Kawasaki factory rider, Romain Febvre is warming up nicely for his defence of his MXGP world championship, which will begin in a weeks’ time in Argentina. The Frenchman rode a brilliant race but had a big battle with Jeffrey Herlings in the final stages. The Dutchman came from a poor start to get into second mid-race and pulled right up on Febvre, but came up just short, losing by a second. Third was early leader, Calvin Vlaanderen on the Ducati.

Ducati factory rider, Bonacorsi with the lead early in the opening 450 race in Lierop, from Vlaanderen, Coldenhoff, Febvre, Nagl, Herlings, Koch, Brumann, Sterry and Watson 10th. After a lap the lead was less than a second, with Coldenhoff 1.8 back, Febvre 2.7 and Herlings six seconds off the leader.

Vlaanderen into the lead as Bonacorsi dropped down the order, and Coldenhoff was three seconds back in third, with Febvre five seconds back and Herlings, who had passed Nagl was eight seconds off the leader.

Pretty solid field with Van Doninck now nine, Van De Moosdijk 11th, Jonass 12th, Geerts 14th and Oliver 15th. Three laps in and the lead by Vlaanderen on the Ducati was three seconds, with Febvre a further second back and Herlings 7.2 and not making a lot of progress just yet.

Top ten was now Vlaanderen, Coldenhoff, Febvre, Herlings, Brumann, Nagl, Van Doninck, Watson, Jonass and Van de Moosdijk. Febvre moved into second on lap four and was in a battle with Coldenhoff, both riders 3.3 seconds off the pace of Vlaanderen, as Herlings was now 8.1 behind and it seems still not comfortable with his Honda.

Febvre flying as he pulled to within one second of Vlaanderen and you just know what is going to happen soon. Coldenhoff 5.2 back in third and Herlings starting to warm up and is 7.4 behind. Brumann in fifth 18 seconds off the pace.

Febvre into the lead and a second ahead of Vlaanderen, with Coldenhoff 5.9 back and Herlings definitely building momentum and now 6.4 back and hunting for his fellow countryman. Febvre has really become a master of the sand and Lierop is without doubt, one of the toughest in the sport.

The Frenchman on fire as he was 4.3 ahead of Vlaanderen on lap seven and Herlings passed Coldenhoff, but still 7.4 behind Febvre. Coldenhoff now nearly 10 seconds off the pace and feeling it maybe? Van Doninck into fifth, but 25 seconds back.

Another lap down and Febvre is 5.2 ahead of Vlaanderen and Herlings 8.5 back, with Coldenhoff now 13 seconds off the pace. Only just over the halfway mark and Herlings has more than enough time to get to Vlaanderen.

Top ten on lap eight was Febvre, Vlaanderen, Herlings, Coldenhoff, Van Doninck, Brumann, Nagl, Oliver, Geerts and Watson on his Triumph machine. Herlings gets to two seconds of Vlaanderen, with Febvre seemingly cruising a little now as the lead was 5.4 still.

Herlings pulled two seconds on Vlaanderen on the last lap and into second place, and just 5.9 behind Febvre. Is the Bullet coming for the MXGP world champion? Still six minutes and two laps remaining. Coldenhoff was 20 seconds back, with Van Doninck 31 back and Brumann 39 seconds off the leader.

Yes, it is happening, Herlings just 3.8 back and plenty of time to go. Vlaanderen 10 seconds off the pace and Coldenhoff 22 back. This is typical Jeffrey Herling and maybe my earlier view he was still struggling with the Honda is me just being an idiot.

Lap 12 Febvre still led with Herlings in second and 3.4 off the leader. Its going down to the wire with just three minutes and two laps remaining. Febvre and Herlings in a heated battle on lap 13 with just a second separating them, and the large Dutch crowd in attendance are erupting.

Two laps still go to, although Febvre had gapped Herlings a little, with the lead now 1.8 seconds. The pace is so frantic up front, that Vlaanderen is now 24 seconds back and Coldenhoff 31 off the pace. 15th lap and Febvre wins it from Herlings and Vlaanderen.

450 Moto One - Results