Taylor Hammal has had a whirlwind few weeks. After producing arguably the ride of his career at the Foxhill MXGP, where he came agonisingly close to a top-ten finish in the opening moto, the British rider was forced to deal with a collarbone injury in the second race. Just weeks later, he is back on the bike and back to racing at the final round of the Irish Championship.
Hammal has also been rewarded for his impressive season with a dream opportunity, earning a place on the British team for the Motocross des Nations at Ernee. With the biggest race of his career now just around the corner, the Kawasaki rider is focused on getting as much riding time as possible and making the most of the opportunity.
We caught up with Hammal to discuss his return to racing, that incredible Foxhill MXGP performance, recovering from his collarbone injury, his British Championship season, the moment he found out he had been selected for Team GB, his expectations for Ernee and his plans for 2027.
GateDrop: Taylor, we haven’t seen you race since Foxhill, so first of all it’s nice to be back? You love this place, finally you got beat, about time (laughs), it was 4 out of 5 race wins I think, but did you enjoy your day, first and foremost being back here, the track you seem to love?
Hammal: Yeah, it was really good being back. I looked forward to coming back this year, it was the first time last year. The track is old school, not many people were loving it, but I seem to enjoy it here so, yeah it was good. It was a bit different to last year, I did prefer it last year, but anyway it’s the same for everyone. I managed to get the first race win, I didn’t actually feel great on the bike, I got arm pumped and managed to hold on, but I think we all did. The second race because I’ve not been back riding too much, it was quite like jittery and stuff, so my shoulder was a bit achy so I just took it easy the second half. I was in second behind Josh, and he was riding really well in the second one, and I just thought, the MXoN is coming up and it’s all that is on my mind at the minute. I let him have that one but he was riding really well. It was brilliant to be back.
GateDrop: And I mean when did you get back on the bike from your injury at Foxhill, I think it was only a few weeks, in terms of preparation, not ideal for this race?
Hammal: I’ve been back riding for about two and a half weeks now, so I’ve probably done like six days or something like that. The more I ride the better it’s getting, and my speed seems to be there at the minute. Last week I was back and felt fine, just tracks like this today where it’s really edgy, I just didn’t want to risk it. We’ve got another three weeks now for the Nations so I am fully set for that.
GateDrop: I have to ask you about Foxhill, MXGP, I mean wow, I came down at the end of the day for an interview and you were in a sling, I didn’t even realise what had happened, but that first moto, oh my goodness, that has to be the best race of your career, surely?
Hammal: I mean it was a bit like hero to zero. The first race was amazing, to be fair I was riding well. I don’t know, everything just fell into place. I mean I almost had a top ten until the last lap, but I mean against those guys and what I do in the week and what I’m riding compared to them, I was really good. I was really chuffed with it, I almost wasn’t going to do it, so I’m glad I did. It has helped get me on the Nations team. Unfortunately, in the second one I just come over a jump and there was a rock in the face of it and I just went straight over, I knew instantly I had done my collarbone. I got it fixed that week and it feels alright, it’s good to go now.
GateDrop: Just on the first moto, I mean did you surprise yourself, did you think you’d be 11th and a lap away from 10th in an MXGP moto, I mean you beat so many good riders and I think Oriol just got you on the last lap…
Hammal: I felt weirdly confident going into the race, someone actually said to me, top 10 this weekend, I was like, I’ll faint if I get top 10, and then I almost had it and I was like bloody hell, I did have a little tear up with my Dad at the end, after that race. It’s brilliant because like everyone in my family was there, and it just was nice that they were there, all the years of them getting me to that point, it was just nice for everybody. It was definitely the best race of my career.
GateDrop: What was it like to be racing Foxhills, so old school, I mean they raced there in the 90s for the GPs, I thought the atmosphere was amazing, I thought the track was amazing, I thought it was really good, I couldn’t say much bad about it to be honest…
Hammal: No, the only thing I’ll say was that the banks to sit on were bit steep it was a nightmare but, the amount of people there… What it felt like in that little area, it was amazing, because the little valley creates a bit of an atmosphere, and what they’d done to the track was amazing. Everyone thought, what can they do, but I think they proved everyone wrong, the people that were a bit negative. They’re going back next year, and who knows going forward, but definitely I think most riders enjoyed it. I mean there were so many lines, there was so much soil in the ground. A good job to everyone, it was probably one of the best GPs. I mean I only done that one this year, but I’ve rode at so many others, it is my condition and I did enjoy it.
GateDrop: The British Championship, you’re probably sick of finishing 4th all the time, but I mean just how tough is it with those three in front of you, they’re racing GPs every week as well which probably helps them, but how intense is it, and the start is so important, I feel like if you start behind those guys, you might be the same speed or faster, but it’s hard to catch them and then pass them…
Hammal: Like you said, Conrad is a bit more consistent. Sometimes Ben and Oriol are as fast but they’re a bit more inconsistent than Conrad. I’m not fast enough to catch them and pass them, so if I’m there with them I can run that. I’ve had so many times where I should have been on the podium, but it just hasn’t fallen my way, like Canada Heights, I was on for it again, then the red flag, and then Landrake, I was two laps away and I crashed. I mean Ben, look at his result from Arnhem. Obviously everybody knows how fast Conrad is, Oriol was really strong this year in the GP’s then there’s Sterry and Gilbert, they’re really quick. It’s definitely good, I felt like I made the jump into that group this year. I’ve just been enjoying it.
GateDrop: You got the big call from Mark Chamberlain to go and race the Motocross des Nations, how did that feel?
Hammal: I don’t know how it felt…
GateDrop: I’m sure you were happy!
Hammal: Yeah, I was. I sort of knew a little bit, but I didn’t know I was going to be picked up to that week. It was almost, I can’t describe it, it was like when my partner said she was going into labour, it was like, it’s finally happening, I just felt over the moon, but nervous and thought, shit, it’s the reality, but this is what I wanted. I’ve been all in, I’ve been training hard, and everything, it just felt really nice. There were people saying about Conrad not doing it, everyone knows he’s our best, quickest rider, so if he’s not doing it, there must be a reason why, and I’ve said yes, I’ll do it, and I’ll give it everything. I think we’re all triers, the ones they picked, and that’s not to be against anyone else, I’m just honoured to be picked.
GateDrop: And Ernee, how do you think you’re going to feel before it? It’s alright doing an individual race, but riding for your country, it’s a bit different?
Hammal: I think there’s like 70-80 people, friends and family going over for me. They’ve all got costumes but I’m just trying to focus on my own thing at the minute. It’s like a GP but on the Saturday, not everyone is in the same race, so I feel confident again like I was going into Foxhill. It’s that sort of track, and hopefully it’ll be rough and rutted, that’s what I like, so I’m looking forward to it. I’ve been putting in a bit of work riding as well, with Ben and the other guys, so it’ll be good.
GateDrop: Any plans for next year yet,and are we likely to see you do a few more GP races, that’s what I would like to see, because if you get used to that level, I think it can only help you…
Hammal: I’m going to do five GPs at the minute, that is definite and then we will see how I go. I will be with Kawasaki again so it should be good.
