Janis Reisulis enjoyed a breakthrough weekend at the MXGP of Portugal in Agueda, securing the first MX2 World Championship podium of his career.
The talented Latvian looked at home at the front of the field throughout the weekend, showing impressive speed and consistency in the challenging conditions. Strong starts in both motos proved crucial, allowing him to battle with the leading riders and ultimately finish 2-4 for second overall – a deserved reward for his progress during his rookie MX2 campaign.
After celebrating his maiden Grand Prix podium, Reisulis reflected on what the result means and the confidence it has given him moving forward.
“It was a really good day and I’m incredibly happy with my result. To claim my first Grand Prix podium in the MX2 class is a really special moment. I really enjoyed riding today. The pace was good, I felt comfortable on the bike, and being able to battle with the front-runners throughout the races gave me a lot of confidence. A huge thank you to the whole team, all of our sponsors, and everyone who has supported me. This is an important milestone, and now the goal is to keep working hard and build on this result”.
Reisulis admitted he arrived at Agueda with a different mindset after a couple of difficult rounds, feeling he had nothing to lose. That relaxed approach, combined with two strong starts, helped unlock his best performance to date in the MX2 class.
“Actually, I was feeling very calm this weekend. I don’t know, maybe just because the last two races were not how I really wanted. In my head, I really felt like there’s nothing to lose, I’m just going to go for it. I think two quite good starts helped me. The first laps I could stay with Guillem. I was feeling also good on the track and had a nice flow. I was just keeping it in control”.
The Yamaha rider also explained one of the biggest differences between the EMX250 Championship, where he enjoyed plenty of success, and the intensity of MX2 racing. He believes he is gradually adapting to the relentless pace required over the full race distance.
“MX2 is actually really different than the European Championship. In the EMX250 class, you can relax a bit at the end of the moto, because no one’s really pushing anymore. In MX2, the end of the moto, the intensity is sometimes higher than in the beginning and that’s what I’ve been losing at the beginning of the season. I already improved this weekend, so I’m slowly getting into this class”.
Good starts were another key factor behind his podium finish, with Reisulis highlighting just how important track position has become in the highly competitive MX2 category.
“Of course, if you don’t get a good start, then you’re already 20 seconds behind the leader in the second and third lap. Starts are very important in MX2. This weekend gave me a lot of experience, keeping it up at the front and also in the last laps, pushing”.
Finally, Reisulis spoke about the demanding conditions in Agueda and how growing up riding a variety of track surfaces in Latvia has helped prepare him for weekends like this.
“I think Latvians are good normally in all kinds of terrains, because in Latvia we have hard pack tracks, tracks similar to this one, then really sandy ones. I really liked the conditions today, maybe a bit too muddy for me in the first laps. I had to fight a little bit with the bike to keep myself on two wheels and at the same time push to the front. I think the track was really nice, there were some more options, especially towards the end of the race and it was really a track to enjoy”.
The podium marks another significant step in Reisulis’ development as he continues to establish himself in MX2. With his confidence growing and the intensity of Grand Prix racing becoming more familiar, the Latvian will be hoping Agueda is the first of many podium finishes at World Championship level.
