Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP's Romain Febvre put the seal on his FIM World MXGP Motocross Championship campaign with his eleventh podium of the season in the final round of the series at Darwin in Northern Australia to confirm his series silver medal.

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"I gave my all and battled to the end; it was close in China and again here but Jeffrey was tough to beat this year. It is never easy to defend the title so I am proud to take the silver medal for the third time in my career. That's not bad and don't forget that I am the oldest, almost thirty-five; not many riders have achieved success at my age. I felt comfortable on the track and I could push all weekend. I got a better start in the first race; I was quickly second and could race with Jeffrey but I lost his wheel a little with three or four laps to go."

"My start was again OK in the second moto but Jeffrey slid in the first turn and came across my front wheel so I had to work my way through the pack. We were pushing hard to the finish; I was close again but it was just too far to win. This was my final GP with Kawasaki after a wonderful seven years - a success story we will celebrate tonight - but we still have the Nations in two weeks' time. That race is always special and we have a good team with Tom and Mathis so it would be nice to deliver a good result there for France and also for the team."

The Frenchman pounced quickly after rounding turn one third in the first moto to take over second already on the opening lap and he immediately halved the gap to the leader, exerting continual pressure as the leading duo sprinted clear at three seconds per lap from their chasers.

The race was still open as they encountered lapped traffic at the twenty-five minute stage of the race but his rival got a clearer run through the backmarkers and the Kawasaki leader had to be satisfied with second at the chequered flag, albeit forty-three seconds clear of third.

He had to work hard in race two from a sixth-placed start; he forced his way into third on lap four and closed down the leaders but had to wait until the approach to the two-lap board to sweep into second at the end of the waves. The move secured second overall with a 2-2 scorecard for the second time in eight days and confirmed his second place in the series final standings.

On the Saturday Febvre swept to a close second in Qualifying for the final round of the FIM World MXGP Motocross Championship at Darwin in Northern Australia.

The Frenchman was just edged out of fastest time in Timed Practice but needed four laps to reach second in the Qualifying race. At the fifteen-minute stage he closed down the leader but could find no way past and had to settle for second at the chequered flag.

"I really enjoy the track and felt good all day. I slid out in the first turn of Qualifying; I found my way into second in the first few laps but I came up just short again for the win. I have a good speed and was catching Tom in some places but then I was trying too hard, would make a mistake and lose him again."

The two time world MXGP champion will now head to Ernee, France in 10 days time for the Monster Energy Motocross of Nations, where Team France are heavy favourites to take out the prestigious event, before Febvre starts preparing for 2027 and his deal with the Ducati factory.