Five minutes with EMX250 rider Tomas Kohut
Due to a serious knee injury before the season, KTM Diga Junior Racing rider Tomas Kohut (18) had to significantly scale back his ambitions. The friendly Slovakian has been back on the bike for a while now with great results in international competitions. This weekend he will be at the start of the last EMX250 race in France together with his teammate Roni Kytonen.
Congratulations on your selection for the MX of Nations!
Tom Kohut:“Thank you, I am very proud to represent Slovakia in the Motocross Olympics. It will be my second time because I was there last year in Maggiora. We didn't make it to the A-final then, but who knows, we might make it now a chance. I have made progress and my teammate Richard Sikyna is almost at the same level. Sykina has participated in a few MX2 GPs this year and he also rides ADAC. Our third rider, Tomas Simko, is not well known, he mainly rides in Slovakia.”
It's actually a small miracle that you're even still riding this season and already reaching a good level.
Kohut:“Somehow, yes. First I hurt myself in Lommel and then it was bad again during training in Portugal. The verdict was serious: broken meniscus in the left knee, in the other knee both the meniscus and the ligaments were damaged. I hadn't competed in a single race yet, but I was immediately out of action for three months. Normally you will be out even longer. Luckily I had a good doctor. For the meniscus it is not too bad, but for the ligaments they used a special material that promotes recovery.”
Before those injuries, what was your goal for 2017?
Kohut: “Well, at least I had a good feeling before my injuries. I didn't have an exact goal in mind. Last year my best EMX250 result was 17th place and of course you want to do better every year. When I drive, I always give 100% and that is the most important thing. Drive well and stay consistent.”
You have shown great things in international competitions in recent months: podiums in Slovakia and in the Belgian Championships in Axel and Hasselt, victory in the MX2 in Wachtebeke, a seventh place in the ADAC in Gaildorf...
Kohut: “Things indeed went well in those races, although the level is of course very different from race to race. In the second round of the ADAC Youngster Cup in Gaildorf I came fourth. So there is an upward trend.”
How did your first EMX250 race in Switzerland go?
Kohut:“I was especially happy to be there again! My speed in the timed training was not good, so I had to go to the resit. I wasn't very happy with that, but in the Last Chance race things went well with a second place. In the first heat it was quite good, despite a bad start, I finished 18th. I was also disadvantaged on Sunday by my poor starting position, but I finished 17th.”
A top 10 should be possible with a good start?
Kohut: “I think so, I would like to end the European Championship season with a top-10 in Villars this weekend!”
Good luck in France!
Kohut:"We are going to do our best."
Photos: Plan-B, Eric Laurijssen
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