Tim Gajser is in imperious form right now and maybe the best of his career! The Slovenian went 1-1 at Arco in style much to the delight of his large number of Slovenian fans that went across the bored for what is the closest thing to Tim’s home GP, and he delivered for them yet again with a flawless performance and is maybe in the best moment of his career.
We spoke to Tim at the end of the day to get his thoughts on the day and of course reflect back on that Jett Lawrence pass at the end of last season! Read or watch below:
Tim Gaiser, that was an incredible days riding, weekends riding, it just looks like you were in control at all points. Is that how you felt?
Yeah, it was a really good, especially today was a really good day. Let’s say yesterday I struggled a little bit. We were searching for right, you know, settings on the bike because also the track yesterday was way more harder, like loose, not many roads. So it was like really slippery, but today I feel like it was really good, you know, a bit of rain during the night and the track was a bit more softer, a bit more lines as well. So yeah, I was enjoying taking two good starts.
First one was really nice with Roman, we had a nice battle and then passed just a couple of laps to go and then I won that race, it was really good. Second one, again, take a solid start. I was on third and make quick passes on Coldenhoff and my teammate Ruben, then make a little gap and control the race.
So yeah, really happy, you know, it’s always nice to win here in Pietramurata in Arco. It’s like my home GP, so many fans again were here today from Slovenia, so it’s always amazing and yeah, really happy.
The first moto, were you wailing behind Febvre? Because it looked like five minutes to go, you just released the speed!
A little bit, yes, I felt like I was like in control, let’s say, because when he pulled away, I could like close that gap. I was searching for some nice lines because the speed of us were like, was quite similar. But then when I saw five minutes to go, then I found some good lines and I was able to make a pass and then when I pass him, I know that I had to, you know, sprint the next laps because I know that he will come back.
That’s exactly what we did, we were pushing until the end. But yeah, I managed to pull the win and it was good.
The second moto, you had a really good line after the big downhill, you were squaring the corner off before you went back up the uphill towards the finish again. You were so smooth doing it and jumping into the wrecking runs were so smooth around. By the end, a lot more riders were doing that line, I think Ruben was doing it with you, behind you, but you were the first one doing it and you were doing it so smooth. It just seemed like everything’s clicking at the minute, lines, the bike setup, everything looks perfect.
Yeah, exactly. I mean, I saw that line already, some guys were taking it in an Amix 2 and it was a really nice one because you could avoid the big bumps on the inside, you know, those breaking bumps, they were really big there. So I could just jump, pre-jump some bumps, you know, it was really nice and then take a nice corner and also jump, let’s say, the waves.
There were like double and single, like on the left side where the takeover was lower. So yeah, I was feeling good. I felt like I found some really good lines in the second moto that helped me to ride, let’s say, more comfortable without too much risk.
So yeah, it was good.
On the parade laps at your corner there, guys, your corner, you were waving at the fans. How cool is that to have all those people just cheering for you and all the noise and the smoke bombs and everything must be amazing.
That was crazy, yes. I built quite a nice gap so I could last lap, just wave to them, you know, it was amazing. I could hear them every lap.
More and more we were going towards the end, the louder they were becoming. But yeah, it was nice, nice. It’s always nice over here, you know, they always make such a nice atmosphere and, you know, after on the podium, when you came on the podium and you see everybody down, you know, with the flames, with the flags, with the chainsaws, you know, like it’s just amazing.
After riding so well last year and not quite getting the championship in the final round to beat Jett Lawrence and win the motocross of nations, how much does that mean to you? Because a lot of people in America think you almost get a lot of respect by beating Jett and the Americans at the nations as well as just winning the world title. That’s really key. How much does that still mean to you when you look back to it?
I mean, definitely was a really good race, you know, especially after losing a title one week before that race. I was quite down, you know, because you work all year, you know, I was so close, I was having a red plate for, let’s say, most of the races. But then just slight little mistake in China and, yeah, we lost quite a lot of points and everything. And then Spain, I just didn’t quite well, you know, I was there, but Jorge was better on that last race.
And I mean, on the end, looking back, I think we both deserve a championship because we both wrote really good. We were both consistent, like always in front. But, yeah, then going to Motley Basin, I wanted to do well, you know, that’s my favourite track.
The ground, I mean, how they prepare the track with a little bit of rain was super deep, super technical. I like these kind of conditions when the track gets super rough, deep. So you have to really use the experience, you know, use, let’s say, your brain, you know, to create some lines.
And, yeah, we had good races there and going 1-1 with so many legends, so many good riders.
It was like an all-star race, wasn’t it?
Exactly. And to go 1-1, that was really a highlight. And, yeah, I was really happy, especially, like I said, losing a title a week before.
The whole world was watching! Did you plan on it in the lap or was that just a moment? You saw Jett go wide, you thought I’m going down the inside?
That was like, you know, the corner before was like tabletop. And then a left corner going up into the triple. Like, I remember like half a lap to go. I was already quite far, like two, three seconds. And then I just didn’t give up. I was just pushing until the end.
Then I found a really nice line in that left-hander before going on the triple. So, I opened up nicely the corner, you know, so I could cut more the corner when I make a pass. And, yeah, it was amazing, you know. Actually, in my career, I never did a pass just two corners to the end and win the race.
So, you know, to do it on such a big event, the biggest one, you know. Let’s say, Olympic Games in our sport. And, yeah, it was amazing.
The whole place just erupted all around! It was crazy.
I could hear that. I could hear that!
Finally, the way you were riding last season was brilliant with the consistency, the speed against Jeffrey and Jorge. The level you were at was really high. But this year, it almost feels like you’re riding even better. Do you feel last year and now this year is the best form of your career?
I feel really good. I feel like we had a really good winter. We did some big changes to my bike. And I feel the most comfortable that I felt in the past couple of years. So, yeah, overall, from the feeling, you know, to what I can do on the bike and how I feel, definitely is one of the best.
You know, I had great seasons. Seasons when I won the title, so I was riding well as well. But, yeah, I feel really comfortable this year.
It looks like you can just put the bike wherever you want. It’s tracking over all the bumps really good, from what I could say. And if you want to change the line, you can just go there. Is that how it feels?
Exactly. That’s the biggest change, what actually, you know, we did. You know, it’s really easy to handle and really comfortable, you know. I have a little bit more trust in the front as well.
Brilliant performance today again. Thank you.
