INTERVIEW: Julien Lieber about his farewell
Every GP rider has to retire at some point, but the fact that the talented Julien Lieber is saying goodbye at the age of 26 is a major surprise! The JM Honda Racing rider rode his last professional race in Axel last Sunday. We let him speak for himself about the how and why of his farewell.
At the end of June you started motorcycle training again. From the outside, everything seemed fine in training. Why did you decide to end it now?
Julien Lieber: “The aftermath of my crash in Teutschenthal last year was a lot more complicated than we initially thought. I have had two operations on my elbow and one on my wrist. In both cases it turned out that surgery unfortunately could not provide a solution to solve the problem for good. So I had to deal with that nuisance all the time. Even now that the pain is a lot less because I had an infiltration a few weeks ago, I just know that these injuries won't just go away on their own. Not in a few months, nor in a few years to be honest.”
The fact that you are so competitive also prompted you to take the plunge now?
Dear: "Absolute. The level in the MXGP World Championship is already high. So you can't get to the start and expect to be really competitive if you're not 100%. Even if the pain is bearable, I just notice that I have less strength in my left arm because of that elbow problem. This makes you feel mentally unsure of yourself, meaning you cannot push as usual. This is a dangerous situation if you drive without confidence because you are then extra vulnerable to sustaining even more damage in the event of a fall. Especially on a powerful 450 MXGP engine! Every race this season felt like I could only compete at 80%. For me personally it is absolutely pointless to fight for a top 15. Moreover, I know that this is not what JM Honda Racing is going for either! Until last year I was in an upward spiral, I made progress and I kept getting closer to my goals. I know we were on the right track with top 5 finishes in the motos in 2018 and 2019. The experience needed to get results is there, but at the moment I feel like my body is unfortunately not supporting me. allows more to make it happen on the track.”
It must be a difficult decision to realize that all the ingredients for success are present, but that your time as a top cross racer has come.
Dear: “That is true, but for every top athlete there comes a time to say goodbye. For some it is sooner than for others, but it is clear to me that this is the best decision. One thing is absolutely certain, these injuries simply no longer allowed me to ride like the Julien Lieber I was before my crash in Teutschenthal. At that moment I was second to Tim Gajser in the middle of the race... It's a shame that now I have to hang up my helmet because I was very happy with my entire program for 2020. I know I had a great chance to achieve results together with JM Honda Racing. The team is really good, everything went great and I immediately had an excellent match with the bike. From the first time I rode the CRF450R, I fell in love with its handling. It's so easy to go fast with that bike!”
Looking back, what are the highlights of your career?
Dear: “Certainly in 2017 when, as a private driver, I rode my own team to the front of the MX2 World Championship, that was very special. We ran the team with a very small group, with my brother Cédric as team manager. I came back after not riding in the GPs for a year and a half due to hip surgery. That was already super difficult to come back from... It was incredible to immediately take a podium in the opening race in Qatar, followed by the red plate in Argentina. Both seasons with the factory Kawasaki team in the MXGP were also a lot of fun. All in all, I am happy with what I have achieved, both in MX2 and MXGP. Of course you always want more, no matter what you do! But in the end there is only one world champion every year.”
What is the next challenge for Julien Lieber?
Dear: “On the one hand, my life from an early age was devoted to a career as a motocross rider. I just wanted to be the best I could be. That makes it even harder to leave this life behind. On the other hand, I'm still young, so that might be an advantage to go in a new direction. I haven't decided yet what exactly I want. I'll take the next few months to find out, but I'd like to stay active in motocross. The coming months will certainly be tough without competitions... I am a born competitive animal. Measuring yourself, others, seeing where you stand and pushing your boundaries, that's in my blood! I will probably continue to race motocross, but just for fun, without the stress of a World Championship career.”
Will it be difficult for you to watch the remaining GPs now?
Dear: "Sure! It becomes extra difficult to watch the matches on TV when you realize that you are no longer part of the world championship. Motocross is still a great sport and I will miss it, but that's just the way it is. I am convinced that things will get better for myself once I have new goals in life.”
You rode your first Grand Prix 10 years ago and competed all over the world. What are the jobs that have impressed you the most?
Dear: “I definitely loved Orlyonok in recent years. It is a circuit with a good variation from height differences to technical sections and beautiful jumps. The decor with the Black Sea as a backdrop is also beautiful. Sevlievo in Bulgaria was cool too. In the end I was able to drive on quite a few nice circuits... (smiling) and also a lot of less nice ones of course! But every driver has his own preference and you always tend to go for the tracks where you do well.”
To conclude, who would you like to thank?
Dear: “First and foremost I would like to thank my family who have been behind me from day one, Pier Bottero who has supported me through Lovemytraining over the last four years with Yves Demaria as coach. This has been a great collaboration for. Yves has a lot of experience and he has certainly made me a better rider. Thanks for everything Yves! Also a thank you to all teams, sponsors, fans and media. Over the years as a GP rider I have met many good people, who have all done their part to get me to my best level. From mechanics to team managers and other team members, thank you for believing in me and helping me. Finally, thanks to Jacky Martens for his trust and professionalism.”
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS JULIEN LIEBER
2019: 17th MXGP World Championship (injured)
2018: 11th MXGP World Championship
2017: 6th MX2 World Championship (5 podiums)
2016: No racing (health problems)
2015: 3rd MX of Nations, 6th MX2 World Championship (one podium)
2014: 2nd MX of Nations, 11th MX2 World Championship
2013: 23rd MX2 World Championship
2012: 22nd MX2 World Championship
2011: 29th MX2 World Championship
2010: 8th EMX250 (one podium, one moto win)
Tekst: Tom Jacobs
Photos: shotbyBavo, Gino Maes, Archive
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