Tim Gajser and Number Four

With four rounds to go in the 2020 MXGP championship Team HRC rider Tim Gajser continued to build on what would be his fourth world motocross championship in six years. Smooth, consistent and getting his mistakes down to a minimal have been the main goals for the defending MXGP champion as he looks stronger and stronger heading into the 14^th round of this very unusual season.

The last month has been kind to Gajser with 1-2-3-2-2-1-1-3 his race finishes as he steams forward and makes a large points gap between himself and his rivals. Those rivals include nine-time World champion Antonio Cairoli and two-time World champion Jorge Prado, so yes, the competition is hot. Being smart now is the most important element of the countdown to November in Italy.

“Definitely and it is important to ride clever” Gajser said. “This year is a strange year with Covid. I mean the schedule of the GP and everything is different, and my approach is different. As a racer I want to win every time I go out on the track, but you have to be clever out on the track. Sometimes you have to settle for second, third, fourth or even fifth and not go over your limit. So definitely what you said, and even here in Lommel, the track is different and brutal and the sand was heavy and the track was really rough, so it was important to carry momentum around the corner and ride smooth.

As for yesterdays Grand Prix, despite a crash while leading the second race, and looking likely to win his third GP in a month, the HRC man was happy with his results.

“Overall, I’m quite happy with the day. My riding was good, and my speed was good in both races, I just made that small mistake after I passed Prado to go into the lead in race two. I didn’t even crash, I just went off the track into the banners and lost 20 seconds. After that, I regrouped for a lap before picking up the speed and passing guys in front of me. My lap times were a lot faster than the leaders and I closed right up, it’s just a shame I ran out of laps. So yes, it was a good day, winning a race and showing speed again in race two. I am very much looking forward for Sunday as I’m really enjoying riding in the sand and hopefully, I can continue to get up onto the podium again.

With the finale of the 2020 season in just four weeks’ time, the HRC champion finds it hard not to think about the outcome of the season and that another motocross World championship is just around the corner.

“Yes, it is difficult not to think about that, it isn’t easy to put that on the side and not think about that. Of course, I want to do that, because a lot is happening, and we have a lot of races, but in three weeks it will be over. My focus is taking it for each GP, have fun, enjoy it, ride like I know, but the championship is in the back of my mind, but I am trying to think just about the racing, and getting good starts, because this year starts are very important, because so many guys are on a similar speed and it isn’t easy to pass. I just try and focus on the day and enjoy it.”

So now, with one final Lommel to wrap up, and a trip back to Trentino, the same place he won his first ever Grand Prix, in 2015, Gajser will again look for the same success at the Italian circuit has he has had in the past. Those great battles with Antonio Cairoli might be revisited as the Italian legend is again finding his form after a couple of mixed Grand Prix performances.