Andrea Adamo might not have the reputation of a sand specialist, but his performance at a brutally rough Lommel proved otherwise. The Italian impressed with a strong first moto and showed promising speed again in the second—despite an early crash ruining any shot at the podium. The 2023 MX2 World Champion spoke to us about his progress in the sand, the physical demands of the iconic Belgian track, and his mindset heading into the final stretch of the season, where the goal is clear: go for the win at every round.
GateDrop: Andrea, two very different motos. The first moto, fantastic, considering you’re not supposed to be the sand specialist. Second moto, what can you do when that sort of thing happens… But the speed was really really good and until maybe three laps to go I think you can be really happy with the way you rode…
Adamo: Yes, I’m really happy. It was, let’s say, really a bummer that I had a start crash in the second moto. They pushed me from the inside to the outside and then Valk fell on me. It was just really unlucky. Otherwise I think it could have been a really good day and a good podium. Honestly, Kay (de Wolf) he’s good and we know that. But I’m really happy about my weekend. Let’s say, until the second moto it was really good. Second and third… I think with a good start I was potentially also fighting for the top three in the second moto.
GateDrop: A couple of years ago I thought you were already pretty decent in the sand. Obviously last year, everyone knows, the whole year didn’t really go how you wanted. But it feels like this year you’re better than ever in the sand, would you agree? I suppose that’s lots of laps in the Dutch sand helping you do that?
Adamo: I agree with you. Of course, every year the goal is to improve a little bit everywhere. One place where we had to improve was sand. I feel pretty good, and I honestly can say that we are there. After Kay I’m there and we know that Kay is one of the best riders in the world. So it’s super good to be there, you know.
GateDrop: At the same time you must be looking forward to Sweden though, because they are more your conditions and you’re probably going to go there to win and with anything else, you’ll probably be a little bit disappointed…
Adamo: Yes, unfortunately we had a penalty after the qualifying race, so I lost five points yesterday.
GateDrop: Oh really? when did you find out about that?
Adamo: We found out yesterday evening so I’m a little bit back in the points again otherwise it could have been really a good day. But yeah, from now on I have to say that we have to go for the win at almost every round still to go. That’s the plan and that’s what I’ll try to do.
GateDrop: Just on Lommel, even for Lommel standards this year, that was nasty. Did you enjoy it?
Adamo: I enjoyed it.
GateDrop: Really? (laughs)
Adamo: Because last year I was injured a little bit so I didn’t race last year at Lommel. But I have the feeling that this year was worse than last year. Because of the rain on Saturday it made the track really, really soft. So already in the qualifying race it was bumpy and more or less like the first moto the other years. For me it was crazy how the track was, there were bumps that were bigger than a person.
GateDrop: But talk me through how you guys go so fast in those conditions. I wouldn’t even want to walk around the track and you guys are flying around it. Just talk me through a lap around Lommel. It must be so difficult to go that fast….
Adamo: No, actually to do a lap is okay, but to do 30 minutes plus two laps, I think you really bring the body to the limit. It’s not easy and it’s the same technique that I discovered not many years ago, just a couple of years ago and of course I still have to improve.
GateDrop: In terms of next year, has there been a decision made yet if it’s going to be MX2 or MXGP or not yet?
Adamo: Not yet.
GateDrop: Are you looking forward to getting to the Ironman MXoN provided you get selected for Italy which you should?
Adamo: I hope that I’m going to go to the US and that it’s the best race of the year. I’m always looking forward to being there and to defend my country.
