New bike, new gear and a last minute switch to Hawkstone Park after the French international was cancelled, there has been a lot of change for Jeremy Seewer this winter. We caught up with the popular Swiss rider to get his thoughts on his switch of brand, the first guy to wear Renen gear in MXGP and how he feels on the Kawasaki in pre-season just two weeks away from the MXGP opener.
Read or watch below:
Jeremy, France you were impressive and today at Hawkstone you had to fight through the field, how do you sum up the two weekends?
I was actually supposed to race in France today (event got cancelled), I came here last minute, so everything was a bit tricky, I was not prepared at tall to come here but still I did it to take it as training. I took today slow, didn’t want to push anything crazy because the track was so tricky, wet, dangerous and those jumps scary with those ruts, especially that double in the back.
I knew I had not done a lot of that kind of stuff. I stayed away from Belgium, I was south on the good and nice tracks to get my speed with the bike. Last weekend was a good reference on normal conditions and it went super well.
This weekend, solid riding. I started off slow and didn’t push it, just did my thing. But, by the end of the day I picked up my speed and the last moto we all followed each other, it was quite fun. I was actually impressed, we started after MX2 (in the superfinal) I messed up my start because I had no idea how they managed two drops, they said it was another 5 seconds (until MX1 gate dropped after MX2) but basically it was up, down – I wasn’t ready! Still, impressive how we could go through the field that quick, even passing Adamo after six on seven laps you know?
Overall happy, just to make improvements in these conditions, learn the bike in these conditions and don’t do any silly mistakes, ride solid. Pick up the speed towards the end with the top guys in the sand.
How has the adaption been to the Kawasaki overall? What % are you fully comfortable – 80 -90? and what is the biggest change from the Yamaha as well?
It’s a full change on engine and chassis, it’s a whole combination. At the end it’s still a bike with two wheels and the throttle is on the right hand side. But it is still a big process just to dial in your set-up with suspension, engine your preferences to make it work on any track. Some tracks I am 100% and I’m like ‘let’s go, I am ready to race.’ Some tracks I am like, ‘we need to work a bit.’ But that is normal, overall it is a good bike and it suits me, we have some good racing ahead.
Is your set-up similar to Febvre and can you learn anything from that or are you so different you have to learn everything by yourself?
I think I am a guy anyway learning it myself. Copying others doesn’t really work for my own style. Even if I am sure what he is running, I don’t think it really works for me on some things. Maybe some things work but most of the things I am quite different. Romain has a different riding style than me so you can’t compare at all.
Renen gear, a big move for you there, you are the guy for them now especially in Europe, how did that come about and do you like leading those things and a new fashion trend potentially?
I have always been a guy, I want to be on point you know? Sometimes it’s sad to see having a factory bike, being a top athlete in the world championship and podium and wins and then you show up in something and you look like a clown! I’m like, hey I gotta look decent and Renen is the choice. I am really proud and happy to represent them in Europe, I’m the first guy to really bring it over here and I think they have a plan to sell some stuff over here. Step by step we get there, it’s something cool and new.
I think the industry needed something new, all the others stuff has been there for a while.
They were the guys behind Fox I think and with Ricky Johnson, and they are a genius in terms of marketing and that side of things, so it must be nice to be involved with them on marketing and that side of things as well?
Yeah, it’s nice to see what they do. For now they keep it a bit behind the scenes, low level, a bit secret but I think in the right moment they will really drop it and go for it, so let’s see how that goes but I am glad to be part of it for sure.
The start of the GP season, each year I always feel you could be a world title contender, especially the last two but the start has never really went your way – especially last year. How important is it for you to get through the first couple of rounds with solid results and then come into your own as the season progresses and be a world title contender?
Yeah for sure I would like to be a title contender. This year is a little different because I changed the bike, so I am more focused on figuring that part out and dialing the bike in and feeling good on it. But I think I am quite ready to fight for wins and podiums. Yeah, for sure the last two years the beginning of the season kind of destroyed me but this year it’s different and I think I am not going to do the same mistake again.
Interview and image: Jonathan McCready
