One rider that looks to have improved a lot this year is Swedish talent, Arvid Lüning in what is his second year racing the MX2 World Championship. Last year he raced as a privateer but signed with the Young Motion powered by Resa coming into the 2024 season and it looks to have been a good move for the Swede.
For 2025, he will age out of the MX2 World Championship so he’ll be racing a bigger bike next year but that is something he’s looking forward to. Ahead of his home GP this weekend, we caught up with Lüning to discuss a range of topics.
GateDrop: Arvid, you signed with a team this year with the Young Motion powered by Resa team. How is everything going with the team?
Lüning: Yes I did. I have been a privateer pretty much all the time but for this season I signed with the Young Motion powered by Resa team after they offered quite a good deal for some selected mx2 GP’s. It’s been pretty good and they do what they can with their resources. At home I’m still a privateer with help from GasGas Scandinavia and some kind sponsors and then the team handles the GP bikes and bring them to the races.
GateDrop: Last year you did more MX2 GP’s if I remember correctly but as a privateer. How was it being a privateer – not easy I imagine!
Lüning: Last year was my first year doing GP’s after riding the EMX class. I did 12 rounds as a privateer so was quite a lot but it was really good for me. This year will be 11 with a few ones that I do on my own. It was for sure hectic to do all 12 rounds as a privateer last year, mostly with everything around the racing. Driving, preparing the bikes etc. So for this year the plan was to get some more time over for training. But still it’s not bad to do it in your own when you can have your bikes and be used to them. I have struggled a little bit this year to adapt to the teams bikes on a GP weekend even though we try to have them as similar as the ones at home as possible. But when you don’t live by the team and can ride them more frequently it’s not easy.
GateDrop: You have to drive to most GP’s I believe from Sweden, again that must be pretty difficult?
Lüning: Yes we do. Unfortunately, Sweden is not the best place to live when traveling around Europe by car. But this year I’ve been able to fly to some races which saves some time. But it’s also quite nice to have your van on a GP weekend.
GateDrop: How have you found the GP’s you have raced this year? You have had some good results, mostly in the sand at Riola and Lommel. You must have been happy with those two GP’s in particular?
Lüning: Yes for sure Riola and Lommel was pretty good with both races inside the top 15. It’s been a few up and downs but overall it’s been pretty good scoring points in most races!
GateDrop: What is it like racing the MX2 World Championship? Sure, there might not be 40 riders at each round but the level still looks really, really high…
Lüning: Yes the level is for sure really high, I mean it’s the best in the world. You have the factory guys who are really good riders with really good equipment which puts them a bit in a league of their own but I try to be as good as I can.
GateDrop: Your home GP at Sweden takes place this weekend, you must be excited! How do you feel heading there – let’s hope for no rain this year!
Lüning: Yes I’m really excited and it’s something you look forward to every year, having a lot of Swedish fans cheering you on. It’s a really cool feeling… I feel really good riding wise so I’m excited and hope to have a good weekend. Unfortunately I have a really sore eye after last weekends Swedish championship were I had to ride a few laps without goggles so I really hope it gets better before the weekend!
GateDrop: Hard pack is probably the area you need to improve, do you spend much time in the hard pack conditions?
Lüning: Both yes and no. I feel like I’m pretty good at hard pack as well but I tend to do a bit better in the sand. I think bike set up wise it’s a bit easier in the sand… you just make the bike quite chopper and it feels pretty good while on hard pack you need to find a bit more balance. As for this year the GasGas was a new chassis so it’s taken me a little time to get more comfortable on hard pack but I think I’ve found a pretty good setting now. But also around the year I do spend a lot of time riding sand in the winter and the hard pack tracks in Sweden is a bit too simple compared to most GP tracks. Also I think my fitness helps me a lot on the sand races. But I try to spend as much time as possible on hard pack during the summer.
GateDrop: You have also been racing the Swedish championship and won a few rounds I think, how is that series going for you?
Lüning: Yes I’m riding the full Swedish championship as well. It started really well and I had the red plate for the first 3 rounds but then it just hasn’t gone my way really. Not because of my riding or lack of trying but sometimes it just be like that. I’m currently 3rd in the championship.
GateDrop: This year I believe is your last year on the 250cc – at least in GP’s, how do you feel about that and what’s your opinion on the age rule?
Lüning: Yes it is. I’m actually looking forward to getting on a bigger bike as I think I’m ready for that and that it probably will suit me better. On the age rule I don’t know really, in the EMX I think it’s good but at the GP level maybe not, especially when the gates are not full. Maybe there should be more of a result based system like in the US.
GateDrop: Have you done any laps on a 450cc yet and is the plan to race a bigger bike in 2025?
Lüning: Yes the plan for 2025 is to ride the 450cc. I haven’t ridden any 450cc yet but I have spent quite a lot of time on 350’s earlier and I really like it. For me I think I just ride better with more power. I like to ride technical and smooth and not just hang it out. Also, I’m a little big for the 250cc now so I’m looking forward to the bigger bike. I really want to keep riding internationally so my goal is definitely to do good this year and get some teams attention to find a 450cc ride for next year!
