The final MXGP race in Sweden delivered arguably the most exciting storyline of the 2025 season so far. Swedish privateer Isak Gifting passed both Jeffrey Herlings and Romain Febvre to take the lead on the final lap, but disaster struck with less than half a lap remaining. Gifting fell from the lead, and when his bike wouldn’t restart, he could only watch as his storybook ending slip away in front of him.

“It’s a really hard pill to swallow, I have never experienced anything like this to be honest” he reflected, visibly frustrated post race. “On the last couple of laps, I was getting tired but I was still catching those guys (Herlings and Febvre) – and I just said to myself I’ll go for it, I will die for this now, and then I can’t believe I got both Jeffrey and Febvre in the end, it’s just unreal. I threw it away with half a lap to go, just fell down in the corner and then bike didn’t start… so yeah, if I at least could have rolled in the top-five or something… it’s tough.”

Despite his visible frustration and emotion, Gifting recognized the progress he continues to make this season. MXGP Race One was another example of the huge strides the Swede has taken, establishing his JK Racing Yamaha as a regular presence in the lead pack. He pulled a brilliant start, battling with Herlings and Tim Gajser for third place, before colliding with Gajser on a downhill section.

“I keep getting better every weekend and the pace I’ve been showing many times, but now I’m actually running it for 30 minutes plus two” he affirmed. “Especially today, I mean I was the strongest one in the end, and that is what I have been looking for – so I am at the point I can find more confidence and really pace myself even more in the beginning of the motos, I can ride more within myself for the first half of the race and then rely on my fitness and believe that I have it, I can do it for the 30 minutes plus two.”

Although Gifting gave his large and loyal fan base lifelong memories at his home Grand Prix, the frustration was still evident on his face. Yet, he has proven time and time again that he belongs inside the top five – and now has his eyes firmly set on coming out swinging in Arnhem, determined to further cement his name among the factory riders.

“I have to put this behind me, it’s good that we have a race straight away, because then maybe I can let this one go and I think in a couple of days. I will be really fired up for Arnhem and show them again that I’m here to stay, I’m not going anywhere”

Listen to the full interview with Isak from the Cult Moto Post-Race Podcast from Sweden below!