The Grand Prix of the Netherlands and round sixteen of eighteen in MXGP at Assen will live long in the memory for Romain Febvre and Yamaha Factory Racing Yamalube. Second position overall meant an eleventh consecutive podium and confirmed the 23 year old Frenchman's first MXGP FIM Motocross World Championship and the first for Yamaha since 2009 in the premier class.
A huge amount of work and sand had been poured into the renowned road racing facility in less than a week to construct a short, narrow and extremely rough layout. The hard base of the track meant it was difficult to judge at times.
On Saturday it was Jeremy Van Horebeek who was on the gas. The Belgian was quick through Free practice and even a heavy crash in Timed Practice could not shake his rhythm or confidence. He drilled his YZ450FM to second place in the Qualification Heat and was set for Sunday's two thirty minute and two lap motos. Febvre rued a bad start in the sprint but was happy with his riding and speed to pull through to fourth.
The big day dawned sunny and warm and with 37,000 spectators (weekend figure) finding a spot in the enormous grandstand that lines the western section of the course and lining almost all one side of the motocross layout.
In the first race neither Febvre nor Van Horebeek could head the field around the opening corner. Febvre went on the attack but found a large 'obstacle' in the form of home favourite Glenn Coldenhoff. Both riders overtook Max Nagl but Febvre could not relegate the Dutchman and crossed the line in fifth with title rival Gautier Paulin finishing second. Van Horebeek had a tougher time coming through the pack and eventually worked from eleventh on the first lap to finish seventh.
Febvre had to finish in front of Paulin to finish the series with two rounds to spare in the second moto. A much better start into second position and then a chase to catch breakaway leader Evgeny Bobryshev saw '461' at the front and in control. Paulin was buried in the top ten and could only come through to fourth. Febvre started celebrations after crossing the line for his twelfth chequered flag by virtue of his new gap in the standings of 102 points with just 100 left to win in 2015. Jeremy was pushing eventual overall winner Shaun Simpson for third place at one stage but two small falls dropped him down to another seventh position where he finished the day in the overall standing.
With the MXGP competition for the No.1 plate now over Febvre can ease through the remaining Grands Prix this year. Van Horebeek is seventh and twenty points behind Max Nagl. DP19 Yamaha Racing's David Philippaerts attempted to compete in Holland but was still not fully fit after his left arm injury, aggravated last weekend at Mantova.
MXGP now has two more stops and will fly over the Atlantic to tackle the hard-pack of Leon in Mexico and then the loamy hills of Glen Helen in California to bring the eighteen rounds of the 2015 campaign to a close.
