Photos by: Ray Archer
Monster Energy SDR Kawasaki rider Tommy Searle is doing if a little different in 2016. A factory rider for as long as we can remember the 26-year-old Brit is riding for Steve Dixon’s team, and while it might look like a demotion, it might also be the change he needs to find his feet again.
A handful of injuries in the last few years haven’t helped the career of Searle, a rider who has 14 Grand Prix victories to his name, and only Antonio Cairoli and Clement Desalle have more (from riders in the MXGP class). You can be sure Searle will make progress in 2016, and his opening round performance of 9-8 was pretty close to what he expected first time out on the Kawasaki 450.
Always looking the part, and decked out in his new Answer Racing riding gear, Searle looked in good form, and no doubt we will see him up front in many races in 2016.
We caught up with Searle and asked him about his weekend in Qatar and what he expects from this season.
Tommy, it’s a little of a demotion riding for a privateer team, but I guess that also brings less pressure. How do you feel?
I probably feel the best I have felt in a long time really. Going to America to train was good for me. Last year I probably did a little too much in the pre-season and was riding the same track every single day in Rome. Rode a lot of different tracks in America, then rode some different tracks in England. Went to Spain with Justin Morris the week before Qatar, and that was better than I expected. I feel more relaxed than I have in a long time really.
How did you feel in Qatar?
I was pretty happy; it’s nice to leave the race healthy and in each session I learnt more, rode smooth, made no mistakes and I had good lap times. I was one of the fastest riders so there’s nothing to worry about and step by step I think I can get up to the front. I had injuries each of the last two seasons so it’s important for me to get some races under my belt. The track was bumpy; you have to be sensible here with the darkness but overall it was a good weekend.
Steve makes good bikes, but he sometimes pushed a little too hard and has some DNF’s. How has the bike been for you?
For the most part I just rode a standard bike in America with KWP suspension, Pro-Circuit pipe and luckily with the 450 the standard bikes are great. At Hawkstone Park we tried the three speed and we went away from that direction and back to standard a little. I said to Steve I don’t want to do anything stupid and I felt going the three speed direction wasn’t needed with the 450. If anything I didn’t like the gears or anything. With a 250 he can build a good one, one of the best on the track, but a 450 Steve needs to learn that himself and it’s a learning process. Steve hasn’t had a 450 rider for a while on a Kawasaki and we have some bits and pieces on the bike, but I feel comfortable on it and I am confident on the bike.
How was your mind set for Qatar?
For me, like I said I felt really relaxed going into Qatar and I figured a podium was possible, but was also happy with two top ten finishes. I have had some injuries and everyone looks so close. I know I am a consistent rider normally, I always was in MX2 and I was in my first year in MX1. I never finished worse than a sixth place and I believe I am a better rider than most in the MXGP class and I put in a lot of hard work. I know I can run at the front and I need to be consistent again and ride relaxed, enjoy myself more.
