We caught up with a flying Ben Watson who went top ten in his first Grand Prix on the Dirt Store Triumph and showed a glimpse of his true potential on the 450 machine in what was a stacked MXGP class underlining the level of talent the amiable Brit really has.
Watson went 8-16 for 13th overall but it could have been even better if it wasn’t for an unfortunate start straight crash at the beginning of moto two that left Watson dead last and forced to charge through the field.
Hear about his weekend and impressive start to the season on his new British team and machine below:
Ben, you’re back in the Grand Prix paddock after missing round one. After a strong ride in the British Championship, what are your thoughts on GP weekend overall?
Yeah, it’s been a positive weekend. It ended on a bit of a downer with a crash halfway down the start straight. Looking back at it, I don’t really feel like there was much I could have done. But overall, I’ll take a lot of positives from it.
We had a solid day yesterday—P9 in the qualifying race—and then a really strong first moto today. Honestly, I feel better after this weekend than I did after winning in Hawkstone, just because of where I am right now and understanding my position compared to the last few years. So overall, we’ll forget about the last race and focus on the positives.
You still picked up points in that final race, and in the first moto you were closing in on riders like Kay de Wolf, Ruben Fernandez, and others. Did your confidence grow as the race went on?
Yeah, definitely. It’s quite difficult because when I get a good start, I’m not always used to running that pace right at the front in the opening laps. But that’s something I did well yesterday—good first laps, then I settled into my race.
This morning in the first moto, I didn’t have a great start, but I managed to cut underneath and came out around 12th or 13th. From there I just worked my way forward, passing guys like Kay de Wolf and Jonass. I could see Andrea Adamo ahead and followed him across the line. With a couple more laps, maybe I could have made another pass. It felt really good to be back in that mix with those riders and teams, proving to myself that I belong there.
Does this feel like one of the first times on a 450 that you’ve really shown your true potential
Yeah, I think so. The MXGP class is unbelievably stacked. Honestly, even getting into the top 10 is something to be proud of. I feel like we’ve done a really good job over the winter, and this is just the first GP of the season. There’s a long way to go, so we’ll keep building, stay positive, and keep working in this direction.
In previous years, even when results didn’t stand out, people don’t always realise how hard it is just to finish around 10th–15th in this class.
Exactly. You’re fighting for 35 minutes plus two laps just to get those positions. It’s tough.
I’ve always worked hard, no matter what situation I’ve been in, and I feel like I’ve been consistent, but maybe not always at my maximum. Now, with the bike I have, I feel like I can take that next step again—like when I was racing with guys like Jorge Prado and Hunter Lawrence back in 2018.
And does the engine, the bike just suit the way you ride and all more? Is it more torquey the way you like to ride the bike?
I guess so. I mean, I’ve got my style and I ride and I don’t know, yeah, I just feel like the bike is suiting me at the moment. We’ve definitely got a little bit of stuff still to work on, it’s not perfect but as a package, you know, to be at the first GP and feeling like this, I think it’s definitely a positive.
And are you living back in England again? Or going between Belgium and England?
No, not Belgium now, just with the visa. Obviously, it’s 90 days now, it’s making it really difficult when you fit in all the races, how many days. That was one big reason, but also just at this point in my career, I just feel like it’s a good time to go back home, try and find that enjoyment and get that spark back.
Does it make it more of maybe like a hobby to enjoy just the process again as opposed to living in Belgium on your own and everything’s different and language and everything that comes with all that?
Yeah, definitely. The enjoyment is a big part of it. I mean, you’re not going to go fast if you’re not enjoying what you’re doing. So, that was a big part of it. Just to go back, spend more time with family, not even really spend time with friends, just, you know, I don’t have to see my friends from one year to the next and they’ll still be the same!
I’m always focused on my training and everything. So, it’s not like I’m going out or doing stuff more now I’m back home. It’s just, I don’t know, it’s just nice to have that change. It’s been in Belgium since 2017 and yeah, it’s not the most exciting country if I’m honest!
You said quite an interesting thing on the Vital Podcast with Lewis, that you’re not a motocross fan, but you must be a fan of riding motocross. Were you just good at it or did you really love riding but never really watched every weekend?
I think it’s more just like, more lately. You know, when you’ve been riding a bike so much and you go out, you train, you do all your cycling, you do all your work and then at one moment when you get home, you’re like, ‘I don’t want to sit there and watch more bikes.’
I go home to get away and spend time with my girlfriend and my family. My dad absolutely loves it. He’ll sit there at the dinner table and he’ll put motocross on and I’m like, I don’t want to watch this. This is my downtime now. I’ve been riding all day, I want to come home and kind of get away from it.
I obviously enjoy the riding and actually this year is probably the most I’ve enjoyed my winter training and my riding. So, yeah, I’m actually loving the racing and the training side more than ever. It’s not that I don’t like motocross but it’s just, you know, when I get away from these races and stuff, I like to just have some downtime doing other things.
Did you ever feel pressure growing up because you were like the next big thing from your new age really and even now in GPs you’re the leading guy. Does that ever get in your head that you’re representing the GP at the highest level or are you able to put that away somewhere and not worry about it?
No, not really to be honest. I feel like since I’ve been in the GPs, especially when Max left because obviously Max was the British guy and then there was obviously Shaun and Tommy and I was never (the main guy), I was like the one coming through.
But as a kid in the UK, like I won a lot of stuff so people always had their eye on me and then when I started doing Europeans and stuff, I got a lot more of attention. When Max moved to America, Tommy went solely UK based and then I was kind of left here on my own – just me and Adam (Sterry) really.
We’ve got some good kids coming up through the Europeans, obviously Billy Askew, my teammate and then Joe Brookes and a few 125 guys so, yeah, hopefully they can keep progressing and fill my shoes when I stop, which hopefully isn’t any time soon!
Final question, if Lewis Phillips is watching a race with you, Chase Sexton, Jeffrey Herlings and Max Anstie, who does he want to win the most?!
I’d like to say me! I mean, Max, he’s very close friends with Max because obviously they both live in America and Lewis and Max have been, you know, boys for a while. Lewis is, yeah, just a good friend. He’s not, I don’t see him as like, you know, one of those big media guys because he is, he is actually a big thing now and especially in America.
So, don’t know, I feel like he’s probably closest with me and Max over the other two! I think it’d be hard between me and Max. I’d probably say Max.
I think he’d be stressed!
Yeah, he would!
Great to see you going so good again in the GPs and getting the results you deserve.
Yeah, thank you.
