Exclusive: Interview with Julien Lieber!
Many had completely forgotten about him when he suddenly won the second round of the Italian championship a few weeks ago. We are of course talking about Julien Lieber. The introverted Belgian really came into his own in 2015 under the wings of the Standing Construct team. But as beautiful as 2015 was, 2016 was so damn shitty. Both hips suffered serious damage in the crash in Thailand in 2015. However, the season ended with a 6th place in the World Cup. In the meantime, the man from Malmedy continued to suffer from hip problems. It was thought that 'cleaning up' the hips would make a difference, but when the damage became visible, cleaning up suddenly turned into thorough renovation. The 2016 season fell completely short, the year of confirmation could not be delivered and the retired Julien Lieber fell completely off the radar for many... Until last month in Malagrotta.
MxM: Julien, you have been out of the picture for a very long time, people had already partly forgotten you and then you come back with that victory in Malagrotta. How does that make you feel?
JL: I was very surprised. Being able to return to competition already felt like a victory in itself. Especially after all the problems I've had to endure over the past year. Winning the first race feels amazing! Even though my riding was not perfect and I had a lot of arm pump, I was able to continue the race until the end and that was basically the most important thing, perhaps even more important than the position.
No team has given you a spot for 2017, why is that?
It was only at the last minute that Yamaha informed me that they were not continuing with my team, Standing Construct, and that there would no longer be a place for me at Yamaha. At that moment it also became clear that most factory teams had already fixed their line-up. The rumors on many websites that put me at HRC Honda were never discussed. I have never had an offering from them.
However, you didn't give up. No team picked you up, so you set up your own private team. Does that change a lot for you?
No, because I still only have to focus on my training, just like it was in the professional teams. My brother Cedric and the rest of the family take care of the business side of the team.
This year you will compete in the World Championship on a KTM. Do you lease factory equipment or do you develop a competitive package yourself with some partners?
We develop our own engine. We can count on support from KTM for some factory parts, but we do not have the full factory machine.
If the age limit remains as it is, and it seems that way, then 2017 will be your last year in the MX2 class. Does that make you a little nervous?
Yes, it will be my last season in the MX2 class but that doesn't really make me nervous because I just want to make the best of it and see how it goes.
If we look back at 2015, you finished the World Cup in 6th. Many of the guys who finished ahead of you back then no longer race in the MX2 class. Do you think you can finish in the top three of the world championship knowing that?
It's true what you say, but a lot of good pilots from the EMX250 have also been promoted to the WKMX2. So I don't want to jump to conclusions too quickly. We'll see how things go after a few Grand Prix races and then we can set a goal.
Could this possibly be the year in which Julien Lieber wins his first Grand Prix?
Of course I would like to win at least one Grand Prix. But without a doubt, all pilots will now be keen on Grand Prix victory, now that Jeffrey Herlings has switched to MXGP.
In 2015 you achieved your first podium result, which was also your best season to date. How strongly do you feel when you compare the Julien Lieber 2015 version with the February 2017 version?
That's difficult to compare, because it was a long time ago and I was on a different bike at the time, but I feel very good at the moment. Everything is going as planned with the training that I was able to complete in good conditions, the engines that are good and my support consisting of people who know what they are doing. Obviously that first Grand Prix will not go smoothly, because I have not had to compete at that level since September 2015 with the Motocross des Nations in Ernee, but we will do everything we can to get into the rhythm as quickly as possible .
Ok Julien, thank you very much for this interview and good luck in 2017.
Text & Interview: Matthias Van Eeckhoven – Photos: Offroad Pro Racing, CDS & Bavo
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