Chatter Box: Tim Gajser

MXGP

Lewis Phillips November 2, 2021

Tim Gajser faced a 27-point deficit to the red plate at this time last week, but he is now just a single point behind the series leader. Not a bad turnaround, right? It is all to play for now, of course, as it is effectively a winner takes all scenario. A worthy champion will be crowned in one week, following the two events at Mantova (those being the Grand Prix of Lombardia and Grand Prix of Citta di Mantova).

Gajser discusses the intense scenario in this exclusive MX Vice interview from the recent Grand Prix of Garda. The fact that his start need to improve is dissected, as is his choice to stay away from the scoop tyre. Interestingly, he also admitted that this is a super stressful fight and something that he struggles to stop thinking about. This interview was first posted as a post-race podcast on the MX Vice network.

MX Vice: A very good day for you, especially with that second moto. That has kind of been the story of your Trentino trip, actually, because the second moto has always been better than the first. Is there anything to that?

Tim Gajser: Yeah, exactly. I have been struggling a bit with the first motos the last couple of weeks, not just here in Arco. The second ones are always good with better starts and better riding. Now we have seven days to try to work on these things!

even days to try to work on these things!

I may have been more impressed with your first moto, purely because you were quite aggressive with the guys. You did not get pushed around – I felt like you were the first guy to put your foot down and go, “I want this championship. I am not making it easy.“

Yeah, but I mean I am a clean rider. I do not want to play dirty, T-bone someone or take someone out. It is a championship though and, on a track like this, it is not easy to pass. It was not easy to pass. You have to be a little bit more aggressive, but even the passes that I made were nothing too crazy. It was just showing them a wheel.

The things that you should do! This is a motocross race and that is just fine.

Yes, exactly. Exactly. I did get a little arm pump in the first moto, so I did not really ride like I expect from myself. Anyway, we salvaged some points and finished fourth behind Jeffrey [Herlings]. We did not lose that much. I was definitely happy with the second one – that is how that I feel I should ride. I was more relaxed and had a good start, which helped a lot. I made quick passes in the beginning and rode my own lines to have a good race.

What was the mood when you came in from the first moto? Were you frustrated? Did you make any bike changes to help with the arm pump? 

No, I did not make any changes on the bike. I knew that I just had to relax myself. It was kind of like I rode too tight. I always had someone behind me in the first moto too, so I could not open the door. I could not really ride my lines. It was a struggle all the moto – that was definitely frustrating. I know that I can do better. I was in front of both of them, Jeffrey and also [Romain] Febvre. They passed me after. I was definitely a bit disappointed with the first one, but the second one was good.

I guess the first time that you relaxed today was four laps into the second moto when your mechanic put plus five on the board and you were like, “I have got a clear track and no one is trying to hit me from behind. This is nice.”

I mean, yeah. It was definitely a good feeling. I could use my own lines then. I even made quite a big gap by the end. It was around 15 seconds halfway into the race! It was comfortable. I could back it off in the end – I did not need to risk that much on the last couple of laps. The track was getting really sketchy and slippery in some places. These are the races I like, yeah [laughs].

I remember you talking about starts back at Maggiora – you were saying that you were studying film and all that stuff. I do not feel like your starts are bad, but they are not amazing either. Have you got any ideas on what you need to do there? 

We are working a lot on the starts. They are just a little bit inconsistent. They are not bad; I had one good start and then one was kind of average. We will definitely put a lot of focus on the starts this week. We all know that Mantova has a quite similar start to here. It is not just one perfect gate pick… You can kind of start from inside or outside. Like I have said many times, I think the starts are going to be really crucial and really important. We are all fast and it is not easy to pass. We are going to work on the starts and try to improve them. I feel that it is getting better and better. Still, something is missing.

Have you been using a scoop tyre at all?

No.

That seems to be the move at the moment. Anyone who gets a holeshot is putting a scoop tyre on out there! 

I saw that many, many guys were riding with scoops today.

Jeremy [Seewer] did it last Sunday, [Antonio] Cairoli did it on Wednesday and then everyone did it today.

Yeah. I felt that they have a little bit off an advantage on the starts – they always rip so it is quite soft on the starts. Around the track, you have to use the berms with a scoop and find dirt to lean somewhere. It is quite difficult to just turn without the rut. It is really slippery. It turned out to be a good choice for some of them. I did not want to risk going to the scoop. I tried in free practice this morning.

Oh, so you did give it a go to see what it felt like? 

Everyone was trying. I said, “Okay. I will try for two laps just to see how it feels.” I came back to the MX32, the normal one that I use with Pirelli. It was good.

This is a big championship. There is a lot happening. How is it mentally? Are you stressed? Are you enjoying it? Your last two titles have been a bit boring. Is the competitive side of you enjoying this? How are you feeling upstairs? 

