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Interview Honda images Bavo Swijgers
Two time World Motocross Champion Tim Gajser needs little introduction to the motocross fanatic. Having claimed his first title in the MX2 class in 2015, he then moved to the MXGP class and straight away saw success with his second championship in 2016.
Since those glory days, 2017 and 2018 saw some troubles with injuries and of course the domination by KTM with Antonio Cairoli and Jeffrey Herlings. Gajser though knows that he has the speed and bike to reclaim World honours, and his eye is firmly set on taking championship number three in 2019. Last week we caught up with Gajser in Sardinia this week, and was kind enough to forward us this interview. Honda/Bavo Swijgers images. MXlarge: We’re in Sardinia now. The off-season training is well underway. How has it been so far, at the end of last and now the beginning of this year? Gajser: Last year with the end of the season I was quite happy. I was kind of coming back. The feeling was coming back, the one that I had when I was winning the races, feeling comfortable on the bike. Also during the off-season now I really feel comfortable on the bike. I feel like we have everything what we need. I think the most important thing is to stay healthy, to be injury-free. I hope that this year can be our year. I feel really good in the team with the mechanics, with all the crew over here. So we are working hard. We have the same goal. I think during the season we just have to be consistent, try to be always there every race. You don’t need to win, but top three, top five, it’s okay. Consistently. Try to not make too many mistakes and definitely to go all the series, to do all the rounds. Q: Just how hard was it last year to be sitting on the sidelines for that first race and missing it, and then playing catch-up the whole year, really? Gajser: It was horrible. I was really down, but that’s how it is. That’s life. You have to pick up yourself and just go back, work even harder, even if it’s really tough. When you know that they are racing and you can’t, and they are getting like race fit. I was missing first race. When I came back in Valkenswaard they have already one race under the belt. I still didn’t know how I will do. It was difficult. The first part was difficult. Like
I said, I was training hard and tried to pick up my speed and my confidence back and try to be better and better each race. Definitely was not fun. Q: Is the mental aspect of an injury as much as important as actually recovering physically, in terms of you can’t let yourself get too demoralized and too unhappy that they’re riding, and I’m not? Gajser: I think I didn’t lose so much on the physical side. Mentally I was completely down. Physically I think one month after the crash I was in quite good shape. But when you are not mentally 100% it’s tough. I always say like that, you win the race with your head. So if you are confident, if you believe in yourself, you just can’t wait to go racing. But when you have an injury, when you are not 100%, when you are not sure where you belong… You are kind of asking questions to yourself, like how it’s going to go. You’re not sure in yourself. You don’t trust in yourself as well. I think that was the biggest problem this year, mental side. Definitely. Past two years, I would say, with the injuries. Q: Perhaps you’re one of the biggest examples. When you’re having fun on the bike you’re riding well. It’s easy to see when you’re having fun on the bike because you start being a bit more stylish. Do you find that’s the case? When you’re enjoying it, it’s easier to scrub, it’s easier to whip? Gajser: Sure. When you’re having fun out there, when you are one with the bike, definitely it’s easier to scrub because you trust the bike, you trust yourself. You are more comfortable on the bike. Definitely it’s easier to ride smoother and more nicer, I would say. When you are struggling, you are tight. You get arm pump, stuff like that. Definitely when you have fun you can go really fast. Q: You mentioned earlier, it is a long season. We’ve got a few new races in China, Hong Kong. We’ve got a different
one in Indonesia. Do you look forward to the travel and to going to these new tracks? Or is it a bit like, I wish they’d just be in Europe? Gajser: No, it’s always nice to go in some new countries. I think that’s what’s all about world championship. It’s called world championship, so it has to be all around the globe, not just in Europe. Definitely it’s cool to go in China, to go Hong Kong, and Shanghai as well. I just kind of miss my Mexico. I like that track. Also to go to US. I miss these kinds of rounds. But anyway, from my perspective we have a good calendar. We have nice races. We’re looking forward for this season. Q: I looked through the calendar and it seems there is a good mix of hard pack, sand, sort of loamy dirt. Do you sort of circle ones in the calendar? Obviously Trentino is a favorite one for you. Are there any other ones? Gajser: Sure. I’m really looking forward for Matterley Basin. That’s one of my favorite tracks. Argentina also. These kinds of tracks with huge jumps, big speed. I kind of like these tracks. Also Arco. Many fans are going to be there again. Also Czech Republic. The closest ones to my home. We’re looking forward. Also Semarang. I like that track as well, with the huge jumps there. Q: Semarang, were you surprised when you first got to the track? I’d seen some pictures and it looked pretty flat, but when you got there, it was amazing, in my opinion. Gajser: Yeah, it was amazing. The track was wide with some really huge jumps, big triples. So I really enjoy it there. Also I had one of the best races over there. I was kind of leading almost all the first moto. I got passed a couple of laps before the end by Jeffrey, but actually it was a good race over there.
