What a weekend it was for Jakub Teresak racing the EMX open class at the deep and gnarly sand of Lommel. 4-2 in the moto’s was enough for the Czech talent to take the overall win and beat plenty of sand specialists.
We caught up with Teresak to get his thoughts on his win and more which you can read, watch or listen to below:
GateDrop: Here at Lommel, that’s the EMX Open series done and you are champion. How does it feel?
Teresak: It was awesome for me. Like, I didn’t expect that. In the first moto I finished fourth, in the second race, second. So, it was awesome for me to win overall.
GateDrop: Obviously coming from Czech Republic, you don’t have conditions like that in Czech Republic, and you beat a lot of sandmen from the Netherlands and Belgium… It must feel pretty amazing…
Teresak: It’s crazy, I hated this track from the 65cc to the 250cc, and then I spent some time with JD Gunnex KTM here. Almost one year we trained here and then we made a track in Czech Republic, so I trained a lot of times there and it’s also deep sand, so I learned somehow there, and I’m super happy about it.
GateDrop: Can you just talk me through both of your moto’s?
Teresak: Yeah, I made very good starts. First moto, l I start third, then I get a little bit of arm pump and struggled with the track. Today I make the holeshot, Jere passed me, Haavisto, and so I just follow him, his lines, and I get the flow, and just doing a good moto, and I’m super happy about it.
GateDrop: Haavisto made a mistake, I think, with two or three laps to go, and then you got in the lead. I think he showed his real speed after that, but although at the same time where you just happy to take second because you knew you had the overall?
Teresak: Actually, I didn’t know that I won overall. I didn’t count on it, but I just followed and said to myself don’t crash and stay safe in second. So, he made a mistake two laps to go, so I pass him, and then he passed me half lap later, but second was okay.
GateDrop: Just how was the track yesterday and then today? They didn’t do too much levelling overnight, so I think it was rougher today?
Teresak: Yeah, I think it’s rougher today, but I like it more today because the track has more rhythm. Yesterday was very slippery on the bottom, so I like it more today.
GateDrop: Just on this season, I think your main focus is on the German ADAC championship. Just how is all that going for you?
Teresak: Yeah, I’m looking for the ADAC and Czech championship. It’s my main championships and some GP’s, but I don’t know, maybe Swiss I go, and we will see.
GateDrop: Are you happy with your season in Germany and Czech Republic?
Teresak: Yeah, I’m happy now. I’m second in Czech behind Max Nagl with four points or five points in it, so that’s good. In the ADAC I’m eighth overall after four or five races, so that’s good.
GateDrop: Last year, I think you raced a few AMA nationals. Just how was that experience racing in America?
Teresak: Yeah, it was super great. I make just one point. After the first race in Unadilla, I had some jet lag. We came on Thursday to the race, so I struggled with the jet lag, and the bike, you know, it’s all new. So that was hard, but in Budds Creek I felt much better, and I make one moto, one point, so it was very good.
GateDrop: Do you think you’ll maybe have an opportunity to go to America in the future? Obviously, there’s only three rounds left this year, but maybe next year?
Teresak: I hope I get the opportunity, because I love the racing there, and the watching from America, so I want to go there again.
GateDrop: You’ve done quite a lot of GPs throughout your career. Obviously, if you get an MXGP opportunity, that would also be good…
Teresak: For MXGP, I’m not sure. I don’t know, maybe, but I’m just looking at the ADAC at this time.
GateDrop: Between now and the end of the season, will you do any MXGP races?
Teresak: I don’t know if I go to another GP, so we will see.
GateDrop: Coming into this weekend, what were the expectations? Did you surprise yourself a little bit?
Teresak: I’m super surprised myself, I was here in the same race last year, but I struggled with the health issues, so I know that I can go in the top five, but I didn’t expect that I could win, so I’m super happy about that.
GateDrop: Just on Czech Motocross, I’m guessing they’ll probably send a team to the Motocross des Nations. Are you hoping you’ll get to go for Matterley Basin?
Teresak: Yeah, I hope I get the spot for the Nations. I think we could have a good team this year, so I’m very excited to go.
GateDrop: Matterley Basin, is that a track you’ve rode at before?
Teresak: Yeah, I was there for EMX125, EMX250 and I think two times for the MX2 World Championship class, so it was a really nice track, and I’m happy to go there.
