Romain Febvre and the Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP started the 2025 FIM World MXGP Motocross Championship campaign with a moto win and second overall at Cordoba in Argentina to head back to Europe just a single point off the series lead.

"We got so lucky with the weather today; this morning the track was quite muddy and difficult, but the sun started shining one hour before our first moto and the track dried out well. I took the lead at turn two and felt good all moto. I didn't get such a good jump in the second moto, but I turned well at the first corner; I was just too slow to pass Guadagnini and the gap to Maxime was too much by the time I got to second. I pulled back a few seconds but then we got into the lapped riders, and I had to settle for second. But we have good points to start the season, and I am only one point from the red plate; that's the best start to a season I ever had. I was riding good all weekend in all conditions, the new bike suits me well; I am where I need to be fitness-wise, and I am ready for the long season so let's go in Europe. But I hope we will return here next year; I like this track even better than the old track in Bariloche."

The Frenchman, already the fastest man on track on Saturday, took the lead decisively at turn two in the first moto and had already stretched out a two-second advantage by the completion of the opening lap.

Remaining cool in tricky conditions in the wake of overnight rain he remained cool and resisted the pressure from behind for 15 minutes before taking full advantage of a mistake by his closest rival to open up a comfortable gap which he maintained to the chequered flag.

After being closed down out of the gate at the start of race two he turned tight through the first turn to claim third but then faced a frustrating three laps as the rider in second defied him at every turn before he could sweep around to claim the position.

The race leader, who had chased home the Kawasaki star in race one, had already escaped by ten seconds and, although Febvre reduced the deficit by a third, he finally had to accept a share of the top points on the day and is just one point away from the red plate as the series heads back to Europe in two weeks' time.

On the Saturday, the Frenchman, third in a tight Timed Practice session where tenths-of-a-second separated the leading contenders, soon established himself in a secure third position and moved impressively forward to second on lap three with a clever line-choice through successive turns.

He immediately closed down the slender gap to the leader and there ensued a thrilling duel all the way through to the chequered flag. The Kawasaki ace, the perfect handling of his KX450-SR evident to see, regrouped time-and-again - indeed his fastest laps were two-thirds of a second faster than his rival - to pull alongside a couple of times, only to be denied at the following turn as his rival defended stoutly. He maintained the relentless pressure to the final lap, but his rival stayed calm to deny him the victory.

"It was a good opening day of the world championship; the track is nice to ride, and I felt pretty good straight away from the first laps of Free Practice. I made a good start in Qualifying, but I could not close down the inside as Maxime (Renaux) was alongside. I could soon make the pass for second and close down Maxime but I'm a little mad with myself because I was so close to the red plate; I was clearly faster, but I stalled one time, and we had two-timed yellow flags for fallen lappers. This is one of best tracks we have had to ride and it is possible to pass here but you need to be close; The fans are incredible; it was almost a full-house already early in the morning and they were so enthusiastic, particularly when I pulled a clicker on the big triple."

So, with the joy of a podium finish in the opening round in Argentina, Febvre will now head to Cozar, Spain, where he will find another brand-new circuit as the track from 2024 has been completely revamped for this year.

Pascal Haudiquert story and images