FEBVRE AND LÄNGENFELDER TRIUMPH IN AN EMOTIONAL UDDEVALLA – MXGP OF SWEDEN DELIVERS DRAMA AND HEROICS
MXGP Uddevalla, Sweden – 17 August 2025
The Swedish hills came alive under blue skies and a wall of sound as round 16 of the 2025 FIM Motocross World Championship unfolded in Uddevalla. The classic circuit delivered everything that makes motocross so special – speed, drama, heartbreak, and unrelenting passion – with home hero Isak Gifting nearly pulling off the ride of his life, only to see it slip away in the cruelest of fashion.
At the end of a gripping weekend, it was Romain Febvre and Simon Längenfelder who stood tallest, taking victories in MXGP and MX2 to strengthen their title challenges.
MXGP – Febvre flawless, Gifting heartbreak, and Vlaanderen’s hardpack podium
Saturday’s Qualifying Race was a sign of things to come, with Romain Febvre looking sharp from the outset. The Frenchman carried that speed into Sunday, pulling two Fox Holeshots and delivering two superbly executed rides that earned him his first-ever 60-point weekend haul – 1st in Qualifying, Race 1, and Race 2.
Behind him, however, the story was far from straightforward.
Race 1 saw Jeffrey Herlings briefly snatch the lead from Febvre, only for the Kawasaki star to strike back immediately. A chaotic mid-race clash between Tim Gajser and Isak Gifting robbed the crowd of an early Swedish fairytale, forcing Gifting into a fightback from outside the top 20. He salvaged 17th while Febvre held strong up front, followed home by Herlings and a flying Calvin Vlaanderen, who continued his superb run of form with another podium ride.
Race 2 was pure drama. Febvre looked in control, but the atmosphere reached fever pitch as Gifting charged through the pack, passing legends Herlings and Febvre in the final laps to seize the lead. The crowd erupted, sensing history in the making – only for the Swede to lose the front wheel with just corners remaining. The heartbreak was audible across Uddevalla as Febvre reclaimed victory, Herlings crossed second, and Maxime Renaux sneaked third ahead of Vlaanderen.
Despite the devastation, Gifting’s bravery and raw speed cemented his place as the true crowd hero of the weekend.
MXGP Overall Podium – Uddevalla
🥇 Romain Febvre (Kawasaki) – 1-1
🥈 Jeffrey Herlings (KTM) – 2-2
🥉 Calvin Vlaanderen (Yamaha) – 3-4
Rider Reactions
Romain Febvre (1st overall):
“I won’t lie, this was a really good weekend. Going 1-1-1 feels awesome and it’s a big boost for the championship. It’s not done until the last round, but I was riding really well here and it feels great to win again in Sweden after such a long time. Now I just want to keep this momentum going and fight until the end.”
Jeffrey Herlings (2nd overall):
“Two solid races today with 2-2 for second overall. In the second race I was really close to Romain and pushing hard, but just when I went for it I ran out of tear-offs and then he stalled, so the timing was a bit unlucky. He was really strong today, so credit to him. For me, it’s not too bad considering I’ve only been back on the bike for two and a half weeks. I’m looking forward to my home GP in Arnhem and hopefully I can fight for the win there.”
Calvin Vlaanderen (3rd overall):
“It feels so good to be back on the podium again, and to do it on hard pack makes it even better. That second race was one of the most fun races I’ve ever had, it was like a sprint every lap battling with my teammate. We raced hard but fair and it was great fun. Back-to-back podiums feels amazing, I’m enjoying my riding so much right now and I just want to keep the ball rolling heading into my home GP.”
MX2 – Längenfelder shows class, De Wolf digs deep, Adamo salvages
The MX2 championship battle continued to swing like a pendulum, with three riders separated by just 59 points heading into Uddevalla.
Race 1 looked set to be Sacha Coenen’s showcase as the young Belgian led from the gate, but Andrea Adamo was relentless, cutting down the gap and snatching victory with a bold late pass. Kay de Wolf fought hard through the pack to secure 3rd, while Simon Längenfelder salvaged 5th after a poor start.
Race 2 belonged to the red plate holder. Determined not to miss his chance, Längenfelder blasted past Thibault Benistant early and never looked back, delivering a dominant win to claim his fifth GP victory of 2025. De Wolf was again consistent in 3rd, while Adamo endured a difficult race with crashes and clutch problems, but still did enough for the final podium spot.
MX2 Overall Podium – Uddevalla
🥇 Simon Längenfelder (KTM) – 5-1
🥈 Kay de Wolf (Husqvarna) – 3-3
🥉 Andrea Adamo (KTM) – 1-8
Rider Reactions
Simon Längenfelder (1st overall):
“It was a really nice day for me. In the first race I had to come back from outside the top 10, but I showed I can really push, make passes, cut the lines and still be fast behind others. The second race was even better with a good start and a win. I’m really happy to take the overall here.”
Kay de Wolf (2nd overall):
“It was a positive weekend for me. I didn’t lose too many points in the championship, so I did what I had to do. Both races I was playing a bit of catch-up, but I managed two solid results and even my first podium here in Sweden, which feels really nice. I think I went 3-3, so I’m happy with that and now I look forward to my home GP in the sand where hopefully I can make up big points.”
Andrea Adamo (3rd overall):
“Race one was great, I started up front, made my way to first and felt really strong. In race two I had so many problems, I crashed, and I also lost the clutch, so it was one thing after another. Still, I managed to finish third overall, so I can be happy with that and I will keep fighting until the end.”
🇿🇦 Camden Mc Lellan – Momentum continues in MX2
South Africa’s Camden Mc Lellan once again showed his growing maturity in MX2, powering to 7-5 finishes for 7th overall in the ultra-competitive class. The Triumph Racing rider was sharp out of the gate in both motos and battled inside the top 10 all weekend, collecting another strong haul of points to stay in the thick of the championship’s upper order.
Camden Mc Lellan:
“7-5 in Sweden. I was good out of the gate this weekend, but just missed a tiny bit on track. As always, taking the good and learning from the bad. Thanks to my crew @officialtriumphracing and @mx_panda for the great work! See you next weekend 🇳🇱 @monsterenergy”
Looking ahead
With just four Grands Prix left, the momentum is firmly with Febvre in MXGP and Längenfelder in MX2, but both titles are far from decided. Next stop: The Netherlands, where the deep sand and passionate home crowds promise another unforgettable weekend of world-class motocross.
Picture Credits: MXGP