After steadily building momentum in both the Dutch Masters and the MX2 World Championship, Kay Karssemakers is beginning to show the kind of form that hints at a real breakthrough season. The young Dutchman delivered an assured and mature performance on a brutally rough circuit in Heerde, backing up his growing confidence with strong results and a clear belief that he belongs at the front. With consistency improving, guidance from a settled team around him, and progress evident week by week, Karssemakers opens up on his latest podium, his development in MX2, and why he feels his best results may still be to come.
GateDrop: Kay, first of all I don’t think this track has ever had a Dutch Masters, it had an ONK back in the day but it was brutal out there, did you enjoy it? I’m glad I was watching (laughs)…
Karssemakers: Yeah I enjoyed it, the track was quite rough, quite fast still but it was quite rough so no, I really enjoyed it today. It was a nice track and they prepped it really good. The first moto I got a bad start, I had a little problem before the gate and I was not so good in the first lap, I was around eighth or ninth before I worked my way up to second with actually good lap times and good riding. Then the hammer came with the big arm pump so I had to drop in the last two laps before the end. Valk passed me so I finished third. In the second moto I got a really good start in second and I just did my thing and finished second behind Janis. In the beginning I could follow him quite good, then I had to drop a little bit and then in the end I got the lap times again actually really good. I am really happy with the day and a lot of fans here so it was really nice to see and happy with the day.
GateDrop: I mean coming here, what did you expect? Did you expect to be like up there with the leading group? You looked pretty good all day I must say…
Karssemakers: Actually my goal was to be on the podium for sure and I think we’re not doing too bad so hopefully we can fight for the win maybe at the next round or the round after – that’s my goal.
GateDrop: One thing I noticed today is you were second in that second one and you looked quite calm maybe in the past you would have maybe been quite stressed because you wanted so badly but are you starting to believe now that you belong at the front?
Karssemakers: I think so yeah, the second moto I just really enjoyed it. I could play with the track and play with the bumps. I really enjoyed it so I’m really happy with that.
GateDrop: On the MX2 World Championship you know you’ve been building, building and building every week. I think the two rounds ago was your best round yet and then you beat it in Switzerland so you must be happy with the progress in MX2?
Karssemakers: For sure, it’s a bummer that I had a DNF in the second race in Argentina but if I didn’t have that, it would have also been eighth overall normally. Actually I’ve been pretty consistent and I’m quite happy about it. We keep on working really hard and hopefully we get some more better results.
GateDrop: I mean obviously MX2 you know it’s not like EMX250 there’s not 40 riders every weekend, sometimes people complain there’s only 20 riders in MX2 but I mean what’s the level like – everyone there is unbelievably fast?
Karssemakers: Yeah, if you see the lap times and stuff it’s really close also. You can see that everybody puts quite some gas so it is fast.
GateDrop: With Steve Dixon, you didn’t start last year there but it’s your second season with him. Has it helped you to have the same team coming into this season?
Karssemakers: Yeah, I think so. I know what it’s like and now the team is really good to me. They try to put the most effort they can so it’s really good. I’m really happy also with Kawasaki, they try to help me as much as possible and the same with Dixon as well.
GateDrop: Steve, what’s he like to work with? If he trusts you he sort of seems to let you do your own thing, is he like that with you and that must help you because you’ve got full trust?
Karssemakers: Yeah, I think so, yeah. He just lets me do my own thing and I will do all what I can. But for sure also today he said to me good luck and do your thing and then after the first and second moto, he sent me a message so now he’s looking and it’s nice to see.
GateDrop: You are working with William Saris, a former Dutch ONK champion I think, when did you start working with him – a few years ago?
Karssemakers: When I was racing the 85cc, I was working with him and then we had a period that we didn’t work together. Now again we are together, the past two years we are working together so I’m really happy. He helps me with everything. He was here today and he helps with everything. When we’re in the gym he also helps and he knows what I’m doing every day. Also at the track he’s there almost every day so it’s really nice to have a person like that.
GateDrop: How are you feeling in the hard pack at the moment obviously your best GP of your career was Switzerland I believe so have you been putting a lot of work in the hard pack to try and get better? Where did you spend the winter putting the laps in the hard pack becayse in Holland you only really have Lelystad?
Karssemakers: We did like 10 days in Spain and then I did some hard pack training but no too much actually. I would loved to have done a little bit more but still if you see Switzerland in the last two laps I did my best laps of the race and even got a purple sector so was really cool. Now I’m just working hard with the people around me and hopefully we get some good results.
GateDrop: Are you going to be doing the full Dutch Masters or still to be decided?
Karssemakers: No, normally I’m going to be doing the full Dutch Masters.
GateDrop: You are a championship contender then, is that your goal or do you just take these races to learn and prepare for the GP’s?
Karssemakers: Yes, we take it as learning I think. But if you see today, I did quite a good day with a third and second. I think we have to see for the next races but for sure my goal is to be at the front.
GateDrop: You did race some British championships last year you obviously didn’t race Hawkstone or Preston Docks. You’re not going to do the full championship but could we maybe see you do a few races in England or still to be decided?
Karssemakers: It still needs to be decided.
GateDrop: Would you like to do any?
Karssemakers: Yeah, I actually would but we have to see because it’s a busy schedule so now we have to also listen to my body and to see what’s the best for me.
