Pauls Jonass on getting on the podium at his home MXGP and overcoming early season difficulties
Coming into the season, Pauls Jonass didn’t have the ideal off-season due to injury issues. The Standing Construct Husqvarna rider missed the opening round at Matterley Basin to undergo an operation but despite little prep he has showed some great race in the MXGP class this year.
Unfortunately, illness at Arco di Trento hindered him but at Latvia in front of his home MXGP event he was in superb form finishing second overall.
Jonass discussed his home GP and start of the season in the press conference after Kegums.
On finishing second overall at his home Grand Prix…
It was almost a dream come true this weekend which is to win my home grand prix. It was close but Tim Gajser rode very well these two days, in fact he is riding very well at the beginning of the season. I tried to stay calm but it was not easy with all the emotion and the support from the fans. I was able to get a holeshot in the second moto and that hadn’t happened to me in a long time, so that was really cool and I was really happy with that. We’ve been working a lot with the team this week, the mechanics have had some very short nights to get the bike ready and I can only thank them because they are working really hard to get me here today. What people see is that I am on the podium, but it is thanks to them, they deserve it as much as I do. I’m very happy with this result, I felt good on the bike this weekend. It was a great feeling and we will try to build on this momentum for the next GP at Maggiora.
On dealing with early season issues…
To secure this first podium of the season, it feels good because there is always pressure, the pressure to finally get on this podium. I had a difficult off-season because of my injury, I had stomach problems at the last GP in Arco Di Trento and that was another setback. The beginning of the year was really difficult but the team supported me in the difficult moments and I hope that from now on everything will be fine. I was feeling really good at the beginning of the season, but I was really lacking some riding time, time on the bike. Now that we can really train normally during the week, we can improve.
On his hopes of winning an MXGP overall…
I hope I can win a Grand Prix but I don’t want to put the cart before the horse, I have to keep my feet on the ground. Tim is riding really strong this year and I still need to improve. I know I have the speed and the pace to ride at the front but I still need to work, to spend more time on the bike. I hope that next year I can fight again for a chance to win at home Grand Prix.
Pic: Full Spectrum Media
