Kawasaki MXGP rookie Julien Lieber: “I have time”
For the majority of riders, the World Cup season cannot start quickly. After a long winter they are eager with impatience. Monster Energy Kawasaki's MXGP rookie Julien Lieber thinks differently. After all, Lieber is in a battle against time to get up to cruising speed as quickly as possible. Argentina could come a little later for the young Belgian!
Lieber has now been back on the bike for about three weeks after recovering from surgery on his left knee this winter. Lieber is therefore trying to make up time as quickly as possible compared to his colleagues in the MXGP. For the Luxembourger, it will not only be his rookie year in the premier class, he will also be starting his first season with KRT, Kawasaki Racing Team. “I certainly don't feel bad, but I haven't really ridden long motos yet. At the moment I also have to deal with inflated arms,” Lieber admitted. “The first week was difficult. But every time since then it's gotten better and better. The driving itself also goes well. In general, however, it is difficult to say how the season will go.”
Lieber, who was in contention for the MX2017 world title as a privateer at the beginning of the season in 2, used a standard KX450F to get back into the rhythm. The adjustment to the racing engine took a little more effort. “I rode a stock Kawasaki a few times and it felt great. The bike rode so easily in turns and on jumps. The block was also very easy. The racing engine was a different story! Finding the correct settings for the engine and suspension proved not to be easy. The team had chosen a very mild mapping, but I thought it was clearly too soft. Then we tested for four days, during which time I was able to adapt well. Unlike at home, I was also able to train well in the south of France on some hard tracks.”
The talented pocket pilot has no illusions about his 2018 season. Julien knows that a big challenge awaits him after switching from MX2. The fact that an MXGP rookie ultimately became world champion in both 2015 and 2016, and that Jeffrey Herlings immediately became vice world champion on his debut in the class last year, has significantly increased expectations for first-year riders in the top category. However, Lieber is keeping his distance because he is trying to catch up. On the other hand, as a factory rider he also feels the pressure to perform. “You have something to show,” he admits “but the season is so long. I have time. I couldn't ride in the winter, so I only had a month to prepare. Now my goal is simply to give the best of myself in every race.”
Part of his adjustment to MXGP was also choosing the right physical preparation. A total of 19 games and 38 starts await him; or 57 starts if you include the qualifying heats. All that with the more demanding 450. “Last year I started well in MX2, but at the end I was in a lot of trouble physically… I think it is difficult to find the right program that will keep you at the top all season long,” he said.
In any case, Lieber has the support of his friend and teammate Clément Desalle. The MX Panda won two GPs in 2017 and is the leader of the greens in the MXGP for the third consecutive year.
Tekst: Adam Wheeler
Photos: Haudiquert, Bavo, Julien Lieber
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