While factory riders in MXGP are surrounded by teams of mechanics, trainers, and technical staff, Slovenian privateer Jan Pancar continues to defy the odds with a two-man setup—himself and his father. At the German GP, Pancar impressed with fourth in both time practice and the qualifying race, showing he has the outright speed to run with the elite. Despite some bad luck on race day, Pancar still managed to take a respectable eighth overall. We caught up with Jan to talk about his weekend, battling with the world’s best, life as a privateer, and what the future might hold for one of the most determined riders in the paddock.
GateDrop: A privateer life, a two-man team, overall racing at the highest level, you must be pretty happy with your weekend’s work?
Pancar: I mean, eighth is pretty good, but if you look at what the speed was, I think I could do better, you know. 4th in time practice, 4th in qualifying race… I didn’t have so much luck on Sunday. First moto, I got a good start, but then when Fernandez crashed, I went out of the track because I was avoiding his bike, so I lost quite a lot of positions, and then I did another mistake, but then I charged back to 11th, so it was not so bad. In the second moto I didn’t get the best start. We couldn’t really clean the bike properly, because only me and my dad before the start, and I just had the front wheel full of mud, and I spun up on the gate, so not the best start, but eighth was not so bad either.
GateDrop: Probably the highlight of the weekend was the qualifying race, fourth… How did it feel to be up there, battling with the best in the world, you looked comfortable…
Pancar: Yeah, I mean, the speed is really good, I mean, all the time practices, even free and warm-up, I was like top three every time, so in time practice I was fourth, so the speed is really good, so I just need to get more comfortable up there. They’re really quick the first ten minutes, and that’s my weak point, I’m always fast at the end of the race, so I have to be really fast and explosive in the beginning. That’s what happened in the qualifying, and I could manage to get fourth.
GateDrop: What did it feel like following those guys, I mean, Lucas, Jeffrey, Romain, they’re going so quick, did it feel normal, or were you thinking, wow?
Pancar: I mean, I felt quite normal, but then the last three laps, I started thinking too much, and I did some small mistakes. I was like, oh my god, I’m fourth. But yeah, it’s part of the process. As I was saying, I have the speed, so I think with the good starts, I will be feeling more comfortable.
GateDrop: You must be proud of the job you’re doing at MXGP, I mean, it’s just you and your dad, pretty much, to do what you’re doing at this level, it’s pretty mind-blowing, the results you’re able to get…
Pancar: Yeah, I mean, fortunately, this sport is quite rider-dependent, so even with the privateer bike and stuff, it’s still possible to be competitive with the top guys. Of course, there are things you can do better, but yeah, I’m feeling good, so I think it’s quite an amazing job we do.
GateDrop: You must appreciate what your dad does for you as well, I mean, he’s got a job as well, and he’s coming to 20 GPs a year, it’s not easy for him to then mechanic for you…
Pancar: Yeah, I mean, it’s actually quite crazy, doing his job, even tomorrow, he’s already working, so now we have, I think, 18 hours to go home, so it’s going to be no stopping, just go, so even I will have to wake up, I think, like 3 o’clock to drive, so even this is not the best for the recovery, you know, but we have to do what we have to do.
GateDrop: How was the track? They’ve made some changes, and usually it gets really, really, really rutty. It was still rutty, but it felt like it wasn’t quite as rutty as the other years?
Pancar: I was quite surprised, actually, because I was expecting it to be much more soft and rutty. The track was quite hard back but it was still difficult because in the ruts there were many small bumps. You can still make a difference, you know, it was not too easy.
GateDrop: Did you like the track changes? I think it was good for the 250 guys, but maybe for the 450 guys and the more powerful bikes it was a bit tight?
Pancar: Yeah, I think it was even more tight than before in some places, and, I mean, first moto was, when it was dry, it was really difficult to pass. So, I don’t know, maybe, it was not bad, actually, to ride, like, on your own, but for the passing it was not great.
GateDrop: What’s the level like in MXGP? It sort of seems like no matter who you are, you need a good start this year. I mean, if you start in 20th, it’s very hard to pass and the level is high, you know?
Pancar: I mean, let’s say, the top three guys, Jeffrey, Lucas and Romain, they are, like, one level better, but then from 4th to, let’s say, 15th, we are so close together, so, you can be one race in the top 5 and in the next race be, 14th, you know. It’s a high level and not easy, but it’s good for the races.
GateDrop: I think a few guys got injured this weekend, hopefully they are not out for too long, but if they are, are you available for a fill-in ride or are you committed to this project for the end of the season?
Pancar: I am committed, I mean, I could fill in for KTM, but not for the other brands, so, probably no, it is what it is. I still have a good team behind us, the bike is pretty good because if it wouldn’t be, I couldn’t ride that fast. Unfortunately, some guys got injured, so, we will see, I hope they come back soon.
GateDrop: I mean, you’ve had this setup for 2 or 3 years now, at least, is it sustainable to do this long-term, how many more years do you think you can continue doing this with just you and your papa?
Pancar: I mean, financially, it’s okay, for now, you know. The economy is not the best, but a lot of good sponsors help us, so, we can go to all the races, because, you know, the overseas ones are really, really expensive. I mean, money-wise, I would say it’s manageable, but physically and mentally it’s quite hard, you know, just driving every weekend, training, and then prepping the bike at home, everything by ourselves, so, it’s quite a lot.
We have a goal, and I hope this year I can improve and get that factory ride to be easier for everyone.
GateDrop: Have you had many offers from teams, and if so, maybe you’re waiting to get the right offer, or have you had no offers at all?
Pancar: Until now, zero offers, so, yeah, I hope they see me, I mean, I have the speed, so I just need to put it on for the races, and I can be a top-five guy.
GateDrop: Just on Slovenia… Slovenia usually wouldn’t go to the Motocross des Nations in America, is that still the case this year, or maybe they will go? I mean, it would be quite good for Tim, because he’s got nothing to fight for this year, so it would be good for him to end the season in the Nations…
Pancar: Actually, at the beginning of the season, we talked with the Federation, and they said we will go, but I don’t know how Tim’s rehab and stuff will go. If Tim is not going to race, then we don’t go, because I think it’s a waste of money.
GateDrop: But if Tim’s back, do you think you will go?
Pancar: If Tim’s back, I mean, it’s like 90% we go, so it would be a great experience, you know, I’ve never been to the USA, so even for me it would be really nice. I would look forward to it.
