This season has not gone according to plan for young Swiss talent, Mike Gwerder due to an ACL injury. It has meant he has missed the whole season but he hopes to be back on a bike in December to start preparing for the 2025 season provided he can secure himself a ride.
We caught up with Gwerder at the recent Swiss GP as he was there as spectator…
GateDrop: Mike, you are here at the Swiss GP, but unfortunately you’re only going to be spectator this weekend. Can you just remind everyone of the injury that you’re dealing with?
Gwerder: Yeah, this weekend I’m sadly only a spectator. I wish I could ride here at my home GP, but sadly not. In April I had an injury. I did my ACL and then I needed to do a surgery. As everyone knows, the ACL needs six to nine months. So, this year was over for me and I knew it from the beginning. So yeah, it’s really sad, but we keep going.
GateDrop: How is it being away from the GPs, being away from the racing? I’m sure at the start it was very tough to deal with. But now, as you sort of get towards the end of the injury, is it getting a little bit easier?
Gwerder: At the beginning it was really, really hard to accept it because it was two days before my first race. I had a little tip over in the corner, and then I fell. So yeah, that makes it not easy. But it’s getting better and better, because the season is getting over and I’m getting fit again. My knee is going well, so yeah, for next year I will be in really good shape. I’m staying positive.
GateDrop: Do you still watch the GPs at home on the TV, or is it too tough?
Gwerder: Sometimes yes, sometimes no. It depends on my mood. So yeah, one time I went to go watch the GP in Loket because it was not too far from me. I went there with some friends, so it was pretty fun. But I am still sad to watch the racing, it would be better to race than watch.
GateDrop: When do you hope to be back on a bike? If everything goes to plan, of course…
Gwerder: At the moment it’s around four months. So, it’s still three to four months to go. So, I expect to go riding again in December. So still a long wait but December is early enough to be ready for 2025.
GateDrop: Exactly… I mean if you get back on the bike in December, it will give you three or four months to prepare. So from that point of view, you should be ready to go for the start of next season?
Gwerder: Yeah, I think so. It’s also early enough to do some pre-season races, I think so, I hope to do some of them to get back in the race rhythm, because one year without racing will be tough but I think we can do it.
GateDrop: When you reflect back before the injury that you got, you mostly were with WZ KTM. A little bit in EMX250 and a little bit in the MX2… What was it like being part of that team and being in the GP paddock racing every week? Probably something you took a little bit for granted before this injury?
Gwerder: Yeah, I was three years with WZ KTM so it was some good years. We had a lot of ups and downs, but at the end it was still a good time. Last year I did a full MX2 season in European and the races I was not injured. Last year was a tough one, but yeah, I did a lot of experience. So yeah, I will be ready for next year.
GateDrop: What are you hoping to do next year? Have you got any preference? Obviously, first and foremost, you probably want to get back in the GP paddock… I am not sure if you can still race EMX250 or not with the U21 age rule?
Gwerder: Yeah, I mean I was last year in the MX2, so I want to continue in the MX2. Also my age, I will turn this year 22. Next year will be my last year in the MX2 so I want to get the chance and go again. Now I’m searching a new team to go MX2. I’m a free rider now, so hit me up if you need a new rider, I’m really motivated for the next season so just hit me up and we keep in touch.
GateDrop: Have you had any talks with any teams yet? Or still completely free, no plans? Fingers crossed you can get into the paddock…
Gwerder: At the moment I have no plan yet. I mean, I just finished my school this year, this summer. I’m now a businessman. I finished like good and I was focused on that. And now I’m working to get some money for the next season because riding is not a question now, because I can’t. So, I’m working now half a day and half a day I go training physically. So yeah, that’s my plan at the moment, now I’m searching for a new team.
GateDrop: Obviously when you were with WZ you lived in Germany. Would you be open to live pretty much anywhere in Europe? If it’s an Italian team, if it’s a Belgian team? Are you open to move anywhere that’s required?
Gwerder: Yeah, like I said, I finished my school this year and this took four years. I was still living in Germany as a teen. So I would say now I’ve more free time so I would like to stay somewhere in the team. Like in Belgium or something to go a lot of sand riding. So yeah, I’m open to go anywhere where it goes. I would be happy to hear from some teams.
