It was a superb weekend for Noel Zanocz as he became Junior World Champion at a rough Heerde track. The Hungarian was on fire and especially in the second moto when he came from outside the top twenty all the way to second to clinch the title.
We caught up with Zanocz after the event to discuss his world title and more… you can read, watch or listen below:
GateDrop: Two very very different races. The first moto okay it wasn’t an amazing start but you were still in the top 10 and quickly got your way into the lead but the second one, way way back but you went into beast mode and it must have felt amazing to pass those riders so quickly…
Zanocz: Yeah in the first moto I started around eighth then I worked myself into second so quickly like in the second lap and then I was struggling to pass my teammate for one lap and then I passed him and yes I had a comfortable lead, I think around 20 seconds then in the last lap I say: I need energy for the second moto… So then I win by 14 seconds, it was a really good race. I like the sand tracks and this year in the European Championship I have won two overalls in the sand so yeah it was a good race.
Second one, I had a horrible start, around 25th, in the third corner I put my bike in neutral, I almost crashed and then yeah in just the first or second jump I just looked and the leader was like was 10 seconds in front of me in 300 meters. Then I just switched my head off and tried my best to win this title. When I was passing for the second place I was 20 seconds behind the leader and then I got it down to like four seconds behind him. But then I heard a really weird sound from the bike and then I say, okay let’s bring home the world championship… I just was riding without a clutch in a high gear and yeah half gas because I was listening when I was close to the gas, the bike didn’t sound good. I am really happy that the bike don’t broke and I win this championship.
GateDrop: In the first moto I was standing right after the corner where you passed Mancini and I seen you waving… I actually thought that you were waving to your fans in the crowd or something but it was a wave to Mancini?
Zanocz: I was just riding with a comfortable pace in the sand. I like so much the sand, I trained a lot there with Kornel Nemeth and I would like to say thanks to him because since I’m four years old, he has been helping me to grow up my career and his track is really good in the winter to train in the sand.
GateDrop: In the second moto what was going through your head at the start because you were so far behind, I mean a lot of riders would have panicked but you seemed to just put that aside?
Zanocz: I saw my competitors were in the front so I was scared for sure and on the second jump I think I put my heads up see who’s in front and then I saw Mancini was on the lead I think and Garcia was also at the front. Every fast rider was at the front and then I just turned my head off and opened the gas with some clutch, no brake and I gained position by position every corner… I just went one line where there was nobody, opened the gas and so quickly I worked myself into second when I passed Doensen, I tried to be first and go 1-1 but then the bike started to feel slow and then I said okay just bring it home.
GateDrop: What was your thoughts on the track I think yesterday was probably deeper but today was still rough, how rough did you find it?
Zanocz: Yeah when you are riding with the 65 and 85 riders in the junior world championship the bumps are really short and it’s like a triangle with the small bikes with the small wheels. We struggle, we try to wheelie or try by jumping it but it’s still very difficult for us. For myself it’s better to riding with the big guys, they make big bumps and I like it more. The track was wet on Saturday and also today but it was good. In the timed practice I was struggling, I crashed in my first fast lap and I broke the radiator… I had so many problems I hit my hand so bad, I still have a lot of pain and then in the last lap I put my fastest lap to take the pole position and I almost did the perfect weekend with the first in timed practice, first race one but second in race two. If I didn’t put my bike in neutral in the third corner maybe it could have been 1-1-1-1 but I’m still the world champion so I’m really happy.
GateDrop: Just how does it feel to win this world title I don’t think anyone from Hungary has ever done anything like that before, it must feel amazing not only on a personal level but also to hopefully raise motocross in Hungary…
Zanocz: A world champion has never come from Hungary, we only ever had one podium by me in the 85cc and in the junior cup in the 65cc, it’s not a World Championship but it’s still the same race but just normally a bit less riders than in the European series. But yeah there is still Aran Katona, he did a great job and he’s young. He is riding well in the sand and on the hard pack in the EMX championship now with the 125 I think he can be the next world champion for Hungary.
GateDrop: This year I feel like you’re very confident maybe more confident than in the past and it’s a confident sport, mentally now do you believe that you belong at the front?
Zanocz: Yeah since Riola I’m at the front since the first race. I had been struggling, I had problems by myself and the starts are pretty difficult for me. I hope and I work for the win and if I start at the front, I think I have no competitor on the sand and also on the hard pack I show when I start in front then I’m fast also there. I want to win the European title also.
GateDrop: I was just going to say that now you’ve got the Junior World title so the goal is to do the double, that would be an unbelievable season…
Zanocz: I would like too and for next year I need to move up to the 250cc. I hope this World Championship title helps to open new doors for next year.
GateDrop: Do you think you have a chance to stay with Fantic or is it still up in the air? Would you like to stay with Fantic because obviously they were the one that gave you a factory ride and they’ve helped you get to this level?
Zanocz: I can’t say nothing about that.
