Gariboldi Honda rider Tim Gajser is still a massive favorite to win this year’s MXGP championship. With a 65-point lead going into the last two rounds he should be able to wrap it up this weekend in America. However, the mental strain on being so close showed last weekend in Assen when he crashed many times and eventually DNFed the second moto for zero points.

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Gajser tough is a smart kid, and I get the feeling this weekend in Charlotte he will come out fighting and try and wrap the title up in the opening moto. His battle with former AMA champion Eli Tomac is going to be worth watching and with his ultimate goal to race in USA in 2018, you have to feel this is also an important step in his progress.

We sat down with him and asked him about what happened in Assen, and also what he expects from the USGP in Charlotte this weekend.

Tim, can you explain how you feel about Assen?

Sure I am disappointed, but that can happen and really quickly. I was on the ground a lot. I came back to 12th in the first moto. Second moto I was battling and trying to reset myself. Not a bad start and good lines and I was behind Clement and went off the track and broke my front brake and gas cable, then it was over.

Tim could of clinched in Assen, but will have to wait until Charlotte. The #243 clinched his 2015 MX2 Championship in the US as well. Photo by: MXGP
Tim could of clinched in Assen, but will have to wait until Charlotte. The #243 clinched his 2015 MX2 Championship in the US as well. Photo by: MXGP

I noticed when you crashed in that second moto and your bike was stuck it was like you were looking for help to get it out of the fence, then maybe realized that wasn’t allowed?

The bike was stuck in the fence and I couldn’t take it. I was looking around to see if somebody would help me, but finally I got it out myself.

 

Did you think too much about the championship coming into Assen and that made it more difficult?

For sure, it is tough to say right now, I try and concentrate on the races, but you have in the back off your mind the championship. I will try and learn as much as possible and head to US.

 

Were you nervous before the weekend?

You know, I didn’t feel any pressure, but I knew it would be tough. Last year the track was kind of strange and even more so this year, with the storm and rain, it was really knarly and tough. I can tell you I am very disappointed, I know I could do much better, but that is what it is and we take what we get and next week we go to US and I am really excited to race over there.

 

On Saturday and also Sunday first moto you looked cautious. Was that the case?

Actually, I wasn’t so relaxed, it wasn’t me. I was too tight and didn’t feel good on the track, also crashing a lot. In the second race I found some rhythm and I started catching Clement and Tony in front of me. Then I made a mistake and it was over for me, a DNF with no points.

The big question for us in the US is, will Tim Gasjer race SX in 2017 or wait until 2018?
The big question for us in the US is, will Tim Gasjer race SX in 2017 or wait until 2018?

How will you now get yourself mentally right for Charlotte?

It is all mental. I am in the best shape I can be in I feel good physically. Mentally I just try and go back in Slovenia, regroup and speak with my dad what I did here. Hopefully next weekend will go better.

 

Will your dad be angry with you? How does he deal with a day like Assen?

He will be angry for sure. He is like that. He knows I can do much better than I did this weekend and I am also angry with myself. It’s a disappointing weekend for the team, and that is how it is you know. That is sport, it can happen to everyone. You cannot win all the races and all the GPs, sport isn’t like that, so sometimes you have a bad weekend.

 

How excited are you about heading over to America?

For sure it’s exciting to be riding with the bike names from US racing, I am excited for Charlotte, but for sure I will take it like all the other races. Try and go and have fun and enjoy riding.

Click to check out what's new at Race Tech
Click to check out what’s new at Race Tech

Will you race with those guys, or be thinking about the championship?

Depends how I feel. If I can see it, I will race with them. It isn’t easy, we go to their country, they know how to ride over there, everything is different the ground, everything. If I see I can race with them, then I will battle for the win. If I have to risk a lot to battle with them, then I will not risk that.

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