It was only last November that Marcel Stauffer was in a serious incident and was left fighting for his life with a neck injury. It hasn’t even been a full year yet and the Austrian not only has returned to riding a bike but racing at a very high level.
Stauffer won the EMX2T title in Loket, impressed on his 450cc debut at the ADAC MX Masters getting on the podium and made his MXGP debut in Switzerland. Quite incredible when the first doctor told him he’d be happy if he can walk again!
We caught up with Stauffer to discuss a range of topics after his MXGP debut in Switzerland which you can listen, watch or read below…
GateDrop: Marcel, I think that was your MXGP debut here in Switzerland, it wasn’t the day you would have wanted, but it must just be nice to be in the paddock again, racing at the highest level?
Stauffer: Yeah, definitely. I was looking forward to it, to be back here after Loket also. Coming back in the paddock and seeing where I stand and what I need to work on. I definitely know that my speed is not that bad, so I think I can run with the top 10 guys if I’m 100% fit. I know definitely that my fitness is not on point at the moment, but we will figure it out over the winter and see how next year will go.
GateDrop: You won the EMX two stroke title, but then you didn’t go to Lommel the week after because you weren’t sure how your speed was on the 450cc. How did you feel when you got on the 450cc and did you adapt quicker to the bike than you thought? Because you weren’t sure about doing Lommel, but here you are racing MXGP, not that long later…
Stauffer: Yeah, I mean, I didn’t know from the beginning if I can ride that fast and that quick again in that short amount of time. So, I was injured pretty long and it was definitely a hard way to come back. When I stepped back on the bike, I was feeling quite good speed-wise, I was relatively fast back on my level. But yeah, fitness was always a little bit of a problem, so I decided to go Loket. I won the EMX title, so it’s pretty nice to come back that strong in the paddock. Then I stepped back on the 450cc, I did not have that much hours, so before Gaildorf I had five hours on the bike. So, it was definitely quite a challenge, but it went quite good and I adapted quite fast to the bike. So, I’m pretty happy with that and maybe it was a little bit of a rushing decision to come here. But all the races before went so good and I was super pumped and super hyped to come back into the paddock to see where I’m at the best level of the world and compared to the best athletes of the world. So, it was definitely a fast and quick decision… But I know now and I know I need to be 100% ready and 100% fit to come back here and to perform on my level.
GateDrop: Just on the EMX two stroke title at Loket, I mean to win that title, that must have felt amazing…
Stauffer: It was, it was pretty amazing. After all the stuff I had, all these memories I had of suffering in the hospital and trying my best to come back after this big injury. It felt just amazing to cross the line in first and to win the European title, even though it’s a two stroke title. For me it meant more than it maybe means for other riders. But I know where I came from and I know where I was. I was at the lowest point of my life, not just my career, but also my life. So, I was really struggling and now to come back that strong and to win a title and to stand on the podium in Gaildort in the 450cc MX Masters class. So, it all went pretty good. I just need to figure out to come back to my fitness and to get strong again… then I think I have the speed to show more.
GateDrop: Just on your big injury last November I think it was, I mean you were pretty much fighting for your life, very very serious. Back then I’m sure if you were told if you could get back on a bike you’d be happy, never mind get back to this level. But knowing you motocross riders, I know the first question you probably ask after a big injury is when can I get back on the bike? So, was this always the goal and just how tough was it going through what you did go through?
Stauffer: So, the very first question was if I can get back on the bike. But they made very clear that this would be almost an impossible way. So, the first doctor told me I can be happy if I can walk again and come back to some kind of normal life. They wanted to stiff my neck from the head over all the c vertebrae… So, in the end I was just trying to get back to my life and trying to get my life quality back. Because you know if you have a stiff neck it’s not nice to live either and riding was not that much of a focus there. So, to be back on the bike, to be back racing, to be back on podiums and winning races is pretty huge for me.
GateDrop: At such a short space of time as well. I mean it’s not even a full year yet…
Stauffer: So, at first it was like maybe I can get back on the bike and maybe I can do some trainings this year and maybe I can race next year or next season. So, it’s really quick everything and it happens pretty quickly. So, I’m happy with the progress and maybe I need to slow down now for some weeks… Hopefully be back soon in the paddock and also at some international races.