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His Biggest Victory Interview Geoff Meyer images Ray Archer
The motocross World was in shock last November when news came out that Stefan Everts was fighting for his life in a Belgian hospital. The greatest motocross rider of all time had fallen ill with the dangerous virus malaria. Now two months after Stefan was admitted to hospital, he is recovering at home, and starting to build his condition back. It has been a long and at time lethal period, one that has changed the way Stefan looks at life. We caught up with “The King” and he told us of his fight, and how it has changed him. MXlarge: Firstly, it is fantastic to be speaking with you, because when I heard the news of your sickness, like many of us in the motocross I was very sad. I wouldn’t say we are friends, but we have shared some nice times together and your sickness really shocked me and the whole motocross World. How are you doing now? Everts: I am much better thanks. MXlarge: I remember we were speaking around the time of your birthday. What happened after that? Everts: Well, as I told you, we went on holidays for two weeks and then I went to the Congo for an enduro race and they were having a special race and they asked me to come. They never thought I would come, but then a friend asked me if I wanted to join him, he knows me a long time and we raced together in the early years. He told me about the race and the organization and I said ok, I will go. I left to Congo, left on the Tuesday and was back on the Sunday, just for the race. Two weeks later, I started feeling sick, on the Saturday evening. MXlarge: That must have been a few days after your birthday? Everts: Yes. I started feeling a fever and was really cold, so I took some pills at home and then a couple of days later I went to the doctor and he said it was some kind of flu. So he gave me some pills, but the day after I just got worse and worse and he said something is wrong, we need to go to the emergency. So this happened Saturday night and Tuesday, Kelly brought me to the emergency and I don’t even remember that. I was in
the hospital Tuesday and Wednesday and they found I had malaria. They checked my blood to give me the right antibiotics. The doctor told me I had a very high percentage of malaria in my blood, something like 25%. That is the highest you can get, but it dropped really fast to 4%, but it was too late for all my organs, because all the parasites, which are in the mosquito, they started attacking my liver and my kidney. Because I have no spleen, the spleen usually a cleaner, cleans out the bad things, but the parasite attack your red blood cells and they start to put your system upside down and it’s hard for the blood cells to pass through the feet and hands. Wednesday afternoon things got a lot worse, and they decided to take me to another hospital in Leuven. That was a lucky thing to do, because they put all the machines on me and they finally said it was up to me and my body to come through this. MXlarge: So they put you into a coma state? Everts: Yes, they did. I was for two weeks in a coma. MXlarge: You often hear about people in a coma state and trying to stay alive. Do you remember anything from that period? Everts: No, I can’t really remember anything, its blank. It was more a drama for friends and family, seeing me laying there. My hands and everything were really cold and there was a risk I could lose my fingers and my feet. When they started to give me medicines to get all
my blood to my heart, to recover the kidney and liver, because that was threatening my life, it meant even less blood circulation to my feet and my hands, and that is what I am struggling with that the moment. They are all fine, my 10 fingers are all still alive, but yes, that is a struggle at the moment. I am not sore, but my fingers are not flexible anymore and I need to get that back. MXlarge: Is the prognosis that you will come back to 100% health? Everts: Maybe not 100%, but yes, you know, all the skin came off my hands and also my feet the skin is coming off. My small toes, are partly not alive anymore and the doctor will decide if some of them have to come off, but that will take a few more months. MXlarge: I know you are a positive guy and you have come out of this, and the love you must have received from your family and friends, but also the motocross community, that must have given you a lot of emotion? Everts: Yes, sure, I