Arnaud Tonus – Believer

There is something special about Swiss rider Arnaud Tonus this year. After a couple of injury riddled seasons the CLS Monster Energy Kawasaki rider seems more confident than ever and is looking stronger as the season gets into the European leg of the series.

Tonus has now won two weekends in a row, with victory in the French Motocross Championship where he went 1-1-1, even beating the bigger more powerful 450 machines in their super-final, and then captured his first ever moto win and Grand Prix overall in Brazil last weekend.

Despite riding with experience beyond his years and a determination that has seemed to have driven him to another level in 2014 the always friendly Tonus still couldn’t believe what he did in Brazil.

“Winning the Grand Prix in Brazil …” Tonus said, “… it didn’t really sink in yet that I won my first ever GP moto and my first GP overall, plus I have the red-plate leading the MX2 World Championship for the first time in my life.”

In fact at this period of the season it was just the podium that would have given Tonus satisfaction. A top three placing that Tonus wanted to achieve early in 2014 and then work on a victory, and while victory was something he felt was possible, to actual win this early in the season was a dream come true.

“For sure I knew that it was possible, but after the difficulties of the last two seasons the first goal was simply to reach a podium. In the first race it was difficult mentally and the race felt like it lasted for two hours, but I quickly made a gap and could control the race to the finish line.”

Nerves did play a major part in his win though, and fortunately he was able to fight through the difficult moments in moto two and come away with a Grand Prix win.

“In the second race I had another good start, and found a good rhythm when I was third, but when I took over second place I started to ride a little tense as I knew that I had the chance to win the GP. But I managed to pull myself together, stay focused and get the job done!”

Now onto the hard-pack of Arco Di Trento in Italy and despite his win Tonus knows that defending MX2 World Champion Jeffrey Herlings will be waiting at the Grand Prix of Italy, and will want to deny the Swiss rider any more chance to improve his season and take another victory.

For Tonus it is about continuing his progress and remain at the top of the MX2 class points.

“Actually I believe in that (that he would lead the World). Before the championship started I believed that, but Jeffrey wasn’t in Brazil. For sure I can fight for the title, I try and do that.”

Bring on Italy and a battle that the whole Motocross World awaits. Will Tonus continue his rise to the top of World Motocross, or will Herlings put him back in his place. Only time will tell.

Author:

Geoff Meyer