Jeremy Sydow started the season with the Raths KTM team but after the injury to Liam Everts, the factory supported team of DIGA-Procross KTM decided to draft in the young German. The team know Sydow well as he’s been with the team in the past and since stepping in for the team he hasn’t let them down.
The young German who hasn’t had much racing the past few years due to injury is a little bit race rusty but his speed is good and he looks to be getting better and better.
We caught up with Sydow to discuss his season so far, how much longer he might be with the DIGA-Procross KTM team and more.
GateDrop: Jeremy, you’ve had a few GP’s with the DIGA-Procross KTM team now. I feel like you’ve made big strides this season and as far as speed goes and I think you should be happy with that?
Sydow: Sure, it was difficult at the beginning to adapt to the bike because it’s really something different from what I’ve been used to. This weekend at Agueda, I think I showed some really good speed, but luck wasn’t really on my side unfortunately but the speed for sure was there. I think I showed my potential again.
GateDrop: In the qualifying race, you showed what you could do with a good start running fourth for ages and you could have even finished there if it wasn’t for a crash, what did it feel like to be running at the front? I don’t think you’ve been up as far as that before…
Sydow: The first laps were quite special but then I got used to it. I think for sure that I could have finished fourth because I made a little gap already but then I had a stupid tip over which cost me the fourth place but anyway I finished ninth which wasn’t too bad for the gate today. Unfortunately, I had another crash today so yeah…
GateDrop: The past two years you’ve barely had any races so coming into this season and already showing the pace you have, have you surprised yourself a little bit? Just because you were a little rusty coming into the season…
Sydow: For sure, I didn’t expect to show my full potential in the first races because as you said I’ve missed a lot of racing the past two years and I can still feel that. This weekend I did finally have the feeling that it’s coming back but unfortunately some bad luck again but for me it’s a positive point because I can see that I can run in the top five in MX2 which isn’t too bad I would say. I hope now that next weekend I can be fit again to show that again.
GateDrop: What’s the level of the MX2 World Championship like this year? You obviously haven’t got too much experience racing the class but for me the top fifteen are very fast and starts are important…
Sydow: For sure you have ten or fifteen riders that can go in the top five I would say. In Argentina there were not so many riders, but I mean the top guys were there anyway. The speed is for sure high, and I just need to get used a bit to the first laps. The first laps the guys are pushing really hard so you really need to take care and not leave any space for them because they take every chance, they fight hard for every position. From race to race I am getting more used to it and I think I showed it also this weekend.
GateDrop: The last couple of years you have been picking up injuries, how important is it for you just to stay fit aside from getting some good results so you can show your true potential?
Sydow: I want to be consistent staying injury free. Being consistent in the top ten is my goal – yesterday I was not so happy with the ninth place but I think at Matterley Basin I’d have jumped in the air for that place so I can almost look at the top five already and we are only at the fourth round of the season. I try to do my best and hope guys remember my name and hopefully get a good ride for next year.
GateDrop: I’m not sure you’ve raced the track before but what was your thoughts on it? It looked very different on both days…
Sydow: I raced here in 2017 and 2018 but anyways that’s some years ago. Today the track was different from yesterday, they ripped it way more deep so we had some more ruts but for me I also liked it yesterday. I had a good feeling but yesterday it was a bit more fast I would say, today it was a bit more sketchy with those braking bumps because some of them were really sharp and could have hit you. For me one of them also took me out (laughs) but overall I really enjoyed racing here.
GateDrop: Just an update on your current situation, do you know how many more GP’s you will be with the DIGA-Procross team – is there any chance you could stay with Everts is back or even get the bike under the Raths KTM awning?
Sydow: It looks like Arco di Trento next weekend will be my last race for them then Liam is back at Kegums, that’s what they told me. I maybe need to talk a bit with KTM if something is possible because I mean I showed that the speed is there. Maybe they can support me, that would be really nice.
*UPDATE: We’ve been informed that Sydow will actually return to the Raths KTM team this weekend in Arco di Trento!
Interview: Andy McKinstry
Pics: Ray Archer
Podcast: Jonathan McCready gets the inside story from Andy McKinstry who was at the Portuguese MXGP and they also discuss the chances of Jeffrey Herlings racing the US Nationals.
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