I would say that it is definitely stressful. We all know that everything is going to be done in 10 days. There are three points separating three of us again. It is not easy, but from my point of view I just try to put that on the side. It is not easy like I said. The goal is still to go to the races to have fun, ride like I know how and try to put the championship on the side. It is easier to say than to do. You always have it in the back of your mind, the championship. When you go to bed you are also thinking about it. I think it is the same for everyone. We all want that championship – we are all going to give our best. The best guy is going to win in the end, like I have said many times.

What is the plan for this week? Are you going to ride like normal? Is there anything specific that you want to work on? 

Yeah, I am going to ride. We now go to a sand, hard-pack track.

It is weird. 

Yeah, weird. It is quite similar to Kegums. You have a little bit of sand on top, a couple of centimetres, and then underneath it is quite hard. The braking bumps are quite normal, hard pack braking bumps. We are going to work on the starts, like I said, do some motos and that is it.

DANNY LAPORTE ON LIFE AS AN ADVENTURE

For a really good read about one of the all time greats go to www.mxa.com and read the Danny Laporte story.

World Vet Starts Tomorrow

Glen Helen

MXGP...Garda

Red Bull...The Bullet!

No days off, Win #95 and a 3-Way Title Tussle - Behind the Bullet With Jeffrey Herlings

At the midpoint of the season and with the championship lead regularly changing hands, Jeffrey spends some downtime at home to regroup. Will managing niggling injuries and the unpredictability of an MXGP season disrupt the Bullet’s plan to stay in the hunt? Behind the Bullet with Jeffrey Herlings gives a personal behind the scenes account of just what it takes to compete at the pinnacle of motocross. Experience all the highs and lows of a grueling MXGP season with a first row seat with one of the fastest riders on the planet.

First MXGP Win of 2021 in Garda

Jeremy Seewer

 Jeremy Seewer Garda Overall Winner

“I won in MXGP last year, but it didn’t feel the same as it did today because I got that one as a present, whereas this one I got myself. I won, I raced upfront and I deserved it. No one beat me. It feels amazing after all that I have been through this year and where I have come from. I struggled all year with my health and mentally. I started to feel better a few weeks ago, and I am really happy to sit here now after getting first overall. I feel really good, and have felt good on this track, even during the last two races here. I was just really unlucky to miss the podium twice, by nothing, but it was worth the wait to be here now.”

 

 

 

Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP’s Jeremy Seewer made a blistering return to the hard-packed, tight and compact Ciclamino circuit for the 16th round of the FIM Motocross World Championship in Pietramurata, Italy. The Swiss star dominated the opening race and finished second in race two for his first Grand Prix victory of 2021 – and second of his career inside the premier class.

Seewer got his day off to a sensational start, narrowly missing pole by 0.128 of a second. The Swiss rider put in a blistering 1’40.298 lap to qualify in second position behind the championship leader Jeffrey Herlings. Glenn Coldenhoff posted a 1’41.138 for eighth, fractionally quicker than Ben Watson’s 1’41.718, which put the ‘919’ in 12th.

In the opening race of the day, Seewer rocketed to an incredible holeshot. The ‘91’ immediately stretched out a comfortable lead, and even though he had a massive high side at the bottom of a steep descent in the middle of the race, he still managed to regroup for his first race win of 2021 – and 11th of his career.

Another flying start in race two saw the Swiss rider bounce back from a frantic first lap where he was shuffled back to fifth position. But, by lap six, the YZ450FM star was back on form and charging after the race leader. After stalling his engine mid-moto, the Yamaha ace refired the bike in good time and made another astonishing recovery to finish second place, 5-seconds off of the defending World Champion Tim Gajser.

Coldenhoff chased his teammate around turn-one in the opening race, but with plenty of bar-banging happening between the main title protagonists, the Dutchman was shuffled back to sixth. Watson put in a strong ride after a mediocre start where he managed to battle his way back to ninth.

In the second and final race, Watson opted for a different tyre, changing to a ‘scoop’ which is typically a sand or mud tyre, in hopes of gaining an advantage off the gate. With the dirt on the start straight being a lot deeper and softer than the rest of the track, the Briton’s gamble paid off. He flew to a top-notch start and completed the opening lap in seventh, hot on the heels of Coldenhoff.

After challenging some of the most experienced riders in the premier class for the full 20-lap race duration, Watson finished seventh after an impressive pass on his teammate, Coldenhoff, with two laps to go. Coldenhoff crossed the line in eighth. .

As a result, Coldenhoff and Watson were classified seventh and eighth overall at the MXGP of Garda.

Going into the penultimate round of the 2021 FIM Motocross World Championship, Seewer is fifth in the standings, while Coldenhoff and Watson are seventh and 11th, respectively.

The Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP team now heads 128 kilometers south of Pietramurata, where they will contest the final two rounds of the FIM Motocross World Championship in Mantova, Italy, on Sunday 7th and Wednesday 10th November.

Chad Reed to Line Up Again!

