It was a weekend that pushed even the best to their limits, but Camden McLellan rose to the occasion at one of the gnarliest GPs of the year in Lommel. The South African showed grit and determination to overcome a tough start in the second moto and still land himself back on the MX2 podium. Despite carrying a shoulder injury and still searching for the perfect bike setup, McLellan delivered when it mattered most and reminded everyone of his potential in the deep sand. We caught up with McLellan to reflect on the weekend, his development this season, teammate dynamics, and putting South Africa back on the motocross map.
GateDrop: Camden, I think everyone had to work hard today around that track and especially in that second moto, not the greatest of starts but you made it happen. I told you on Friday I could see you in the box and you delivered but it must feel amazing to get a podium again…
McLellan: Yeah for sure, it’s been a long time coming, a lot of frustration since the race win in Arco. You know, it’s not been a great run of races for me since then so I’m happy to finally put it on the box, it’s been a long time coming like I said so hopefully we can keep this up. The second moto was tough, the whole weekend was tough actually, it was a long one and it was really tough this year. Saturday especially with the rain and then like we said in the press conference, the track was a bit strange so we had to work for it but it’s how it comes and it’s how it is so anyway it landed on the box so I’m happy.
GateDrop: Actually Loket even though the results maybe weren’t great on paper, I actually thought you rode really really well in terms of speed, did you feel the same and was that good for the confidence coming here because obviously maybe that’s your weak area, slick hard pack, so to be that fast there is a bonus?
McLellan: The paper doesn’t show it at all but I was really good at Loket, really good. In the second moto there was a lot of potential, I just couldn’t really get around Guillem (Farres) but anyway there was a lot of potential all weekend, I had been fast in time practice, warm-up, but only on the paper it didn’t show. For the confidence I knew what I was capable of and I know what I’m capable of on the hard pack so there is the stigma of just being a good sand rider but I think in the next couple of hard pack GPs… Sweden, I like that track a lot, I think we can put it on the box there as well.
GateDrop: MX2 is very deep this year but this weekend it was kind of the de Wolf show, what was it like, you sort of rode close to him there in that first moto, what was it like riding behind him and even though you’re happy with the podium, you know you have a bit of work to do to try and catch him in these conditions anyway?
McLellan: Yeah, I don’t think I’m far off, you know and I still believe… I gave it everything today but on a training day or I think in certain type of scenarios if this was a training day and the track was like that, I think I could still go a second maybe two seconds faster. Whether it’s the pressure or not, I don’t know, I was feeling also like low on energy today and I still feel I could ride a little bit better. I’m happy with the podium but ideally I would like to be fighting with Kay. I don’t believe he’s that much better than me in sand or anywhere actually, so anyway a good podium but there is still a step to go like you said.
GateDrop: I think last week you were pretty banged up from your shoulder, what was that like, the deal you had throughout the week, maybe the prep wasn’t 100% but out there I mean you were going so fast, I highly doubt it bothered you that much?
McLellan: With the adrenaline during the races it helps a lot but towards the end of both moto’s I was getting really stiff. I think I’m compensating with my neck and my back when I’m pulling the bike, I’m starting to do a little bit like awkward kind of pull and then the last five minutes of each moto I’m really stiff on my neck. I started to do a little bit like this and then I struggled in the right hand turn so another 5% that’s left out there with the sore shoulders. But anyway I brought it through and I managed it pretty well. I mean I was a little bit nervous because on Wednesday after riding I was feeling pretty bad so it was positive.
GateDrop: At the start of the season you didn’t look too comfortable with the bike but today I mean you looked very comfortable, has there been many changes made to the bike to get you more comfortable and what sort of things have you changed?
McLellan: It’s been tough. I’ve been searching a little bit with suspension and we have a great package, we have a great bike but I’ve just been struggling the last couple weeks to get it right with the suspension. A lot of my Saturday is used up trying to find a good setting rather than trying to work together with the track and find a good flow. I think that’s hindering me a little bit so this weekend we made a good step in the sand which is actually where I’ve been struggling more on the bike so I think going to Arnhem and those kind of races we have a better base now. It means from the get-go I can be better which I think is going to help a lot. For the hard pack we’re pretty good like last week we found again a pretty good setting I was searching on Saturday and then we found a pretty good setting so for both sand and hard pack we have pretty good base now so that’s very reassuring for me.
GateDrop: Your teammate, Guillem Farres, he’s starting to improve quite a lot from the start of the season… What’s it like when you go with him at a practice track, is it good that you’re maybe a similar pace now and that helps instead of just riding around in your own?
McLellan: He’s really good. Even in the sand he’s really good when it’s not crazy heavy like today because he is a smaller rider. When it gets like this it becomes a bit more difficult for him I think. But he’s very fast so it is good and last year there was Mikkel (Haarup). I could chase Mikkel and ride with Mikkel and that brought me a step up and then this year especially the off-season in Spain on those type of tracks Guillem’s been really good so it’s been quite similar. We’re pushing each other during the trainings and we have Clement (Desalle) there as well. He’s helping us find a balance between pushing safely and pushing the limits and we’re on the limit but safe and that’s brought me a whole new level of speed so it’s been good with Guillem.
GateDrop: It’s been a brilliant day for South African motocross, it’s not every day two riders from South Africa are on the box. You must be pleased to see that and you’re able to put South Africa on the motocross map…
McLellan: For sure. I mean South African motocross is close to nothing so for Calvin and I to be doing what we’re doing coming from where we come from… I think it’s really special and I hope that over the next few years we can continue this and maybe be fighting for world championships. You never know and then bring the sport back up to where it was when we were producing multiple world champions, AMA champions and all of that kind of stuff.
GateDrop: Mikkel Haarup, do you still keep in contact with him? Are you following his races and what do you think of him in America – he was fifth last year in MX2 and he’s fifth there at the minute and he doesn’t even know the tracks…
McLellan: I think it’s really impressive what he’s doing especially if you look at Tom (Vialle) and Jorge (Prado). What Mikkel is doing over there on the Triumph, but it’s pretty different from what I’ve heard and they have the regulations so it’s the same bike but it’s actually pretty different at the same time. He has the short practices to get to learn the tracks, I think he’s doing a really good job to be honest. I’m still good with Mikkel, I actually miss him and I never thought I’d be saying that (laughs). Now it’s cool to see him doing well and I mean he’s fifth right now in the championship and the first Triumph rider so that’s pretty impressive.
GateDrop: It was a contract year for you, have you signed anything for the next couple of years yet?
McLellan: I don’t know…
GateDrop: We’ll still be seeing you in MX2 next year, right?
McLellan: You are smiling and I’m smiling so… (laughs).
