The Frenchman's central pick at the start-gate for the Qualifying race saw him pushed wide at turn one to emerge thirteenth. A strong opening lap saw him quickly up to ninth but the fast condition of the demanding sand track on the first day of the weekend was not conducive to overtaking and he had to be content with seventh at the chequered flag.
 
Romain Febvre: "I got one clean lap in this morning in Free Practice but I just didn't feel comfortable in Timed Practice. We changed a few settings for Qualifying but my start was not the best and I just wasn't in my rhythm; physically I was OK for the twenty-minute race but we have some work this evening so that I can feel more comfortable tomorrow."
 
KRT teammate Jeremy Seewer had a frustrating day in the sand as he surrendered his initial tenth place at the first timing-split and had to regroup from thirteenth to eventually finish tenth.
 
Jeremy Seewer: "I tried my best but we weren't there where we want to be today. Top-ten was my goal after practice and we achieved that and P10 is good for the start here; if I can make a top-five start tomorrow and hang in there for the first five minutes I feel I can get an eighth or so."
 
Bike It Kawasaki Racing Team's Bobby Bruce ran on the edge of the top-twenty for much of the race and was still twenty-fourth until a last lap slip cost him three positions. His US teammate Jack Chambers sits out this weekend's round of the FIM World MX2 Motocross Championship as he recovers from a crash at last week's Czech GP.