was very surprised all the messages I got from around the World and also my close friends and family. I can’t remember much of it, but they slowly started waking me up, maybe every day half an hour or something like that. I remember some people standing next to my bed. It is a bit weird, because it is a mess inside my head, some things I was mixing up. I saw Liam (Stefan’s son) with a ponytail and earrings, somebody showed me a photo of Miley (Stefan’s daughter) and I said it was somebody else. All the medicines and the coma, did that. They also thought maybe I had some issues with my brain, but they have done tests and my brain is good, no damage anywhere. Lucky that is all good. MXlarge: I can imagine at the moment, you are just happy to be recovering and not thinking too much about anything else. Is that true? Everts: Yes, that is true. It isn’t like before when I raced which race I come back. The doctors, family and friends, everyone says take your time, and I really need to take my time, because with my feet, they hurt a lot at some moments. It is going better now, but this is the most important thing now. MXLarge: I can imagine that this has changed your outlook to life. You are a perfectionist, and I know you mentioned how you have been hard on Liam in the past. Has that changed a bit now with this, do you appreciate simple things more maybe?
Everts: At the beginning, at the start, when I started coming back, yes, I see things different now. I think I want to bring down my pace. I was going really fast through life. Some things you don’t stand still enough with it and enjoy moments. For sure, I am going to try and enjoy my time with my family more, with my kids and Kelly. So from that side, yes, some things have changed in my mind. The pressure on my kids, that is also going to be a little bit less. MXlarge: It’s funny, but I know the toughest periods in my life, my divorce and the passing of both my parents were periods where afterwards really positive things happened in my life. I guess that aspect of taking a positive from a negative situation. Everts: Yes, that is the way it goes. If everything is good, you just do your own thing, but when something bad happens, you think more and things change. I think also the older you get, the more you change. MXlarge: Well, as I said, it is nice to be talking with you after such a horrible experience. Everts: It was close, very close, but I think my time wasn’t there yet. I was lucky I had a fit body, I was still working a lot with my fitness and that helped me. What surprised me the most was when the doctor told me I was the first one he knew who survived malaria at such a high level? That was a shock and I got very emotional days after that and I was so happy to see family and friends. MXlarge: I know it isn’t really a priority, but when will we see Stefan Everts back at the motocross? Can you leave the house yet? Everts: I am actually in a special clinic since New Year, where they do revalidation, where you can work on your fitness, or their problems. There are all kinds of sick people here, broken backs, or lost a leg, or heart problems. You see a lot of people with serious problems. MXlarge: How long do you have to stay there? Everts: Yes, today I got the news I can go home. I was home on weekends, but now I can stay home, and work from home and have somebody help me there. MXlarge: Thanks for talking Stefan, I think it is good for people to know how you are doing and how the recovery is going. Everts: Yes, I think it will be a happy end, maybe some things will be a little different from now on, but most important is I am still alive. I will hopefully be at Valkenswaard.
Marvelous Marvin Interview Dan Lamb images KTM
Round 5 of the 2019 AMA Supercross Championship saw the second mud race of the early season on Saturday with less-than-ideal conditions at San Diego’s Petco Park. Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Marvin Musquin fought his way through the chaos to earn his third consecutive podium finish in second. With heavy rainfall coming down all morning and afternoon, the on-track schedule was delayed and condensed, beginning with only one timed qualifying session later in the afternoon. Riders had one opportunity to put down a fast lap, which would ultimately decide their gate pick for the evening’s heat races. Due to the brutal track conditions, the decision was later made to shorten the Main Events by five minutes each.
