It’s an exciting time for Ben Watson as he’s gearing up for his rookie MXGP rookie season and he’ll make his MXGP debut next weekend at Russia. The young Brit has bags of talent and potential, and has been strong in pre-season.
The Factory Yamaha rider has been discussing his pre-season with Adam Wheeler and how it’s different from last year.
“Last year was a strange one because nobody was riding. Everyone was stuck at home just waiting. Once we could get to the tracks that were open then the time went quickly,” Monster Energy Yamaha’s Ben Watson, an athlete based in the MXGP ‘hotspot’ of northern Belgium, told Adam Wheeler. “This year feels like a much longer time without a race. We’ve been riding and training constantly without much of a break since the off-season.”
Watson is going into his rookie MXGP season with a great attitude as it’s all about adapting to the class and continuing to learn as much as possible.
“I don’t have any extra nerves because this is my first MXGP year and the team have been very supportive in that way,” he says. “They want me to learn and to keep ‘building’ as much as I can. Getting used to the 450 has not been a huge challenge because I’ve been given a great package from the word ‘go’ and I trust it. It’s already been proven. Racing is different to training but it’s been enjoyable. I’ve been getting used to the new engine and not messing around too much with suspension because I still have a lot to learn about the 450.”
“I feel like we have been training and riding for so long now without a race,” he added. “That’s weird. But everyone’s in the same boat. I’m not too frustrated because it’s out of everyone’s hands”, concluded Watson.
Quotes via Adam Wheeler
Pic: Yamaha Racing