Jeremy Seewer doesn’t get to ride in Switzerland much so it’s always nice for him to contest the Swiss MXGP which is always a great atmosphere. The Kawasaki man rode really well but just missed out on the podium finishing fourth overall but it was still positive.
We caught up with Seewer after the Swiss GP to discuss a range of topics…
GateDrop: Jeremy, that is your home GP done and dusted. First of all, what was it like just racing in front of those fans? You obviously don’t get to do it that much, just once a year. A lot of Dutch/ Belgian guys etc get to race in their home country quite a lot… So it must be quite nice for you to race in front of them for a change…
Seewer: Yes. I mean, especially the Swiss fans are super crazy. Like you could see today, even with the weather bad. They came out and gave their best, you know. So did I. I mean, fourth overall… But yeah, it’s amazing. I hope I can race in front of my fans for many more years and give them a podium in MXGP or even a win, you know. So yeah, it’s something special. Like in the sighting lap before the first moto today, I was like, wow, that was cool.
GateDrop: Just on your races, I mean, I would say, Gajser and Herlings, they were maybe a level ahead today. But I feel like you had the speed maybe for Prado and for third overall… Just a bad start, I think, in the second moto, Probably cost you the podium this weekend. Would you agree with that?
Seewer: Yes and no. Yeah, I mean, it was such a tough situation with the start. Like, they build it very sketchy, you know. Like off camber, a kind of funnel kind of thing. But yeah, I think if my second start would have been better, I could be on the podium because my speed wasn’t too bad. But anyways, I mean, the guys who go for the championship at the moment, they are on a high level, which is normal. I mean, either of them can get it. I think it’s more between Prado and Gajser now but still. I think for what I did this year, this was one of my better performances. So I’m happy with that, even though a little bit more is missing, you know.
GateDrop: This season, I would say it’s probably been a bit up and down. Hard pack has been pretty good, but mainly sand, I think hasn’t been the best… What would you put that down to? Or is it a combination of things?
Seewer: Well, it’s like, I mean, I changed the team. In the winter, we felt the issue straight away and we tried to set it up… It needs time. That’s normal. I mean, I’ve been on a motocross bike for a long time. But still, some ways, some things just don’t go my way, I don’t feel comfortable as I did before. I’m just losing time in some sectors of the track. In the sand, it’s a bit worse. Even though last weekend in Arnhem, I mean, I had two solid sixths, which was not too bad. I wasn’t that far off. But yeah, there I struggle more. But it’s clearly just the rider-bike combination doesn’t really match as it should. But yeah, we keep working. We still have three GP’s to go and we don’t give up. Then we look forward for the future.
GateDrop: Just on the track, to be honest, I think the rain overnight probably helped the track. It made it a little bit longer, if anything else. Because obviously, when it’s dry, you guys are doing less than 1,40 minute lap times usually. What’s your thoughts on that as a track? Is it GP standard?
Seewer: Honestly, yeah, it is a small track with a short lap time. But I think we have other tracks below 1.40’s. I mean, we went to Assen, we went below 1.30 there. I mean, that was super short, you know. The track is super technical. So I think the standards are more than good enough. I mean, it’s very rutty and tough. I mean, these kind of conditions are quite difficult and that’s typical.
In the MXGP calendar, we have sand like Lommel, we have so many different things, which is cool. The thing I want to say… I mean, we are in Switzerland, I see the nice things. Everything is fine here. The medical, all that stuff is super good here… For me, this is 10 times better than going to Indonesia, for example. I mean, that’s a super sketchy place. You know, there I’m like, hmm. So whatever you say about the track. I think it’s still a really nice event and we need it for the sport. I mean, if you see the fans out here today. I mean, we need that.
GateDrop: Just on today, especially… It looked like you had to be very smooth. And throttle control was paramount out there. It looked very tricky and difficult to ride and you needed to stay focused…
Seewer: Yeah, it was a mix between very slick areas and a lot of traction, throttle control, smooth. You couldn’t be aggressive. It fits my style, usually. You know, I’m quick on that sort of stuff. I was good this weekend but just not good enough for the podium, you know.
GateDrop: Switzerland have almost confirmed their team for the MXoN. I mean, from the five riders… You don’t need to be a genius to work out, yourself and Valentin are pretty much nailed on. Are you looking forward to the Motocross des Nations? And representing your country again at Matterley Basin, a track that everyone loves…
Seewer: Yes, but I mean we still have three GP’s to go. That’s first. I’m looking forward to that. It’s been a long season for everybody but who’s going to show up there, you know, except the guys coming back from an injury. But I’m looking forward to it. This year, the spirit seems to be good in the Nations team of Switzerland. Yeah, me and Valentin are in but we will have to see on the third rider, let’s see. It’s good that they take some time because if you take a decision now, maybe it’s the wrong one. Yeah, I’m excited for that.
GateDrop: Just on next year… You’re obviously not going to tell me what your plans are. But is it unlikely that you’re going to be staying in Kawasaki? What can you tell me on that?
Seewer: Yeah, I can tell that I probably won’t stay. I mean, it’s a shame. It’s a great team. I mean, the organization and everything around. Yeah, it’s a very professional team. But yeah, I’m just not matching yet with the bike. I mean, I still hope it’s going to come in the last three rounds. But yeah, I will definitely look for something new just to bring the magic of Jeremy Seewer back to the track, which we saw probably in 20 laps all the year this year. So that’s what I’m working for.
GateDrop: Even though you’re going to be leaving Kawasaki, it seems like everyone’s leaving in good terms. So that’s a good thing…
Seewer: Yeah, well, we don’t leave in a fight. I mean, I’m not going to blow a bomb. You know, I mean, last year with Yamaha, it was a bit tricky. It was a tricky situation. Still, I don’t regret anything. I mean, I’m a man of my word. Last year, what I did, I had to do it just out of respect for myself. You know, the way and how it went with contracts and all that office stuff. But yeah, you know, it’s a big year of learning. I try to take the positive, learn from the negatives and keep going. I think the next project is going to be very interesting.