Musquin had no trouble putting in a fast lap, as he qualified third in the mud and earned a favorable start position for the heat race. With rainfall coming to a halt just before the start of the night program, track conditions began to worsen as the dirt tacked up and became very heavy on the riders and equipment. As the gate dropped for 450SX Heat 2, Musquin had trouble getting off the gate as he found himself buried in the pack early on. He quickly climbed up to fifth on the opening lap and continued to charge his way into third, where he grabbed a solid transfer into the main. In the Main Event, Musquin didn’t get the best start once again as he rounded the opening lap in tenth place. He made a big charge on lap two, swiftly climbing his way from tenth to sixth in the matter of a few sections. With two laps to go, Musquin moved into thirdplace and set his sights on claiming the final podium position. However, the Frenchmen found an additional burst in the final moments as he closed in on the second-place rider of Ken Roczen. Roczen made a bobble and Musquin capitalized as he blitzed his way past for second just before the checkers. With three consecutive runner-up finishes, Musquin sits only four points away from the 450SX Championship lead after five rounds. Motocross Illustrated: How did San Diego feel? Musquin: “It was a crazy day, and a long day. We waited all day to get out and do only one practice but I was able to qualify good in third and take third in my heat race. I didn’t get a great start in the Main Event and the dirt was so heavy it was packed up in my goggles and my helmet was really heavy. I scraped my goggles on the first lap a couple times to save my roll-off and it worked until the end, which was great. I came back after that but I had no idea where I was to try to make passes. It’s crazy because you don’t want to crash, but you want to try to pass guys in front of you and make up time. But you also try to be safe and try to stay on two wheels, and that’s what I did. I knew Kenny [Roczen] was in front of me at the end
but I didn’t know if that was for third or second – and then I crossed the finish line and looked at the board and it was a second, which is great. I’m glad I’m on the podium tonight and now go to the east coast with a dome stadium and a dry track!”
Motocross Illustrated: You talked about how everyone was doing the same things for the most part on this track but still you were able to chop off big chunks of time quickly in the end on Cooper. Where did you think you were making that time up? A little bit everywhere?
Motocross Illustrated: Marvin, second the week prior in Oakland. Hard to Musquin: Yeah, I think a little bit be mad at that, but how did you feel everywhere. I think over by the meabout your day? chanics area—that little jump right after. I think I was a little bit better. Musquin: Mixed emotions obviously. I want to say thanks to DV [trainer The track was pretty cool but everyDavid Vuillemin]. We work good on one was doing the same rhythms and lines, bike positions and stuff like that. it was super close in lap times. Only I’ve been enjoying it even though it’s the whoops separated a little bit I never easy, when you get to the main, guess. At the end I put up a decent lap those whoops are ruined. When you time. I was fourth in the heat race and see some riders killing in practice and wasn’t too happy, but I was looking struggling in the main, it shows you forward to the main. I know it was how different it gets. going to be rough. I got a great start in the main. That was key. Then I was Motocross Illustrated: Has Cooper running comfortable in second behind surprised you at all so far? You’ve Cooper. I was waiting and following been training with him this offseason him, but not like I was just riding so I know you know how he’s been around. (laughs) doing at the test track, but he’s surprised most people. Motocross Illustrated: It looked like Coop would get a little distance then Musquin: Cooper definitely had a you would reel it back in. good offseason. He put in some good work No excuses, but that’s the way Musquin: I knew…It’s a long main it was. He got a great start. When event—20-minutes. If you’re following you see Phoenix; he didn’t get a great the leader but you can’t really pass start and he got 10th. The level right him, you want to stay there and push now is super tough. You never know towards the end of the moto. Unforwho’s going to be on the podium. tunately I relaxed a little too much Starts are important. But yeah, he did