Febvre clash with FIM about Benistant's incident

MPJC
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5/25/2026 8:57am
RACING wrote:
Maybe I'm wrong, but from what we saw, I don't feel red flagging would have changed anything to Benistant's condition or medical evacuation... Febvre was probably...

Maybe I'm wrong, but from what we saw, I don't feel red flagging would have changed anything to Benistant's condition or medical evacuation... Febvre was probably emotional since the news seem pretty bad. 

He already has a tendency to get pretty vocal for way less important matters.

aees wrote:
He was laying in the track, severely injured. For the safety of the medic crew and rider, clear cut red flag situation.Its one mistake away, either...

He was laying in the track, severely injured. For the safety of the medic crew and rider, clear cut red flag situation.

Its one mistake away, either rider fumbles into him and his life is over. And I have a hard time accepting medics can do their best work wiht loud bikes and dust around them. I will 10 out of 10 times stop the race at that time, specially 2 laps +.

RACING wrote:
You may be right. Still, I'm always amazed at how many people in here know better that the people in charge. Race directing, filming, editing, first aid...

You may be right. 

Still, I'm always amazed at how many people in here know better that the people in charge. Race directing, filming, editing, first aid, bike setting. Such a bottomless pool of knowledge about everything, really.

Anyways. Hope Benistant's surgery has positive results and he gets better.
 

I'm amazed at people who know more about rider safety than the reigning MXGP world champion and the current MXGP points leader. Febvre could be emotional and right. If by "emotional" you mean angry, then yes, he probably is, and it's probably justified. What about Coenen? What's the reason to dismiss his comments? 

18
Elliot
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5/25/2026 9:20am
prozach wrote:

The official mxgp highlights sweep it almost completely under the rug as well.  Almost like it never happened.  👎

I was half surprised they didn't cut out Febvre's comments from the press conference video.

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yak651
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5/25/2026 9:36am

I’m old enough to remember Barcia laying down with no movement for what seemed to be forever and all the racers showed up at the next round like nothing happened. These racers are their own worse enemies and until they do something they will keep being treated like cattle and hope the next time it doesn’t happen to them. I would even venture to guess there was more outrage over the possibility of limiting photo guys at the races then there was over the treatment of the actual racers…

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Nairb#70
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5/25/2026 9:41am

Has there been any update on Benistants condition?

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The Shop

Elliot
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5/25/2026 9:48am

The FIM are getting the message from some posts on their Facebook page...

 

Screenshot 2026-05-25 174530
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Village Idiot
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5/25/2026 3:28pm
yak651 wrote:
I’m old enough to remember Barcia laying down with no movement for what seemed to be forever and all the racers showed up at the next...

I’m old enough to remember Barcia laying down with no movement for what seemed to be forever and all the racers showed up at the next round like nothing happened. These racers are their own worse enemies and until they do something they will keep being treated like cattle and hope the next time it doesn’t happen to them. I would even venture to guess there was more outrage over the possibility of limiting photo guys at the races then there was over the treatment of the actual racers…

I seem to remember Mike Alessi being used as a speedbump at Red Bud. Was it 2008? I've seen roadkill treated better.

Unnerving to watch.

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Brent
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5/25/2026 4:24pm
Nairb#70 wrote:

Has there been any update on Benistants condition?

not officially.

Keep thibault  in your thoughts

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ohh_454
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5/25/2026 5:00pm
yak651 wrote:
I’m old enough to remember Barcia laying down with no movement for what seemed to be forever and all the racers showed up at the next...

I’m old enough to remember Barcia laying down with no movement for what seemed to be forever and all the racers showed up at the next round like nothing happened. These racers are their own worse enemies and until they do something they will keep being treated like cattle and hope the next time it doesn’t happen to them. I would even venture to guess there was more outrage over the possibility of limiting photo guys at the races then there was over the treatment of the actual racers…

I seem to remember Mike Alessi being used as a speedbump at Red Bud. Was it 2008? I've seen roadkill treated better.

Unnerving to watch.

No flagging could’ve saved Mike from getting ran over where he did. 

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Village Idiot
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5/25/2026 7:34pm
yak651 wrote:
I’m old enough to remember Barcia laying down with no movement for what seemed to be forever and all the racers showed up at the next...

I’m old enough to remember Barcia laying down with no movement for what seemed to be forever and all the racers showed up at the next round like nothing happened. These racers are their own worse enemies and until they do something they will keep being treated like cattle and hope the next time it doesn’t happen to them. I would even venture to guess there was more outrage over the possibility of limiting photo guys at the races then there was over the treatment of the actual racers…

I seem to remember Mike Alessi being used as a speedbump at Red Bud. Was it 2008? I've seen roadkill treated better.

Unnerving to watch.

ohh_454 wrote:

No flagging could’ve saved Mike from getting ran over where he did. 

Perhaps, but it was the graphic and disturbing nature of it that I was referring to. I don't remember if they even showed the response on video - the images of him continuing to get run over like roadkill with no one coming to his aid kind of blotted the rest of it out of my memory. He's really fortunate to still be with us.

