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MXGP, MXGP OF SPAIN - intu Xanadú - Arroyomolinos, SPAIN, 7 mai 2023

Romain Febvre looks forward positively to France

Romain Febvre and the Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP remain positive for the upcoming round of the FIM World MXGP Motocross Championship in France after being forced to miss this weekend's GP in Spain.

The Frenchman returned to the Arroyomolinos track today after extensive medical examination both at the track Medical Centre and at the hospital in Madrid confirmed that he had sustained only bruising to the muscles and no broken bones in his shoulder but FIM medical protocol after a serious accident meant that officials could not permit him to race. There is no round of the series next weekend but both team and rider are confident of a complete recovery in time for the next GP, at Villars-sous-Ecot in Romain's native France, on May 20-21. Despite taking no points away from Spain the Kawasaki leader holds fourth place in the series standings.
 
Romain Febvre: "I feel bad; I feel sad. I had quite a big impact in the crash yesterday with a small concussion and I landed on my shoulder. I feel a little pain in my shoulder today but nothing serious and nothing is broken. I thought it would be more painful in the neck and the head this morning but I feel pretty good so it's just the shoulder and nothing is broken, mainly just bruising to the muscles. I would have liked to race today but the medical protocol meant that I could not ride here in Spain; I will be good for France in two weeks's time. I couldn't see the crash in Qualifying coming; I had a good start with Prado but he moved over a little to prepare to turn and I was close so I also had to move a little. I didn't see the guys coming from the outside flat-out; first we touched elbows then my front wheel. It's bad for the championship because I was not far from the two guys in front and I had started to gain some points again with a good GP in Portugal but now I lose a lot this weekend. Of course everything will be possible but I don't wish bad luck to anyone so it will be tough for the championship."
 
KRT team colleague Mitch Evans persevered as he recovers endurance after an early-season thumb injury had interrupted his training. An outside gate-pick from Qualifying left him with little chance of a good start but decisive opening laps saw him fifteenth during the early stages of each race; he battled to an eventual thirteenth each time to be classified twelfth overall.
 
Mitch Evans: "We're not where we want to be but this weekend was definitely a step in the right direction. Our goal going into the weekend was top-fifteen and we managed that, now I'm looking forward to more in France after two more weeks training. My starts weren't good all weekend. I feel I'm over-thinking at the gate; I just need to get back to basics and be more aggressive when the gate drops."