before the whoops and I lost the really well once again today. He was front end in that left turn. From that I able to be leading right away and he thought I was done. I mean done! wasn’t eating dirt in that sand section. I fought hard and it was a good race. Motocross Illustrated: I have to admit, I thought you were done to. Es- Motocross Illustrated: While you havpecially when you dropped all the way en’t gotten a win yet, you’re only two back to 7th behind Kenny [Roczen] points away from the red plate your and Eli [Tomac]. teammate has now. You have feel like you’re in a good spot? Musquin: Done for the podium at least. I was back and then Tomac got Musquin: Yeah, of course. I don’t me and I got him back. To be able really look at the Championship to be to pass Tomac back, pull away, pass honest. Obviously I hear people saying Kenny and pull away, it was great. It it so I cannot not know, but I’ve never showed the speed and intensity that I been in that position to be so close to had. To pass the [points] leader after the leader in the Championship. So I a crash like that, I’m proud of myguess that’s a positive. I’m doing a lot self right now obviously, but when I better with the knee and I’m able to crossed the finish I was bummed. For practice hard during the week. It can sure I maybe I could have won, but I only get better from here. have got to be happy with that.
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Starting Over Interview Geoff Meyer images Simon Cudby
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna rider Thomas Covington might be one of the best motocross riders in the World, and his handful of GP victories prove that, but in 2019, it will be supercross that the likeable American will be racing. Always smooth and in control on the GP circuits, you can be sure that those qualities will help him get through the tough World of AMA supercross. Covington will make his supercross debut at the Minneapolis round on February 9, and you can be sure a lot of the European fans will be watching and hoping their favourite American rider will come through with some consistent results.
MXlarge: Thanks for your time Thomas. I know you had trouble leaving Europe, but it must be nice to be back home? Covington: Yes, for sure. It is always nice coming home, no matter when. It’s been nice to be around the family and riding with a lot of the guys I grew up with, and a lot of the tracks. I am actually down here in Florida, training at Carmichael farm. Back when I was on 65s and 80s I spent a bit of time down here so it’s nice. It’s nice to see Ricky and Jeanie again.
way to get that is to line up and go racing. MXlarge: I can imagine when you came to Europe, you were very young. A totally different World in Europe and you must have been pretty nervous about that. How do the nerves compare now, going into supercross compared to back when you arrived in Europe as a kid?
Covington: Yes, I guess it’s pretty similar, maybe a bit more in supercross, because you are in the stadium, with all the fans. I guess also, because I grew up watching supercross, since MXlarge: That’s pretty nice. I can imagine, you I was like four years old. One thing that is the come from doing the GPs and then you are same, is when I was riding around Lommel, doing supercross, and we all know supercross and I was struggling around there. I was really is tough, but being around people you grew off, and it is the same deal riding supercross. up with, and raced against, and being around Like it did in the sand, it’s just going to take a Ricky, that must help the transition a lot? little bit of time. Covington: Yes, for sure, it makes everything a bit easier, as far as everyday life things. As far as the riding, supercross is something really new to me, and I didn’t even touch a supercross track for the last five years in Europe and even before I came to Europe I didn’t race any supercross. It has taken some time to learn and it isn’t going to happen overnight. These guys have been doing it for years and it’s just a matter of picking it up as quickly as possible and hope I am ready for the first round next weekend.
MXlarge: Obviously you don’t have any regrets, I don’t think top sportsman can really have regrets, just move forward and not look back, but with our season starting, do you miss anything from racing in Europe?
MXLarge: I don’t want to downplay what is possible, but even qualifying for a main event, would that be the first goal?
MXlarge: Will the goal for the next few months to just stay healthy?
