Image: Supplied.

Monster Energy Yamaha’s Romain Febvre made a welcomed return to the top step of the 2019 MXGP World Championship podium after dominating the Czech Grand Prix as the winner of both premoer class races.

Ending a three-year drought, the Frenchman went 1-1 to win the grand prix ahead of Tim Gajser (Team HRC), who extended his points lead with a pair of runner-up results. Second of the factory Yamahas, Jeremy Seewer, was third.

In the opening race of the weekend, the YZ450FM-mounted teammates Seewer and Febvre rocketed out of the gate and led around turn one. A frantic first lap saw Febvre made a pass for the lead and instantly pull a small gap, before he was flawless as he stormed to a second race victory of the season. Seewer was demoted to third by Gajser with three minutes left on the clock.

An incredible start to the second and final race of the day saw Seewer lead the chase while Febvre trailed, but it was the ‘461’ who did not mess around on the opening lap as he charged past everyone including Gajser to challenge his teammate for the lead.

After a thrilling four-lap battle for the top spot, Febvre managed out-brake Seewer and take claim of the position on one of the steep downhills. Gajser also applied the pressure and forced a pass on the Swiss talent a lap later, but could not catch the Febvre.

In MX2, defending world champion Jorge Prado conquered Loket for the second year in a row, going 1-1 for victory ahead of Kawasaki’s Henry Jacobi and Thomas Kjer Olsen (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing).

Olsen’s teammate Jed Beaton also put in two strong races, charging to fourth in moto one. A little further down the field at the end of the opening lap in the second moto, Beaton worked hard throughout the race to improve from 13th to his eventual finishing position of ninth. That placed him sixth overall, while countryman Mitch Evans (Team 114 Motorsports Honda) sat out the weekend.

The third round of Women’s Motocross World Championship also took place, where Bike It DRT Kawasaki’s Courtney Duncan won the round of Czech Republic with a perfect 1-1 score. The New Zealander also extended her lead in the championship to 14 points. Second overall was Larissa Papenmeier (Yamaha) with 4-2 results, and while Nancy Van De Ven (Yamaha) went 2-4 to complete the podium.

Next on the 2019 MXGP World Championship schedule will be the Lommel, Belgium, round this weekend on 4 August.

Detailed results