5/25/2026 9:20pm

It sucks hearing this and im ignoring all the bitching about flags etc. My strength and prayers go to Benistant, and I wish him a full recovery.

8
5/25/2026 9:41pm

Thibault had surgery yersteday, no further news.

 

This should never happen :

 

1000056397
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Alex814
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5/26/2026 4:41am
prozach wrote:

The official mxgp highlights sweep it almost completely under the rug as well.  Almost like it never happened.  👎

I watched the highlights and I don't think they even mentioned his name as the downed rider. 

Stuff like this is why I never have and never will pay to watch their series. Seems to be something every year between rider safety and egregious tracks. 

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2
5/26/2026 5:02am
Thibault had surgery yersteday, no further news. This should never happen : 

Thibault had surgery yersteday, no further news.

 

This should never happen :

 

1000056397

For all of you with your ridiculous comments look at that picture closely. That's a INSTANT Red Flag!!!!!!. FULL STOP. FUCKING FULL STOP.  A local race at any of our local tracks would red flag in that situation. I know NESC in New England would. And so wouldn't any local race org.

Major mistake by the FIM and they know it.

8
5/26/2026 5:04am

Prayers for a full recovery.🙏

2
5/26/2026 5:08am
prozach wrote:

The official mxgp highlights sweep it almost completely under the rug as well.  Almost like it never happened.  👎

Alex814 wrote:
I watched the highlights and I don't think they even mentioned his name as the downed rider. Stuff like this is why I never have and never...

I watched the highlights and I don't think they even mentioned his name as the downed rider. 

Stuff like this is why I never have and never will pay to watch their series. Seems to be something every year between rider safety and egregious tracks. 

But they did mention his name

5/26/2026 5:14am Edited Date/Time 5/26/2026 6:57am
Thibault had surgery yersteday, no further news. This should never happen : 

Thibault had surgery yersteday, no further news.

 

This should never happen :

 

1000056397
For all of you with your ridiculous comments look at that picture closely. That's a INSTANT Red Flag!!!!!!. FULL STOP. FUCKING FULL STOP.  A local race...

For all of you with your ridiculous comments look at that picture closely. That's a INSTANT Red Flag!!!!!!. FULL STOP. FUCKING FULL STOP.  A local race at any of our local tracks would red flag in that situation. I know NESC in New England would. And so wouldn't any local race org.

Major mistake by the FIM and they know it.

Should they have red flagged the race, 100% yes. The medics need to be able to communicate to the rider & each other without fear of getting injured themselves. Would it have made a difference to Benistant’s injury, I very much doubt it. 

The 2nd moto shouldn’t have been stopped because I believe all bikes & bodies were clear by the time the riders completed the lap.

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Nairb#70
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5/26/2026 5:51am

The first turn layout was terrible with a decreasing radius, should have seen the crash coming.

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Robgvx
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5/26/2026 10:07am

GP tracks are largely shit. Sure, they build nice jumps (sometimes) but far too many of them. And the jump builders (I can’t call them track builders) give ZERO thought to layout, shape of corners and creating passing opportunities. 

Split lanes and humps on the inside of turns are just a neon sign that they have no idea. 

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Alex814
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5/26/2026 10:23am

I seem to remember Mike Alessi being used as a speedbump at Red Bud. Was it 2008? I've seen roadkill treated better.

Unnerving to watch.

ohh_454 wrote:

No flagging could’ve saved Mike from getting ran over where he did. 

Perhaps, but it was the graphic and disturbing nature of it that I was referring to. I don't remember if they even showed the response on...

Perhaps, but it was the graphic and disturbing nature of it that I was referring to. I don't remember if they even showed the response on video - the images of him continuing to get run over like roadkill with no one coming to his aid kind of blotted the rest of it out of my memory. He's really fortunate to still be with us.

He was in 2nd place on the opening lap. All of the riders behind cleared him within 8 seconds of the crash, it happened very quickly. 

I was there and saw it in person from the hillside next to the ski jump. Horrific.

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PRM31
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5/26/2026 10:34am

I did not see what started his crash. Anyone know? 

That track and I would not have gotten along. Deep ruts in soil that turned very hard and large jumps are very sketchy to me.  Though I do not know if this had anything to do with this crash. Wishing him the best for his recovery!

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Airmk
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5/26/2026 10:55am
PRM31 wrote:
I did not see what started his crash. Anyone know? That track and I would not have gotten along. Deep ruts in soil that turned very hard...

I did not see what started his crash. Anyone know? 

That track and I would not have gotten along. Deep ruts in soil that turned very hard and large jumps are very sketchy to me.  Though I do not know if this had anything to do with this crash. Wishing him the best for his recovery!

I found this comment under a French Facebook post about the crash, from someone who was standing in the crowd right in front of the accident:

As I mentioned in another post, we were standing right in front of where Thibault’s accident happened. Basically, it was Pancar who landed on his right side, which threw him to the ground. Then the marshals arrived and removed the bike, all while riders were still passing right next to them.

