Persistent rain storms overnight and throughout race day demanded skill and tactical finesse from the riders as, despite remarkable work by the Infront track crew, potential dangers lurked at every turn. Good starts were imperative in the conditions and the Frenchman was twice narrowly edged out for the holeshot; there followed a race-long chase each time as the front two raced clear. The Kawasaki rider was clearly the faster of the duo, setting the fastest lap times as he nosed in front on two occasions during the first moto, but was denied the final pass each time as his rival stuck doggedly to the optimal race line on the exit from the turns. He again showed patience and maturity to stay out of the roost as the two leaders moved relentlessly clear of their chasers in the second moto and he again showed his pace in the final three laps as he pushed back to within a second on the final lap before a lapper inadvertently cost him the tow. A brace of second-placed motos earnt second overall on the day - his sixth podium in seven GPs - and he also takes the red plate of the series' points-leader with a twenty-five point advantage heading to the following GP in Spain next weekend.
 
Romain Febvre: "I tried to go for the win, but my goal heading into the races today was to take good starts and not crash as it can be so difficult in these conditions if you crash and get mud on your gloves. We saw today that we have got the starts sorted as I was immediately at the front with Lucas both motos and that will play in our favour as the season continues. Of course I wanted to pass him and indeed I made it happen twice in the first moto but Lucas could respond immediately both times. In the second moto I could come back onto his rear wheel but I could not find a line to make the difference. It's hard as a racer to accept but I had more to lose than to win if I had taken a risk, and I leave here with second overall and the red plate. I have spent the last four years chasing the red plate so I really wanted it; for me it is no pressure and it gives me confidence for the rest of the season. But it's still a long series and anything can happen so I need to stay sharp."
 
KRT colleague Pauls Jonass made an impressive return to racing after a month on the sidelines as he claimed fifth overall from 4-8 moto finishes. The Latvian made the move for fourth halfway through race one after starting fifth, and followed this up with a lonely ride to a race-long eighth in the second moto. Despite missing three GPs he is now back to eleventh in the series standings.
 
Pauls Jonass: "It was nice to get back to the intensity of racing. I felt good in the first race and was rewarded with fourth but I was a little disappointed about moto two; I just didn't find such a good flow but P5 overall was a good result first race back and I look forward to building step-by-step from here. The conditions were tough but the track crew did a great job to give us a track where you could race."
 
Antti Pyrhönen (KRT team manager): "The championship lead and the red plate are what we have been working towards all season and it's a really good moment for the entire team; now we need to continue working exactly the same way to keep it. It was a very difficult challenge this weekend; the track was brutal and the weather was terrible so it would be very easy to make a costly mistake but we had good starts and Romain knew exactly what to do in this situation. The result is the red plate. Both Pauls and Mathis also deserved these good results on their first race back; it is their reward for the hard work all winter and during the break."