Retired Reed to headline delayed Paris Supercross

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 Post: Alex Gobert

Lining up alongside Cairoli, Musquin, Febvre, Brayton and more.

Image: Foremost Media.

Longtime international Chad Reed will make a surprise appearance in the 2021 Paris Supercross on 27 November, the off-season event delayed and with a revised line-up headlined by the retired Australian.

It was initially supposed to go ahead on 6-7 November with the likes of Cooper Webb and the Lawrence brothers in attendance, but had been postponed due to travel restrictions between the US and France.

Since then it’s understood that an exemption has been sought and 39-year-old Reed will be one of the headline attractions alongside Marvin Musquin, Justin Brayton, Justin Bogle, Alex Martin, Josh Hill, Ryan Sipes, Cole Seely and Canadian Dylan Wright.

MXGP contenders Antonio Cairoli and Romain Febvre will also be in the SX1 division, while MX2 World Championship leader Maxime Renaux will be in SX2, as well as Vince Friese, Kyle Peters and Ty Masterpool.

“I haven’t raced SX in 18 months,” Reed posted on social media. “I have done exactly what I said I’d do – just focus on being a really good dad to my three kids and spend time with my wife. Traveling the BMX race scene and now the amateur MX scene has kept us all busy and happy.

“I got a phone call from [Paris Supercross] to come over for a race and I couldn’t say no. Off the couch isn’t a new thing for me and we can all wish for better prep, but mostly, I’m excited to drop the gate with the boys again. Antonio Cairoli and I haven’t raced SX against each other before, so we’ll tick that box before he retires!

“There is no feeling like that gate drop – you cannot replicate it. I will get to work this month and hopefully muscle memory serves me well. [It’s] 20 years since the first time I was in Bercy.

“This race has stood the test of time and remained a great race to be part of for all international riders. I’m really happy to be going to Paris Supercross to support them and what they do for the sport and the riders.”

Upon initially making his retirement announcement at the AUS-X Open in Melbourne during 2019, Reed indicated that he intended to continue competing in one-off Supercross events after he officially hung up his helmet at the close of the 2020 Monster Energy Supercross season.

Rocky Williams (RIP)

Earlier this week the motocross world lost one of its all-time good guys in Rocky Williams. He was a race mechanic in the 1970s and early ’80s, most famously with "Gassin'" Gaylon Mosier when he was riding for Wheelsmith Maico and later the Kawasaki factory team. Rocky's backstory was the kind of stuff with which one could make a movie. Our colleague at We Went Fast, Brett Smith, wrote about Rocky on Wednesday after news of his passing. Here's what he wrote: 

Gerald Williams died in the evening of October 26. Rest In Peace, Rocky.

Many here might not recognize the name. It's been over 40 years since Rocky spun wrenches at the races. His career as a mechanic was notable because he was talented, funny and profoundly deaf.

He couldn't hear a damn thing, yet he was able to thrive in a world that's often filled with nothing but noise.

The story of Rocky Williams is one of many in various stages of completion in my projects folder. There's no specific reason why it's unfinished. He would have appreciated the tribute.

In April 1978, the LA Times featured Rocky on the front page of the sports section. "I feel the vibrations," he told Shav Glick. "I can tell if the engine's OK or what's wrong with it by the way the handlebars feel. I must communicate well with my rider. I ask him to tell me when the engine is running properly and then I feel the handlebars and get the proper vibration. From then on I can tell if it's running rich or lean or needs work by the way it vibrates."

Acceptance of a deaf mechanic made it a tough road for him. He said he started working on his brother's bike and then Bob Hannah when Hannah had a Husky. He also said he worked for Broc Glover and Bruce McDougal before they turned pro. He went to Suzuki and Yamaha and cited his experience with the riders above but was turned away because he was deaf.

In 1975 Rocky said a rider named Gaylon Mosier found him he worked for free for 6 weeks at Maico before he was given $300 a week and expenses. When Mosier decamped for Kawasaki in 1978, Rocky thought he'd be left behind again. Mosier called him and said, "get out your green pants!"

They won the 1978 Anaheim Supercross together (pic 8), a handful of AMA Pro MX races and many other events between the Trans AMA and CMC Golden State events. When Mosier was killed riding a bicycle in the fall of 1980, he was left without a rider who advocated hard for him and was ultimately dropped from Kawasaki.

He loved motorcycles, however, and later worked as a Harley-Davidson mechanic. He was 74.

What's This?

This Is A Mud Race!

 A last-round championship fight between Ben Kelley and Steward Baylor with the Grand National Cross Country Series title was drama enough, but then massive rain nearly drowned the Yamaha Ironman GNCC course. Yet the swamp monsters of GNCC still raced to win, and the famous 'mud flea' fans were there to push them through the water and the muck. Mason Rader nailed these spectacular highlights from the final GNCC of 2021, an off-road epic.