While lying on the ground, Thibault was signaling to the medic not to move him, pointing at his legs, pelvis or hip. Then the medics put a neck brace on him and placed him on the stretcher WITH RIDERS STILL PASSING JUST A FEW CENTIMETERS AWAY FROM THE GUYS AND THIBAULT 😡😡 FOR SEVERAL LAPS.

I completely understand Romain’s reaction. We were absolutely furious as spectators, so I can only imagine how the riders felt 😡

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ohh_454
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5/26/2026 11:03am Edited Date/Time 5/26/2026 11:04am

I seem to remember Mike Alessi being used as a speedbump at Red Bud. Was it 2008? I've seen roadkill treated better.

Unnerving to watch.

ohh_454 wrote:

No flagging could’ve saved Mike from getting ran over where he did. 

Perhaps, but it was the graphic and disturbing nature of it that I was referring to. I don't remember if they even showed the response on...

Perhaps, but it was the graphic and disturbing nature of it that I was referring to. I don't remember if they even showed the response on video - the images of him continuing to get run over like roadkill with no one coming to his aid kind of blotted the rest of it out of my memory. He's really fortunate to still be with us.

A guy had already thrown out a yellow flag pretty much right away when Mike went down, this is 2nd and 3rd passing him after he went down with the flagger flagging. Mike went down in the worst place and on a blind jump at that and at the very beginning of a moto, not the promoters deal there 


IMG 5241 3.jpeg?VersionId=PoDrG9Y0fpD8z6g

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ohh_454
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5/26/2026 11:06am
PRM31 wrote:
I did not see what started his crash. Anyone know? That track and I would not have gotten along. Deep ruts in soil that turned very hard...

I did not see what started his crash. Anyone know? 

That track and I would not have gotten along. Deep ruts in soil that turned very hard and large jumps are very sketchy to me.  Though I do not know if this had anything to do with this crash. Wishing him the best for his recovery!

Airmk wrote:
I found this comment under a French Facebook post about the crash, from someone who was standing in the crowd right in front of the accident:As...

I found this comment under a French Facebook post about the crash, from someone who was standing in the crowd right in front of the accident:

As I mentioned in another post, we were standing right in front of where Thibault’s accident happened. Basically, it was Pancar who landed on his right side, which threw him to the ground. Then the marshals arrived and removed the bike, all while riders were still passing right next to them.

While lying on the ground, Thibault was signaling to the medic not to move him, pointing at his legs, pelvis or hip. Then the medics put a neck brace on him and placed him on the stretcher WITH RIDERS STILL PASSING JUST A FEW CENTIMETERS AWAY FROM THE GUYS AND THIBAULT 😡😡 FOR SEVERAL LAPS.

I completely understand Romain’s reaction. We were absolutely furious as spectators, so I can only imagine how the riders felt 😡

That sounds like the Brian Moreau situation at his debut SX race back in 2020. 

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Beagle
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5/26/2026 11:49am Edited Date/Time 5/26/2026 11:52am

Thibault had surgery this morning. He seems in good spirits.

 

16
5/26/2026 1:05pm
Thibault had surgery yersteday, no further news. This should never happen : 

Thibault had surgery yersteday, no further news.

 

This should never happen :

 

1000056397

Something that is never discussed in these threads about riders being down is the noise and chaos the medics are trying to work around - if a rider is down for more than 30 seconds and cannot move under his own power. Red flag immediately. How are the medics supposed to properly assess the situation with 100+ decibel bikes fucking 4 inches from their head going by at 30mph? Ridiculous. 

16
5/26/2026 1:14pm
Thibault had surgery yersteday, no further news. This should never happen : 

Thibault had surgery yersteday, no further news.

 

This should never happen :

 

1000056397
Something that is never discussed in these threads about riders being down is the noise and chaos the medics are trying to work around - if...

Something that is never discussed in these threads about riders being down is the noise and chaos the medics are trying to work around - if a rider is down for more than 30 seconds and cannot move under his own power. Red flag immediately. How are the medics supposed to properly assess the situation with 100+ decibel bikes fucking 4 inches from their head going by at 30mph? Ridiculous. 

EXACTLY!!!

2
5/26/2026 1:23pm
Something that is never discussed in these threads about riders being down is the noise and chaos the medics are trying to work around - if...

Something that is never discussed in these threads about riders being down is the noise and chaos the medics are trying to work around - if a rider is down for more than 30 seconds and cannot move under his own power. Red flag immediately. How are the medics supposed to properly assess the situation with 100+ decibel bikes fucking 4 inches from their head going by at 30mph? Ridiculous. 

So true !

1
NorCal1975
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6/3/2026 12:57pm

Uggh, hope to hear some good news, but not sounding optimistic right now.  The press releases on this were confusing, one mentioned a successful surgery and it was on to recovery, but now this makes it sound like the outcome is very bad (assuming paralysis).  Thoughts and prayers with him and his family.  Hopefully he can get mobility again.  Hate this part of the sport....  

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