Covington: For sure, I don’t have many expectations coming into the supercross and either does the team. We just want to get through this supercross season, get some experience under my belt, and hopefully make the mains of course. We won’t know until we get there and then hopefully get through healthy and get to the outdoors. MXLarge: We hear it all the time that most of the supercross track is learnable, but the whoops is something that is tough to learn. You have been down with Ricky, and he was pretty crazy in the whoops. What did he teach you just hold it wide open and close your eyes? Covington: Yes, I am not the wildest rider, and most people who know me, watching the GPs know I am pretty calculated and don’t get out of shape too much on the bike. I do pretty well everywhere on the track, my speed is good everywhere, but like you said, apart from the whoops. When the whoops are really big, and steep I struggle a bit. We will see how they are at the races. The whoops I practice on are big and gnarly, so I hope they are not that big at the races. You never know, but I just lack experience at the races and the only
Covington: Well, I miss some aspects, I don’t miss the cold winter days training with frozen hands. I really wish it was possible to do supercross as well as GPs, but that isn’t possible. At this point it isn’t an option. Maybe in a couple of years I will be back in GPs.
Covington: I wouldn’t say it’s the goal, I don’t want to focus on that too much. The main goal is to just progress and by the end of the season have some decent results. MXlarge: And any goals for results wise this coming weekend? Covington: Not really, I am not one to focus on the results, just go out there and ride the best I can and see what results come out. MXlarge: You mentioned the stadium, the fans and the struggle with the whoops, is it possible to go there and enjoy yourself? Covington: I think it will be difficult to enjoy the first round, because of the nerves and everything, but I will try and take it all in and enjoy it as much as I can. MXlarge: What about the actual team, can you compared Euro husky and US husky? Covington: I guess because of their connection with Austria, they are similar and work close together. As far as the team, I have more freedom here and I do my own thing. In Europe Jacky and those guys held my hand in everything and I think I needed that in that stage of my career. In America I am a bit more on my own, but if I don’t know what I am
doing at this point, there is something wrong. It is really good and I am enjoying working with the team here. MXlarge: What have you learn the most, or found the most progress? Covington: I think the thing I have had to learn the most is setting up the bike for supercross. I was always doing a lot of testing for outdoors with Jacky and they used me quite a bit, testing with WP and Husqvarna. I thought I would be really good at setting up the bike, but I really don’t know what I am looking for, because the set-up is so different, with the stiff suspension and stuff like that. I am having to get information from Zach Osborne and those guys. Trying to get it set-up for the whoops, but also get it good through the corners. That is something I really had to learn. MXlarge: I can image its like going from having a bike set-up really well, and then riding a brick or a wild bull, because the supercross set-up is so stiff? Covington: Yes, definitely, the first week or so I was like, what is this. The suspension is so stiff and you feel all the bumps and stuff, but after a couple of weeks you get used to it and its normal, and I feel safe now on it. I wouldn’t want to go on a supercross track with a motocross set-up. MXlarge: It is funny you mentioned that, because I was speaking to Dirk Gruebel the team manager for Herlings and he mentioned how the Team USA riders often have the wrong settings for the MXoN, and of course that is what we are hearing from Redbud this year. I can imagine for those AMA based riders, its hard changing all the way back to a complete motocross setting after six months of the bike being so hard in the suspension? Covington: I don’t think they would have complete supercross set-up, but I would say it is stiffer than the GP guys and they are so used to riding like that in supercross. I think when they go to Outdoor series, they probably have it a little bit softer, but then they go back to supercross settings. I think that is one of the reasons the American riders have struggled at the des Nations, because there is so much focus on supercross now. MXlarge: Last question. What is the thing you have enjoyed most about being back, because obviously the weather and maybe the food is easier for you? Covington: Definitely the food. I loved the food in Belgium, but as far as the travelling goes, it was sometimes really hard to find the right food. The food for my diet, it was hard to find and it’s hard to stay with any diet racing the GP, because you are in so many different places. In the US you can pretty much get whatever you need anywhere. It is just convenient, it’s nice.
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