World Champions

When looking at this year’s MXGP and MX2 world champions Romain Febvre and Tim Gajser we should be surprised by their victories, and of course if somebody had told us at the start of the season they would be world champions by the end of the year we would have probably laughed.

It isn’t a laughing matter though as it has been clear for some time these two have huge talent. Febvre the 2011 EMX250cc champion and Gajser the 2012 junior 125cc and EMX125cc champion.

23 years old Romain Febvre shocked the world in 2015 with a season that rivalled anything any of the legends have performed in the past. An MXGP championship in his rookie year, 1-1 at the Monster Energy Motocross of Nations, and victory against the Americans in US at the USGP. Nobody could have asked such a season from somebody with so little experience on the 450cc machine.

“It was like a dream and I don’t want to wake up from this dream,” Febvre said recently. “I could never expect this to happen in my first year in the MXGP class, but I am really excited that it did and very happy for myself and Yamaha.”

While Febvre might have surprised us, we shouldn’t have been. In his rookie season in MX2 he started the season with 4-3-2-2 results before getting injured. He would end the season in 12^th place, amazing for a rider with so little GP experience.

Of course in 2014 he finished third in the MX2 championship points, finishing top three in nine moto’s, winning a moto and a GP. His end of season results showed he was in a hurry to reach the next level.

And what of Gajser. The 18 year old with massive talent and the HRC factory behind him is also something of a surprise, but then again, maybe not.

In 2014 he was top three in 11 moto’s, and won two of those moto’s. Finishing fifth in the MX2 point’s standings Honda were quick to sign his name. His victory in the fourth round of this year’s MX2 championship, where he beat Jeffrey Herlings straight up was things legends are made of.

This year though has been very up and down for the teenager, and of course with youth on his side mistakes will come, and he will learn from them. When he stood on top of the podium in Glen Helen holding the MX2 championship trophy the smile on his face said it all.

“It’s hard to believe, winning a world championship so quickly,” Gajser said. “I am as surprised as everyone else, but I am also very proud, we worked hard and had many problems and big crashes this year.”

Now moving into 2016 anything is possible with these two as Febvre defends his MXGP title against one of the greatest of all time Antonio Cairoli, and Gajser possibly joins the MXGP ranks. At just 18 years of age he is hungry to learn from the best and the best are in the MXGP class.

Photo: Honda Pro Racing