Photos courtesy of Yamaha – Interview Recorded by Geoff Meyer
Monster Energy Yamaha rider Romain Febvre did something very special this year. The first MXGP (450cc class) rookie to win the championship since Antonio Cairoli in 2009, and also the first Frenchman to ever win the 450cc championship.
Febvre has shown amazing speed this year, collecting a bunch of GP victories in a season of terrible injuries for his rivals. Nothing can be taken away from Febvre though, as he has shown he is more than a little special. Here is an interview from the post-race press conference with the new FIM World MXGP champion.
Romain, did you think much about being crowned world champion going into today?
You know, no I didn’t think about it too much. I was feeling great, and the track didn’t feel like a normal sand track. So I just started slowly on Saturday and I showed good speed in qualifying and I knew with some good stuff I could be on the podium again. For sure I knew if I finished in front of Paulin I could be world champion. First moto I wasn’t happy because my start was good on the gate, but somebody came close to me and I closed the gas and was far back and I had to pass a lot of guys and it was difficult and I finished fifth. I was expecting more, but in the second moto I started better, could pass everyone and won the moto and the 2015 World MXGP championship.
It’s a nice win for your team.
I cannot thank my team enough, and they do a great job and they gave me the chance last winter and it has paid off. I am so happy.
During that second moto did you know you had enough points to be world champion?
I wasn’t sure if I was getting enough points to be world champion and the last two laps I was looking back and it was hard to focus and I saw Coldenhoff and Simpson behind me, so I was trying to calculate. My mechanic didn’t tell me anything on the pit board and then when I crossed the finish line everyone was excited so I understood that it was done.
Could you believe this could happen in your rookie season in MXGP?
I didn’t believe this could happen. I had little experience in MX2 and I finished third overall last year in MX2 and I thought I could manage some good results, but I was disappointed with third last year, but I moved on and Yamaha was the only one to give me a chance and I think they are happy now.
Gautier beat you in Lommel, and then beat you in the opening moto here. Did you think it was possible to get the championship after that first moto?
You know every race is different and today there was six guys who could have gotten on the podium. The start is so important in every moto, and if you don’t make a mistake anything is possible. In the first moto Gautier had a good race and the second moto I told myself just rider as you know and if it isn’t this weekend it could be next weekend. I don’t know what to say I am so happy.
Michele Rinaldi said this is just the start for you. What do you think of those comments?
You know for sure this year I had a lot of experience with the bike, and the setup of the bike and also I learnt a lot about my body and every year I pass one test and the speed is better. I hope this isn’t finished, and for sure when you win a championship you get a lot of confidence and I will come next year even stronger. You know when you have the speed you can win, but sometimes you have to accept you are not the quickest and you need to accept that.
You must be excited for the MXoN at Ernee?
I am really happy about the MXoN and we have Gautier and I are one and two in the (MXGP) championship and Musquin had bad luck last year in the (AMA) championship, but he was the strongest man in the 250cc class. I am looking forward to the MXoN.
You seem so relaxed on the outside. Is it the same on the inside? You seem so cool and even after crossing the finish line you looked so calm, like you had to tell yourself to celebrate. How can you be so relaxed?
This year I have always been calm and with confidence and last year I didn’t have that. I didn’t change anything from last year, but early I had some good results and I knew with the right bike set-up it was good. It’s strange, but until now I didn’t put any pressure on myself, so that feels strange, but I hope to continue with that.
Some people will say that you only won because many riders got injured. What do you say to those people?
You know the championship is like this, it isn’t the first year we have a lot of injury, last year Clement was also injured and also in 2012 MX2 championship I was second and I got injured, so we have to accept that.
What did you think of the event here in Assen?
I think it was a good event, it’s difficult to make 18 GP’s like this, but for some GP’s it is ok. It was so good and the crowd was really special, but for sure the laps were too short and some places it was tight, but for the first time it was really good and it is difficult to make tracks like this, a couple of years ago in Germany it was muddy, but this one was ok. I still think a natural track is better.
