Interview: Tim Gajser on winning MXGP Matterley Basin MXoN and his battle with Jett Lawrence

Images: Nigel McKinstry | Interview: Andy McKinstry

It might have been a heartbreak for Tim Gajser after missing out on the world title in Spain but he’s the man of the moment after his incredible performance at Matterley Basin MXoN going 1-1.

The Slovenian pulled out a superb pass on Jett Lawrence with two corners to go as the crowd went wild. We caught up with Gajser to discuss the weekend and much more…

GateDrop: Tim, I just want to say thank you, that was one of the best races ever. Just talk me through it from your side, it was unbelievable…

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Gajser: I mean, yeah, it was amazing, you know, even I enjoyed it. I was the one to ride, but I had so much fun riding the track. The track was really technical, really difficult, you know, like with deep rocks, deep lines, but I was actually enjoying it a lot all the weekend. Had a solid start in both moto’s, made some passes in the beginning, and riding really clean and smooth. So, yeah, really happy with the riding and how everything ended.

GateDrop: I mean, in that second moto you’re riding really, really well, you’re pulling away from everyone, but then Jett did what Jett does…What’s going through your head when he passes you, because you’re riding so well, like there’s not much else you could have done…

Gajser: Actually, I was a bit surprised, you know because pit lane straight, they rip it like freshly, so, you know, there was some bumps and quite deep and long ruts, so it was not easy to really see the pit board.

So, I knew when I passed Eli, like I could hear him a couple of laps still behind me, you know, a couple of seconds, but after I kind of like didn’t hear anymore. So, I know that I have some gap, but actually I was not really expecting Jett to be on my rear wheel when he was that close to me. Then also we caught some lappers and something was on the track, like after the finish line and then the table top and then on the straight towards the corner on the start, I almost crashed there, because I think something was on the track.

I nearly missed it, lost a couple of seconds there, and then he caught me, he passed me, and I know because at that moment I was just cruising, you know, I had some, let’s say, you know, if I needed to push, I had something…you know. Then when he passed me, then we pushed a little bit more, and I was trying to search for the lines where I could make a passes. I found some good lines and then managed to make a good corner, you know, like before the triple up, get a good drive, then I was next to him, and then just make a block pass, you know, with two corners to go. So, yeah, the feeling was amazing.

GateDrop: Jett, whenever he did pass you, he made a couple of mistakes as well, but whenever you were behind him, were you able to pick up anything from him that he was doing that maybe you weren’t doing or not so much?

Gajser: Actually, he was riding quite similar lines to me, you know. We found, I mean, we both found some nice lines, you know, fast, smooth. It was not easy so you really had to be smart and clever, you know, to find these kind of lines. But then when I was behind him, and actually, like, when I was on his real wheel, if I would follow him, you know, it’s actually difficult to make a pass. So I knew that I had to try some different lines if I want to make a pass for the lead, and that’s exactly what I did. I executed the pass with two corners to go, and that was good.

Image: Nigel McKinstry

GateDrop: And last weekend, it was heartbreak. How motivated were you this weekend? Because no disrespect to Slovenia, but, you know, they’re not going to win the event. I’m sure you know that yourself but you still let it out on the line. Did you want to prove that you’re still one of the best in the world and on your day and to be the best in the world this weekend?

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Gajser: Exactly. I mean, obviously, last weekend was difficult, you know, especially losing the title with a couple of points, you know. But that’s motocross, you know. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. But I was really motivated coming into this event, you know, this week, because I really like the Matterley Basin track. I always enjoy riding here, you know. I always say, and I think many, many riders in the planet would agree with me, it’s one of the best tracks in the world.

Having a good, solid teammates as well, you know, gives me a lot of motivation, because Pancar showed in the last couple of GP’s that he proved that he could ride up front, you know, in top 10 consistently, sometimes top 5 like in China. So actually also today, you know, we finished 7th. That’s the best ever result for Slovenia, such a small country. So, yeah, pretty happy.

Image: Nigel McKinstry

GateDrop: How much respect have you got for Jan Pancar? Because it’s basically him and his dad rocking up to the GP’s in a van… He’s riding stock bikes. He’s going back to Slovenia. His father has to work. It’s pretty unbelievable, the job he’s doing… Just a shout out to him…

Gajser:  I mean, like, it’s crazy. Just hats down. I always, when I talk to them, like, huge respect to his father, to him, you know. We all know that it’s not easy what they are doing. Travelling alone around the Europe, around the world, actually. He raced all the GP’s even overseas in Indonesia, China, Argentina. He rode really amazing, you know. For his first year on the 450cc, I think he learned a lot. I think next year he’s going to come back even stronger.

Image: Nigel McKinstry

GateDrop: You’ve got a good friendship with the Coenen’s. How did all that come about? You’ve spent a lot of time with them this year. And they’ve been out in Croatia, riding at your track as well…

Gajser: Yes, I mean, the Coenen brothers, Sacha and Lucas, they are great kids, you know. We always park together in the paddock. We both have quite similar, quite big motorhomes. And we always get parked next to each other. In the evenings we spend a lot of time, you know, we play Uno together and talking, you know, hanging around. So, they’ve been also at my Tiga land. We spent, let’s say, two, three weeks together training. It’s super nice to have such amazing kids, you know.

GateDrop: And if Lucas moves up to MXGP next year, you’ll be racing him. What will that be like? He’s a young gun and he’s not scared to hang it out…

Gajser: Of course. I mean, Lucas is really fast, you know. He showed this at the last couple of GPs, you know. Also the consistency that maybe he was missing on the beginning of the year, you know. Because I felt, and he showed to everyone that on a good day, you know, nobody was able to come really close to him. He’s moving up, so definitely he’s going to be really strong next year. But, you know, it’s nice to have them.

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GateDrop: What’s the plan now for you? Time off. Have you got a holiday? Go somewhere nice and sunny and lie on a beach somewhere?

Gajser: Not yet, actually. I have testing…

GateDrop: Really?!

Gajser: Yes. I like to do testing straight awat after a season because I’m still in good shape. So, we’re going to do testing in the next couple of weeks and then a bit of holidays. And then we start all over again, you know. It’s going to be soon January when we go to Sardinia, you know, for pre-season trainings and then we start the pre-season races in February. Then it’s going to be like March. It’s going to be really quick here.

Image: Nigel McKinstry

GateDrop: Just how tough is it on the body? I mean, 20 GP rounds, two-day format, the pre-season races. How motivated are you to get this sixth world title, especially after this year being so close? I mean, if China didn’t happen, you probably would have been world champion…

Gajser: Yeah, I mean, it’s not easy, you know, especially having 20 GP’s. This year we have to be already there on Friday, you know. Friday we have start practice. So, basically, it went from two days, it went to three days, you know, being on the bike so the weekend is always really long. We have to travel Thursday morning on a race and then you came back basically Monday. So, you spend the most of the days in the week, you know, at the race. But, yeah, it’s the same for everyone. But, anyway, you know, now a bit of rest. Then we go again next year.

GateDrop: Perfect, Tim. Thanks for your time and see you next year.