Just as he did in Saturday’s Qualifying Race, Isak Gifting shot out of the gate rapidly on his special Anniversary-liveried JK Racing Yamaha, but he was just out-dragged to the Fox Holeshot Award line by Febvre after the Frenchman pulled a perfect first corner pass. Herlings was right there in third, ahead of the JM Racing Honda of Brent Van Doninck and home hero Jago Geerts, the best-starting Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP rider. There was bad luck for Bonacorsi, however, as he was on the ground in the first corner and having to fight from the back, just behind Bogers and Honda HRC man Ruben Fernandez who had been pushed off-track!
Coenen fought past Van Doninck and Geerts in the first few corners to get into fourth, and Herlings was quickly past Gifting to chase after Febvre. At the end of the first full lap, Coenen flew high and long from the Pit Lane wall jump to pass Gifting for third, a move he would make use of many times through the day!
The home favourite did the same thing the very next lap on Herlings, whose was clearly not going to send it off that jump with his recently-healed collarbone, and the stage was set for the two title contenders to fight it out at the top.
Battle was joined behind them between Yamaha men Gifting and Vlaanderen, but they both moved up a position on lap seven as Herlings fell in the wooded section, dropping the Dutchman to eighth behind countryman Glenn Coldenhoff on the Fantic Factory Racing MXGP machine. Geerts was pursuing Van Doninck for fifth, but he suffered a massive get-off over the triple jump after the Finish Line, being hit by the bike and, although he walked away, he was out of action for the rest of the day. We all wish him the best in his recovery.
While Coenen was stalking Febvre, Norwegian Hakon Fredriksen, on his private YRC Performance Yamaha, was working his way into the top ten, not far ahead of a recovering Bonacorsi, who had passed Herlings for ninth on lap ten. Maxime Renaux, still on the path back from injury, took tenth in the race for Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP, as Herlings mischievously pinched eighth back from Bonacorsi on the last lap. Fredriksen got past Van Doninck for an amazing sixth place, only two seconds back from Coldenhoff who took fifth.
Up ahead though, all Belgian eyes were on Coenen as he marched up to Febvre’s back wheel, and used his signature wall jump move to fly into the lead at the end of lap 12! The experience of Febvre paid benefits, however, as he knew that he had to strike back instantly on his young rival, and carved to the inside of the KTM after just four corners with enough authority to force the Belgian off the track!
On the same lap, Vlaanderen was able to dance past Gifting for third, and that’s where the Yamaha men would finish. Coenen made one last charge to get back onto terms with Febvre, but had a massive moment on the exit of the “Lommelwood” section that forced him to throw in the towel. Febvre was able to cruise over the line and enjoy his 55th career GP race victory, and extend the Championship lead to 12 points.
Coenen promised MXGP-TV Presenter Lisa Leyland a good show before race two, and we certainly got one! There was a rare sight at the start, as Jeffrey Herlings claimed his first Fox Holeshot Award since October 2021 in France with a sweeping move around Gifting, who again held second, until Febvre cut to the inside of him at the third corner. Simultaneously, Vlaanderen grabbed fifth from Coenen and the race seemed to be going the way of the Kawasaki man once more.