Five minutes with Tim Gajser
The 2016 MXGP World Champion Tim Gajser (HRC Honda) heeft his battle plan for the coming World Cup campaign is ready. Moreover, the sympathetic Slovenian is finally starting a season without health problems. Adam Wheeler spoke to him.
At the end of 2018, Gajser was the one who came closest to Jeffrey Herlings. The two-time world champion scored three second places in the final four GPs. In the final standings he had to settle for fourth place, 16 points behind Clément Desalle.
The difference with the two previous starts of the season is big. Gajser is finally fit while he struggled with a virus in Qatar in 2017 and even had to miss the first two GPs in 2018 due to a serious jaw/head injury. In Argentina, the Honda leader avoids reigning world champion Jeffrey Herlings. As is known, 'The Bullet' has to fail for Patagonia due to his broken right foot.
“First of all, it is a downer for the sport that Jeffrey is hurt. I hope he will be back soon, but it is clear that he was the man to beat for this season," said Gasjer after one of his last test days with Honda last week. “We did our homework this winter. We watched and analyzed many games from last year to see where and how he was faster and how he took time on us. As a result, we have improved a few things ourselves, we will see how it goes in practice.”
In particular, the starts of the factory Honda CRF450RW were addressed. “In the first part of the season I had a lot of trouble with my starts. However, towards the end things started to get better,” Gasjer explains. “In the Italian championship races I was recently in the top three, so I think we managed to improve on that. We have established that the starts are one of the most important aspects of the World Cup. If you get along well, you can take on the pace of the lead.”
In addition to the improvements to the engine, Tim also focused on his personal preparation. The 22-year-old star rider has so far only trained with his father Bogo and brother Nejc. “I trained more, and for the first time I also used a fitness trainer,” he says. “I'm really happy with where I am now. I can already feel the difference and start to see the results of my preparation on the bike.”
Gasjer has won three of the last four motos in Neuquen in 2016 and 2017. The #243 Honda is therefore one of the favorites for victory this Sunday. “I'm excited to get started! Last year I missed the Argentinian GP and I love the track,” concludes Tim.
Tekst: Adam Wheeler/Tom Jacobs
Photos: shotbyBavo
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