Jan Pancar continues to prove why he’s one of the most underrated riders in the sport at the moment – he just continues to keep getting better. Representing Slovenia at the 2025 Motocross of Nations in Ironman, Pancar not only impressed with his raw speed against some of the sport’s biggest names but also played a key role in securing his country’s best-ever result at the prestigious event.
Despite operating out of a small, family-run setup with his father as his main support, the Slovenian rider showed incredible determination and composure – battling factory stars like RJ Hampshire and finishing fifth overall in the Open class.
We caught up with Pancar as he reflected on his first trip to America, his experience racing the Ironman track, and the pride of flying the Slovenian flag on the world stage. He also discussed his demanding MXGP season, his future plans, and the ongoing challenges of competing at the highest level without factory backing.
GateDrop: Jan, the first time for you in America, first time racing the Motocross des Nations in America, you showed some people in America your speed, you must be happy with your weekend?
Pancar: I mean yeah, a good start, almost a holeshot and then just riding some good times in second and then third. I had some battles with RJ (Hampshire), it was quite crazy, you can see the setup, it’s just me and my dad and we are fighting with the top guys, it’s really nice. The second moto, I didn’t recover good enough, I was just tired and then I had a bit of crash, so I lost some positions but 5th overall in the open class it’s really good.
GateDrop: I mean Slovenia, it’s such a small country, it’s not a motocross country, but I think you can be very proud, I mean this is the first time for Slovenia being here and it was a good decision to come?
Pancar: You know, you need a big budget to come here with three riders and all the logistics. It looks like it pays off, you know, we did the best result ever to get in the top five with 2 million people in the country, I think it’s a really good result. We joke that the next time we have to go for the podium. It’s unbelievable.
GateDrop: I was in the press conference there, and RJ Hampshire said he still doesn’t know who you are, can you just talk me through the battle with him? I didn’t think it was that bad to be honest, just a little brake check, and he didn’t see it coming…
Pancar: Actually I didn’t want to do a brake check, but I just came a bit too hot in the corner and lost the balance to the outside, so I couldn’t go with the clutch. I was, you know, I wanted to wait so he couldn’t cross over me, but I didn’t want to stop as much. I said sorry after the race, but I heard he did a lot of mistakes but he was really fast so it was a good race for him.
GateDrop: In that second moto, I mean you were right at the sharp end, how did it feel to be right up there battling with those guys, it must have felt amazing and some new competition as well?
Pancar: Yeah, I mean to be only fifteen seconds behind Hunter (Lawrence) is not bad for a privateer so it was really nice. Getting that start, and not getting roosted, just riding your own race is really fun.
GateDrop: What was your thoughts on the track, it did get pretty rough and pretty technical, but it’s still fast, so you still have to commit out there, it must be tricky that way, you don’t really have tracks like that in Europe I would say?
Pancar: Yeah, it was quite tricky. It was really fast, and a lot more slippery than it looks, because a lot of wood chips, so you were sliding all the time. You had to be really precise with the 450cc, maybe one gear up to be more mellow. The track was really very challenging but I think it was good for the racing, and I hope the fans enjoyed it.
GateDrop: What was it like racing an American track for the first time for you, did you enjoy it, something different?
Pancar: Yeah, of course, I was coming here, I didn’t know how it was going to be, it’s like a different piece but it’s really similar, it’s just a bit more open and bigger which is good. There are more passing opportunities and big jumps, that’s always fun so I liked it.
GateDrop: On your MXGP season, how would you sum it up, I mean you’ve got to be happy, a two man team like you say, putting in thousands of kilometers in your camper, you must be happy with what you’re doing.
Pancar: Of course, it is a shame that I had some small injuries. I broke my finger, had food poisoning and I didn’t have any time off with the finger. Even today I had to take some pain killers, so it’s still painful but it’s not limiting me, it’s just a struggle. I think the second part of the season was really good, the speed was there, and if I get the start I can ride in the top five, for sure.
GateDrop: Just on Australia, what was your thoughts on that, going to Darwin, first experience, the track looked pretty good, just a shame that the crazy rain came which cancelled the second moto but what was your thoughts on it, and did you enjoy it?
Pancar: The track was actually really nice but again, I had some problems, I mean when I was flying to China, I got a little bit sick but I had to race, so I raced. On Monday I was completely done, and the whole week I just lay in bed, and I was okay for the weekend, but not 100%. It was a bit of a struggle, because I wasn’t 100%, but the track was really nice, and the dirt was nice. I look forward to going there again, the only problem is that it’s far away and really hot so it’s not easy.
GateDrop: You never even got a weekend off, you were busy racing in Arco di Trento last week, you didn’t get the overall win but you were battling with Valerio Lata, how was that? He really impressed me, to be honest…
Pancar: He impressed me too, he rode really good. I had a bad first moto, I struggled with the shock, I was fourth in the first moto but then the second moto we changed some stuff and it was much better. I could really push, so I caught him up, and in the end he did a mistake so I won. The pace was really high and it was a good race to come here, and take the shock from Europe to here because if it was good there, it looks like it was good here.
GateDrop: I mean, you’ve done 20 GPs this year, the MXoN, the Italian championship, you must be running on empty, just how tired are you?
Pancar: I mean, I have two more races.
GateDrop: Two more? What are they?
Pancar: It’s just national races in Slovenia. In Bresice and then my home race – they’re the next two weeks. It’s more of, you know, just going there for the fans, for my home club. It’s not like I have a huge competition so it’s going to be more of a fun race but I still have to go there and race.
GateDrop: Then after that, when you finally get a break, have you got a holiday planned to take your girlfriend away?
Pancar: Yes, I booked the tickets for Tenerife for twelve days. But probably already there I will go in the gym, because after one week I will be probably like, okay, now this is getting boring, I need to start training. Of course it will be two weeks probably with no bike, but then already we start, because I see the new calendar, we already start in February. It’s really early.
GateDrop: So, plans for next year then? It does sound like you’ll be racing MXGP again?
Pancar: Yeah, it looks like it. It’s really hard to push someone out of the factory team, you know, because all the spots are full, so unfortunately it looks like I’m not getting a spot. So, yeah, it’s really sad, but it looks like we can be competitive in the setup we have. We will try our best next year and that’s why I want to train as soon as possible to be, you know, one step better next year and really be there as a top five rider.
GateDrop: I mean, did you have any talks with teams, any phone calls? Surely you would have got a few offers?
Pancar: Actually, it was not good, really. Nobody contacted me. I contacted some teams and there was almost no response but it is what it is.
GateDrop: How many more years do you think you can run with this structure? I mean, it’s very hard on your Dad as well, it’s not just you…
Pancar: Of course, you know, that still Dad still has a job and then it’s a problem, you know. You have to go to the job and then work at home, go to the races. So, it’s hard to say, but for sure we do next year and maybe some more. But it’s a goal to do as good as possible next year and get that team and then it will be easier.
GateDrop: I know one thing you’d like to do is throughout winter to leave Slovenia, you know, to get a bit of sand riding in. Is that likely to happen? Probably not because you’re still going to be at home?
Pancar: The problem is I can’t really go alone, you know, because my Dad works but I will try to go for more weeks to Sardinia. Last year I was there for two weeks, so we try to go again. I don’t know but maybe I will get someone to go with me to have a mechanic. It’s going to be expensive, but I think it’s important before the season to get that hours on the bike to be ready. I will try that.
