In what was a very uneventful race, Kawasaki factory rider, Romain Febvre has taken first blood in the 2025 MXGP championship with victory in the opening moto of the 450 class. Around a technical and difficult Cordoba circuit, the Frenchman was in complete control the moment he took the lead on the second corner of the race.

In second place was Monster Energy Yamaha factory rider and yesterday’s MXGP qualification race winner Maxime Renaux and third HRC factory man, Tim Gajser.

Romain Febvre: Actually, we got lucky with the weather, this morning was very muddy and difficult, but an hour ago the track dried and the sun came out. I am feeling really good at the moment. I will try my best for the second moto.

MXGP Moto One

Seewer on the Ducati took the holeshot from Febvre, who then quickly took the lead from the Ducati rider. Renaux into second and Guadagnini in fourth, then Geerts, Coenen, Geerts, Gajser, Fernandez, Coldenhoff and Jonass. The two Frenchmen again first and second.

Coenen into fourth place as he passed Guadagnini, with Gajser into fifth as he passed Geerts and Coenen. First lap and the lead by Febvre was 2.5 seconds, with Seewer 6.2 back and Gajser in fifth already 8.7 seconds off the leaders. Gajser working overtime to get past Guadagnini for fourth spot.

Gajser a wild pass on Guadagnini and into fourth place, and Renaux all over Febvre for the lead. Gajser 10 seconds back and two seconds off third placed Seewer. Gajser now right on Seewer and looking to move into third spot. Renaux now 1.8 seconds off the leader, but you get the feeling this moto is going to get heated.

Top ten on lap three was Febvre, Renaux, Seewer, Gajser, Gaudagnini, Coenen, Geerts, Coldenhoff, Fernandez, Jonass in 10th. Gajser 14 seconds off the lead of Febvre and doing his best to get past the Ducati off Seewer. Gajser into third, but 15 seconds behind the leaders.

Gajser just not able to match the speed of the two French riders but did cut the lead to 14 seconds with 17 minutes remaining. Open spaces for the Slovenian, so anything is possible now. Lapped riders everywhere, that might help Gajser get to the two front guys. Febvre gets a 2.2 second gap between himself and Renaux.

The two Ducati’s of Seewer and Guadagnini fighting for fourth and fifth places and Coenen not too far of their pace. Renaux a wild ride off the track as he got out of shape, and that handed Febvre a 6.1 second lead and now Gajser might have a shot at the Yamaha rider.

Guadagnini moved past Seewer and Coenen also looking for a way past the Swiss rider. Top ten on lap seven was Febvre, Renaux, Gajser, Guadagnini, Seewer, Coenen, Coldenhoff, Geerts, Fernandez and Jonass 10th. Gifting into 10th place as he passed Jonass.

Not much happening up front as Febvre leads Renaux by seven seconds, with Gajser a further eight seconds back, and Guadagnini just ahead of Seewer and Coenen. Nothing really happening in this moto as most of the riders are spread out, only really Coenen and Seewer battling for a position in the top ten. Coldenhoff started closing up on those guys and Jonass trying to get closer to Fernandez in ninth place.

Lap 12 and Febvre held a 9.3 second lead over Renaux, with Gajser 15 seconds back in third, then Guadagnini, Seewer, Coenen, Coldenhoff, Geerts, Fernandez and Jonass. Gajser closing slightly on Renaux for second and Coenen battling with Coldenhoff as the Dutchman moved past and now going after Seewer. Coldenhoff a nice pass on Seewer and into fifth spot. Febvre wins it from Renaux and Gajser.

Pascal Haudiquert/Kawasaki image