GateDrop: I have to ask you about the ADAC at Gaildorf. I think that was your first race on the 450cc and what a race that was… I actually watched it on the TV. In a moto you passed Nagl and you were battling with him, I mean he’s an absolute legend. He’s been through it all, seen it all. What was it like battling with him? Did you expect to be so fast and get an overall podium there on your first 450 race?
Stauffer: So, in general Gaildorf was pretty nice for me. So, I had good starts… Every start was in the top 5. I was fighting with the top guys there. It was pretty nice to see those big names on their back and also overtaking them and it did feel just pretty cool. Also, the first race I was just nervous because I knew all the big names are behind me now and I need to deliver. Which I did over the weekend so this was a pretty awesome experience for me. I think I can do more. I think I’m also, speed wise, I’m also kind of a top 10 level in the MXGP. I think I showed that with my qualifying. Coming here for my first GP, coming here after all this stuff I had and all these suffering hours I had with the lack of training. Competing against guys who did the whole season and who are really ready to race. So, I was definitely happy with my results here and with the speed I showed. But yeah, like I said, I just need to figure out some things. I need some time, just more time on the bike, more time in the training and then I think I’m ready to compete with those guys.
GateDrop: Just what was it like going from an ADAC to an MXGP World Championship? Also, it’s been a long time that you’ve raced at this level… MXGP is another level up from MX2. Just how did you find the level and being in the paddock racing against the best in the world again?
Stauffer: Like I said, maybe I rushed a little bit this decision to come here. I know now, I was expecting them to be pretty fast and riding on a really, really high level. But I thought maybe I can… I knew I have the speed compared to some guys in the ADAC. I knew where they land and where they finish some GPs.
So, I was feeling pretty comfortable coming here. After the GP, I need to say it was maybe not the right decision to come here. Maybe Spain would be better. In the end, you’re always more clever. But the level is high so it’s enormous how they ride and how their speed is.
GateDrop: Just on the Osicka MX team, I think they signed you before your injury to race MX2. That obviously didn’t happen, but they’ve stuck with you through thick and thin. So first of all, you must really appreciate that and second of all, what are the plans between now and the end of the year? Will we maybe see you do Spain? And then for next year, will you stay with them? What’s the plans? All euro MXGP rounds or selected MXGP? Or will you just see how it goes?
Stauffer: So, definitely I’m happy that they kept me. The plan was to do the full MX2 championship. I think I would have been ready for this. Speed wise, I also showed the year before that I’m there, also with just coming to some GP’s, I did quite good results. I was happy with that. Now the plan changed a little bit in November. I had some different stuff going on and to be back now, we make some plans. We try to figure out what the best decision is. Definitely I’m quite happy with the team. I did not sign nothing now, but I’m happy how they work and how it is. We will figure out some plan, but it’s definitely a goal to be in the paddock. I know I want to be here and I know I also deliver here when I’m fit, strong and the speed is there.
GateDrop: Obviously being through what you’ve went through, does it give you a different perspective on it now? Maybe before, I’m not saying you, but maybe people take it for granted. But now, you’ve been at the very lowest. Now, are you just going to take everything as it comes, full gas and just try your best and appreciate being in this paddock maybe more than in the past?
Stuaffer: I mean appreciating being in the paddock, maybe not. But appreciating being that comfortable in life. There are a lot of people out there which are not that happy like we are. Maybe they are happy, but you know what I mean? They have maybe not that life quality we have, so this I appreciate a lot. To know that I can make all the small things in my life just like happy people do. This is the most important thing for me now. To be back racing, to be back in the paddock, to be able to be back on the bike is like some bonus.
GateDrop: Last question, the Motocross des Nations, you got picked for it to represent Austria. You must be excited for that, and you’ll also be on the team with Sandner, who experienced something similar to you, so it must be nice to share that with him… Kratzer is the third rider on the team… Do you know yet who’s going to be in each class?
Stauffer: Yeah, we know already. So, Sandner will start in MX2. Kratzer will start open and I will start in the MXGP class. I think till then we will be ready. Unfortunately, the guys are, like you said, Sandner was also injured, so he did not that much international racing this season. But I think we are a strong team for Austria. We are just a small country and it’s like an honour to represent our country in the Nations. I’m looking forward to be there and expect good from us.
