After enduring several years plagued by injuries and setbacks, Norwegian talent Håkon Fredriksen is back on track in 2025, using this season as a year to rebuild, regain confidence, and enjoy racing again. While competing primarily in Norway, Fredriksen recently reminded everyone of his raw speed by winning two motos at the ADAC MX Masters round in Tensfeld, showcasing just how well he adapts to the 450cc. In this interview, he reflects on his challenging MX2 years, his love for the big bike, his plans for Lommel and Uddevalla GPs, and what the future could hold as he works towards a full-time return to the international stage in 2026.
GateDrop: Hakon, we haven’t seen too much of you in the GP paddock the past few years. You’ve had a lot of injuries – just how tough has it been to deal with all the setbacks? I feel like you never got to show your true potential in MX2…
Fredriksen: That’s right. I’ve had a rough few years with injuries and sickness. The setbacks have been huge but at the same time I tried to learn from everything that’s happened. So afterwards I’ve gotten a lot stronger from it and I think it can help me in some situations. Yes, about my MX2 career, it’s been bumpy let’s say (laughs). I am a bit heavy for the 250cc but still when I’ve had good bikes I’ve had good results.
GateDrop: I believe this year is a rebuilding year mainly racing in Norway. Was that a tough decision to make as I am sure you really want to race at the highest level?
Fredriksen: Exactly. This year is a year to really come back in shape, enjoy riding and enjoy the process. I do all maintenance on my bikes myself with help from my father when he has the time. To train, ride, be a mechanic and work at the same time can be difficult but I like it. The decision was actually not that hard to make. I want to have a health that I can live with for the rest of my life after my career as well. So I found out after three years of issues it’s time to prioritize a bit different and work hard to land something for 2026.
GateDrop: So far how has your 2025 season been going?
Fredriksen: It’s been okay. I’ve had some ups and downs but overall a good one. Was not able to start riding until March this year but I feel like I take new steps every day actually. It’s really nice that things starts to go my way a bit now these days.
GateDrop: You raced your first ADAC MX Masters event of the season at Tensfeld – coming into the event what were your expectations/feeling? It’s been quite a while since you’ve raced at a high level… Any nervous?
Fredriksen: I had no expectations really. I know I’m fast in the sand if I’m happy and feel good. So, my main goal this weekend was to just be here, have fun and take it as a practice for the rest of the season. Not really nervous but always some butterflies before every gate drop.
GateDrop: You ended up winning two moto’s – talk me through your weekend?
Fredriksen: The weekend started really good with the fastest lap time in timed practice! I had a good feeling going in to the races. A decent gate drop in the first moto but I got closed from the outside going in to the corner. I was around 15-20 after the start but worked my way quickly up to second and could close down the leader and pass for the lead with some laps to go. The second moto I did a poor start and hit the back of a start crash so I got away around 30-35. I did a big push and after twelve minutes I was in the lead! After colliding with some guys in the first corner I bent my brake disc and suddenly the wheel stopped going in to a corner. I got thrown of head first in to a bump. Got back up in eighth and passed my way to fifth, then the wheel locked up again. I crashed again head first and decided to stop the moto. The last moto I did a good start, was in the lead after four corners and pulled a gap that I could comfortably control to the finish. I’m happy about the weekend, to see my speed against some pretty good riders and fitness is getting there as well.
GateDrop: That first moto, wow! You were just passing everybody and leaving them – just how were you feeling inside? You then won the last moto too, did you expect this coming into the weekend?
Fredriksen: I knew I could fight for the win but to come from far behind the two first moto’s and also check out in the last one was a bit unexpected.
GateDrop: A couple of crashes in the second one, that second one looked like a tough one, it’s a shame because you’d have probably won the overall…
Fredriksen: The crashes in the second moto was a shame but that’s racing. I already had a little gap after a lap in front so I felt I could win that moto as well.
GateDrop: Plans for the rest of 2025? I believe you’ll race two MXGP rounds at Lommel and Uddevalla – what are the goals for those races or is it just to enjoy?
Fredriksen: The plan is to race Lommel GP and Uddevalla GP. I’ll also be racing the rest of the Swedish and Norwegian championships. To finish the year I will do Gotland grand national. The goal is to just enjoy the two GP’s I race and have fun with it.
GateDrop: You seem to really match the 450cc really well – we seen that at Assen for the MXoN and at the ADAC, what is it about the bigger bike you love so much?
Fredriksen: I like the power of the 450cc, but also the power curve. You can really use the bottom and roll on high gears. As I am a big rider so I feel like I suit the big bike better.
GateDrop: You clearly are loving the sand, have you done much hard pack riding and if so how do you feel in those conditions?
Fredriksen: I’ve for the most part ridden hard pack this year because that’s where I feel I need to improve the most. It’s also where I really need the bike to work good to go fast. In the sand I can muscle my way through. But I feel comfortable in both types of tracks.
GateDrop: I was speaking to Cornelius Tondel the other week and he isn’t sure about Norway sending a team to the MXoN but with you, him and Kevin it would be a super strong team (just need to see who’ll race MX2 or Osterhagen could be an option). I am sure you are hoping they send a team to Ironman?
Fredriksen: For sure. It would have been a pleasure and such a cool experience to go there. I’m down to go, that’s for sure. It’s a shame if we don’t go, team Norway has been really unlucky the last times at the nations, but we are a good team on paper. So I believe on a really really good day with some luck on our side we are a top 5 team.
GateDrop: For 2026, will we be back seeing you racing at a high level – what do you plan on doing next year as of right now?
Fredriksen: We will see. It depends what deals that comes around. I have a really nice group of people behind me, and I enjoy it a lot as well. So it needs to be a pretty good deal if I would change that.
GateDrop: Worst case, if you don’t attract a good team, what are your options as a privateer? It’s not easy… I hope to see you race plenty of MXGP rounds next year – could AMA even be an option?
Fredriksen: Privateer life is not easy. It is a lot of work and money being spent, but we will see for next year. AMA has always been a dream so that would be really fun. I want to thank everyone that helps and supports me, It means the world to me and without out you guys it would actually not be possible to keep going.
