Tonus on the podium. The achievement is one for the history books as it is the first time that two Swiss riders have mounted the FIM Motocross World Championship podium in the premier class.
Less than 2-seconds separated the riders from first position to 15th on the time sheet. This made passing extremely difficult and a good start absolutely crucial. Paulin had to fight hard for eighth place in Race 2, while Febvre's mistakes cost him any chance of finishing on the podium. He finished ninth which was enough to round out the top-five in the overall classification.
Paulin was 14th in the Grand Prix classification and scored enough points to retain third place in the MXGP Championship Standings. The Frenchman has 11-points over Seewer, who has moved up to fourth.
Tonus is seventh in the Championship Standings. He needs 6-points to move into the top-five. Febvre is 14th.
The next round of the FIM MXGP World Championship will take place in five days' time, on the weekend of June 16th, in Kegums, Latvia.
