Kawasaki Racing Team’s Romain Febvre continues to show strong form in the closing stages of the 2026 MXGP season, racing to P2 overall in China while also securing runner-up in the world championship standings. In this Debrief feature, Febvre reflects on his performance in Shanghai and the late-season momentum he continues to build.

Image: Supplied.

That moment in the final moto

I was not that far from Jeffrey [Herlings], but after the wave in the middle, then we turned right and we had, like, a small tabletop. Actually, I just cross-rutted on the take-off and then took a kick and went on the front sideways, and I was like, ‘It’s okay. Now it’s over.’ I just held it to the finish. I didn’t make any mistakes all weekend, but that’s the only one, and it was quite scary. So I was like, ‘I’m done now. It’s okay.’

Late-season form

Yeah, to me, honestly, I didn’t change anything with my training or whatever, and I didn’t feel I did something else, but just the start. I mean, even yesterday I took the holeshot. Today I was not so good, but I was on the inside, second, and I could cut the turn, and then I was straight away second or third. And, yeah, that’s just how it is. If you start, like, seventh or second or third, then it’s your life – you just go with the guys at the front and it’s just so much easier. So, that’s it.

Racing in the heat

I always perform well, like, all through my career in hot conditions. Actually, I didn’t find that it was anything crazy this weekend at all compared to last year. Last year was much hotter, but to me it was pretty good. So, I felt good all weekend. I wasn’t missing any energy till the end, which is why I kept pushing, and, yeah, that’s all.

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Second in the championship secured

I mean, that was pretty easy. I think it’s the easiest second place I got in the championship. But, yeah, it’s good. That was the main thing to see, and then today I also tried to win. That’s always my goal, and when, like today, I had the speed and the confidence to do it, it’s where you should perform. Like, two laps to go, I was not far, but I could not make the pass, and then I made that mistake at the end.

Different mentality to last year

Yeah, like you say, last year was different. I was not battling for the win. I mean, it was the championship first, so the goal was just to be in front of Lucas, and it’s what I did. So, I was happy with that. And this year, like we said before, the championship is also over and I’m second in the championship now. So now I was really trying to win a moto or the GP. That was my goal, and definitely it’s nice for Just1 because it’s a Chinese brand, so here it’s quite big. It’s good that they made a special design also with the gear and everything. It’s always nice, and, yeah, I put on a good show for the fans also. So hopefully they liked it, and, yeah, that’s all.