Interview: Didi Lacher about Rene Hofer and Mike Gwerder.
There is no doubt about how much talent young Rene Hofer has. The Austrian will start this year as a rookie in the MX2 World Championship. Hofer signed a contract with the Factory KTM team for the upcoming season. Didi Lacher has been working with Hofer for a number of years and has clearly helped him to increase his potential. Both hope there is more to come and this is just the beginning of his success.
Lacher also works with a young Swiss talent Mike Gwerder who could not qualify for the EMX125 races three years ago. Last year he finished fifth in the championship – a huge improvement – and Lacher clearly helped with that. Our colleagues from Gatedrop.com had the opportunity to ask Didi Lacher some questions.
Gate drop: Didi, you have been working with Rene Hofer for a number of years. What qualities do you see in him that make you think he can become a great player?
Laugher: In 2020 we will enter our fifth year. Rene has always been a hard worker and is very strong in his head. His driving technique has improved over the years. I think he has all the characteristics to be a top MXGP rider.
Gate drop: Rene is clearly working with both Joël Smets and yourself this year, how is that going so far and is he doing some new things with Joel?
Laugher: I know Joel from our time when we both competed. And yes, Rene will work with him and me. Joel mainly works with Tom, but because we train together a lot, we discuss riding and training as a team. From the training side it is more intensive, the driving time and the speed. But that is necessary, because the series are longer in the GPs than in the EMX championships.
Gate drop: Last year around July I spoke to Joël and he said it was unlikely that Rene would be a full-time factory rider, but yet here we are! Why was it ultimately decided to put him in MX2 alongside Vialle full-time?
Laugher: You should ask Joël and KTM Motorsport this question. Pit Beirer and Robert Jonas asked me for my opinion. It was clear to me that Rene had to enter the GPs. But the team was kind of a question mark. It is good for Rene that he has managed to become part of the most successful team in the MXGP in this way.
Gate drop: Considering what Vialle did last year, what did you think of his first season in MX2 and his first year as a factory rider? Did he surprise you a bit and do you hope Hofer can do something similar?
Laugher: We're not looking back at 2019 and how Tom did. Tom did a great job in his new season and I think he surprised everyone, including me. But Tom is Tom and Rene is Rene. Rene will have his time to learn and get used to the GPs. The most important thing is that he stays healthy and constantly improves throughout the year. As a trainer, I like to see him ride well, start well and have a lot of fun. Then the results will come automatically.
Gate drop: When Vialle and Hofer are on track, is there much difference in the lap times – it must be good for Hofer to drive with him?
Laugher: It helps if Tom and Rene practice together. It's more fun for them. But they don't do lap times and race training all the time. This is the perfect setup for Rene. Training and riding with Jeffrey and Tom is a completely different story than riding in the KTM Junior group. The intensity and speed is much higher, and when Jeffrey goes wide open, you know that's a good benchmark.
Gate drop: It's an open battle in MX2 this year! Who do you see as the favorites for the title?
Laugher: Yeah, really hard to say. The season starts at zero and all results from last year no longer count. I see Olsen and Geerts as the slight favorites. Certainly, Tom is also in the mix, but close to them are a lot of riders who could surprise. It's going to be a great championship and I'm really looking forward to it.
Gate drop: You also work with Mike Gwerder, I mean three years ago this guy didn't qualify for the EMX125 races and last year he finished fifth in the series. Was that a surprise to you?
Laugher: I wasn't surprised at all, in fact I was a little upset that he lost third place in the EMX125 at the last race. He was always good, but needed time. Before the age of thirteen, he never rode in the sand and did not participate in international events. He was just having fun on the bike and riding in Switzerland. For him it was more the pressure and intensity in the EMX races that were the problem. We worked on that and the training with Rene and the KTM Junior Team helped a lot. He thus improved step by step until the 2019 season with a 3rd place in the 125cc Junior World Championship and a 5th place in the EMX125 Championship.
Gate drop: What does Mike look like on the 250cc, sometimes it's hard to know how rookies will do in the EMX250 class.
Laugher: He looks good, he rode some races in Switzerland in 2019 with the 250 four-stroke. Unfortunately, he broke his collarbone twice this winter and started riding as normal at the end of January. He is now in France with his team and is getting back into shape.
Gate drop: What are your expectations for Mike in the EMX250 series this year?
Laugher: Because of his injuries the first EMX250 races will be very early for him, I think it will be a learning year for him. And if he's around 15th at the end of the year, I'll be happy.
Interview: Andy McKinstry
Photo: KTM
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