MotoXAddicts’ “Inside Story” interviews are presented by Race Tech Suspension. When privateers choose, they choose Race Tech. – Photo and Interview by: Chase Yocom – Words by: Dan Lamb

Heading into the 2014 Motocross of Nations, the nation of France had won the Chamberlain Trophy just one time in the event’s long 66 year history—Yves Demaria, Luigi Seguy and David Vuillemin won in 2001—and that victory was watered down a little because the USA had chosen not to attend due to the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Centers. France is a small nation with a proud MX heritage, and when they won against the whole world in 2014 with Gautier Paulin, Dylan Ferrandis and Steven Frossard, it was an enormous weight off their shoulders. Two years and three straight wins later, it now seems like the combination of that weight off the shoulders, the confidence of knowing they can beat the best and having motocross fans like no place earth has created an unstoppable force.

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Heading into the 70th edition of the MXoN in Maggiora last weekend, it looked like the French team of Romain Febvre, Gautier Paulin and Benoit Paturel was not the team they were a year ago, but they were once again able to fight their way into winning what they truly believe is theirs now. For the last half of the 2016 MXGP World Championship season, both Febvre and Paulin were nowhere near the riders they had been a year earlier, and Paturel was not Marvin Musquin. On this day, though, none of that mattered.

Febvre put the doubt aside and won the opening moto of the event and from there he never stopped fighting. In the final moto of the day Romain was buried in the pack off the start, but his focus on the job at hand remained pointed forward. In the last two laps, he did everything a team captain is expected to do. He put the team on his back and carried them to victory by applying unwavering pressure on the American Cooper Webb—who was forced into a mistake—and made a last lap pass on Great Britain’s Tommy Searle that won them their third straight Chamberlain Trophy. For a rider that finished 9th, 7th and 15th in the last three GPs of the season, his turnaround with the weight of a country on his back was nothing short of miraculous.

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When things aren’t going your team’s way, sometimes you just have to take matters into your own hands. Photo by: Justin Westhead

After Romain’s effort was officially in the history books, MotoXAddicts’ Chase Yocom caught up with the Frenchman for a quick interview.

Romain, congrats on the day and a third straight MXoN win. How was the weekend for you?

Yeah, the weekend was good. The first moto I won, so it was a really good feeling to have. In the third moto, my start was not so good, so I was far back, maybe over 10. I came back, but it took too much time to pass the guys. The first guys were [Jeffrey] Herlings, [Antonio] Cairoli and [Kevin] Strijbos, and they just went away. I managed to come back to fourth, I think, so we are champions by one point.

 

I heard that you didn’t even know that Team France had won when you crossed the finish line. You had passed Tommy Searle on the last lap to secure the win. What was going through your mind at that point?

No, I didn’t see anything on the board. On the last lap, I saw that he was just in front of me, so I said whether we are or not I will try to pass him. Then I passed him, and even on the last lap on the board it said second [place]. I thought maybe we lost by one point. Then I crossed the finish line, and then I saw the camera and everything and everyone was excited. So yeah, we won!

 

For you, which win was sweeter? This one or the first one?

Yeah, both. To win the first moto or to ever win one heat at the des Nations is always amazing. I’m really happy for that, but to win the overall is also good, even when you don’t know that you won the overall. They were both good.

Romain and his MX2 teammate, Benoit Paturel celebrating on the podium. Photo by: Yamaha
Romain and his MX2 teammate, Benoit Paturel celebrating on the podium. Photo by: Yamaha

Do you have any exciting plans now for your off season? Are you taking some time off?

I mean, first, I’m really happy to end the season like this, because my last two GP’s was not good, because we did something wrong on the bike and it was not working. We went back, and now it’s like the bike I knew before. Everyone can see my style change—my speed too. I’m really happy to end like this. I will take some rest and start training for the next season.

 

Are you racing the SMX Riders Cup coming up?

Yes, I am racing the SMX Cup. It’s in two weeks, so I will ride it, but Supercross is tough. They say it’s not SX, but it’s inside a stadium so it [the track] will be small. I will ride two Supercross’ also in France, but it’s not like I need to be prepared like I do for a GP. I’ll just have some good time on the bike.

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Thank you for your time today, Romain, and congratulations on the win.

Thank you.

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