Feature Story
Romain Febvre
Looking Positively Toward France
Eager to Return to Racing
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 on Sunday after extensive medical examination both at the track Medical Center and at the hospital in Madrid confirmed that he had sustained only bruising to the muscles and no broken bones in his shoulder. Nonetheless, FIM medical protocol after a serious accident meant that officials could not permit Febvre to race. There is no round of the series next weekend, but both the team and Febvre are confident of a complete recovery in time for the next GP, at Villars-sous-Ecot in his 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.
Constructed in partnership with Barcelona based technology experts Neutral Carbon S.L., KRT are justifiably proud of this welcome and significant use of renewable, green technology as KRT Marketing Manager, Biel Roda explains: “Like anything we do at KRT we are looking for maximum performance and the SPU has exceeded even our ambitious expectations. In terms of headline figures we estimate we will now save over 2000kg of CO2 emissions per year with a total energy generation figure of 40kW powering a hospitality unit with a kitchen that includes two fridges plus all the air conditioning units, lights and electrical appliances within the hospitality area. Unusually in racing, although we think we may have won this particular race towards the goal of carbon neutrality, we hope other teams in the paddock will now follow suit making this KRT and Elf initiative fulfill a wider vision of environmentally respectful motorsport."
On behalf of series promoter Dorna, Executive Director of WorldSBK, Gregorio Lavilla commented: “The important thing for me is the gesture to invest and make this kind of thing. Normally you come to a track and you connect your air-conditioner, etc, but who is paying the bills? Someone pays the bills, normally it is the circuits, and not all of them have green regeneration, so they have to pay the bill. So it is very interesting that someone decided to invest money from their pocket to do this. It is something we need to recognize and be proud of. I would like that more and more teams, after this gesture, start understanding the steps we need to take and all of us can do something. Congratulations and well done to all involved.”
From the FIM, President Jorge Viegas concluded: “What is being done here is called decentralized energy production. This is the future but it is more than the future - it is the present. Many of you may already have photovoltaic panels on your house and at this moment that is the cheapest and most sustainable way to produce electricity. There is a long way to go but what you are doing here, I am sure, all the trucks here in the paddock will have, because it is the cheapest way and good for the planet. We must do our share and this is a very good example.”
