After a tough 2024 season cut short by injury, Janis Reišulis has returned to racing in dominant fashion. The young Latvian talent is making waves in the EMX250 series, showing impressive speed and control as he transitions from the 125cc class. We caught up with Reišulis to discuss his strong start to the season, adapting to the 250cc bike, his training program with Pela Renet and Roberts Justs, and his upcoming plans to step into MX2.
GateDrop: Janis, that was domination, can you just talk me through your weekend and how you found it? Watching it, you made it look very, very easy…
Reisulis: Before the weekend I was really hoping that it wouldn’t rain because… I’m still hoping that the track would be, like, rutty, but not with lots of mud. And, yeah, that’s pretty much what happened, you know. The first race, actually in both races I really liked the track and it was quite similar in both motos. I would say maybe even more gnarlier in the second one.
But, yeah, really happy about the starts and about the first laps riding. In both motos they were really quite similar of how I rode. First laps, always pushing, and later on control the race in both motos.
GateDrop: Have you adapted your riding style from the 125cc to the 250cc? Because to me you look smoother and in control on the 250cc. It’s almost like watching a computer game…
Reisulis: I would say that the last year when I was going through the injury rehab, it really helped me. I had lots of time to work on the other body parts, like with my shoulders and the back. And, yeah, also looking at the videos, I seem a lot smoother in the ruts and the jumps and stuff. So, yeah, really happy for that.
GateDrop: How did you find the track from qualifying to the motos? I thought Qualifying was pretty fast and basic, but you were still nearly two seconds quicker than anyone. So that must have given you a lot of confidence.
Reisulis Always in the training, when I do training with Pela, we always begin with the first warm-up and then we do some sprints. So I was feeling really comfortable in quality and in quite a solid lap time. Almost two seconds faster than everyone else. But, yeah, the track was really fast compared to the moto’s, where it was rutty and stuff. I had to always put on more focus.
GateDrop: What kind of conditions would you prefer? The more technical or faster tracks? Or do you not care, you’re just fast in everything?
Reisulis: For me, I love sand. But when we’re talking about hardbacks, I really like this kind of track. But when it’s more drier, when it’s not slippery, when it’s just ruts, then you can relax and be free in every rut and keep a fast speed.
GateDrop: You mentioned Pela Renet. What’s it like working with him? I think that’s a relatively new thing. Obviously, he has plenty of experience in motocross. I think he was an MX3 world champion, and then he raced enduro too so plenty of experience. What’s it like working with him?
Reisulis: Yeah, it’s actually a little bit different than working with Roberts (Justs). With Pela, the program in every training is pretty much the same. We do warm-up, sprints, and after that, 25 plus 2 moto’s. Pela gives very good advice for riding and also for my head and so does Roberts. I think the combination of the two is really good for my future.
GateDrop: I was going to ask, so you’re still working with Roberts? Is that more like the weeks when you’re in Latvia and stuff like that? But maybe at the racetrack, you work more with Pela? Or how does that work, that combination?
Reisulis: When I go to France, of course I work with Pela. I usually do two weeks in France, then I come to Latvia for two weeks. And like that, I train with Roberts there. For the race, they’re both here, so they both give me some advice, and I think that helps a lot.
GateDrop: Just going back to the start of last year, obviously in Spain, you were racing with the ACL injury, and then you damaged it after that. But how were you for the first round last year? Were you riding in pain or anything like that, or were you okay? Because you were still pretty solid that weekend…
Reisulis: Actually, that weekend I was still not recovered enough from the head injury before. After that, I was really bitter to have another injury after that race. But yeah, already after I crashed, I knew that I had to be strong in the head. And I actually was, and here’s the result.
GateDrop: How tough was it last year after picking that injury? You knew straight away you were going to be out for the season… It must have been very frustrating. Also to watch Mathis Valin winning the title, who you’d just beat the title the previous year. It must have been pretty annoying watching on your sofa…
Reisulis: It was not the best feeling to win the 125 European Championship and next year I get injured and out for the whole year. Seeing especially Mathis win the championship. But yeah, I’m hoping that I will do the same this year and fight with him and the other guys in MX2.
GateDrop: Obviously this year the main goal is going to be the EMX250 Championship. Do you have any plans to race any MX2 GPs? And do you know what ones, or just wait and see?
Reisulis: Yeah, for this year I plan to go to the Teutschenthal GP in Germany and also Lommel in Belgium.
GateDrop: Are you looking forward to lining up in MX2? Not only is it going to be very stacked at the front, but you’ll get to race with your brother again as well?
Reisulis: I think that’s going to be a lot of fun, because you know, less pressure, I’m not going to be fighting for the championship. Maybe I can fight for some good positions and get used to the big speed and also with more aggressive riding.
GateDrop: Just on the EMX250 Championship, I guess the goal is to win the title. Well, first of all, stay injury free And then the goal is to win the title. Otherwise, with the talent you have, it’s probably not the season you want?
Reisulis: Yeah, obviously after these races, the goal of course is to win the championship. You know, I’ve already won three out of four races. Just that one race cost me a lot of points. But yeah, looking forward to do the same in every race like I did this weekend. I would say that my tracks are only ahead for me.
GateDrop: Just on Adrien Petit who is racing the Yamaha privateer 2-stroke, have you been surprised by him? I’ve got to admit, I have been… I didn’t think he’d be that good so early in the season.
Reisulis: Yeah, it was actually quite similar in 2023, when I didn’t expect Mathis to be in top form and now it’s the same with Adrien. He’s riding really good. The speed for him is also really good, he can keep up and close the gap in the end of the moto also. I think he’s the main contender for the championship as well. But yeah, I’ll try my best to beat him.
