Tommy Searle Interview

Tommy Searle is building to something that I think will lead to a podium in the MXGP class quickly. The British rider who spent two years struggling with injuries has looked sharp in the opening two rounds of the FIM Motocross World Championships, and heads to Valkenswaard with a lot of confidence.

A win last weekend in his national championship continued his trend of improvement in 2016, and the Steve Dixon Kawasaki rider doesn’t mind the deep sand in Holland.

“I know I am capable of doing it and I have always been a confident person. Even in the last couple of years, with all the injuries, it has been tough, but then actually doing it something has to click. Winning last weekend was good, and the track was good preparation for Valkenswaard.”

In Thailand a few weeks ago Searle really just wanted to survive. Having injured himself at both the 2014 and 2014 versions of the event he knew he didn’t want to spend another night in hospital in Thailand. Still thought sickness and some bad luck didn’t make his Thailand adventure as good as it could have been.

“I was sick, which didn’t help, but I still got a sixth in the first moto, I was happy with that. In the second moto I was racing for ninth place and was expecting to move forward, but the fuel inlet pipe came out from the tank and I got fuel in my face; I knew that if I didn’t stop the bike would have run out of fuel. So I had to stop and put in back on; I lost five places but overall I guess I have to be happy to go back to Europe safe, even though it would have been better to get another top ten result. It was hot, but in the second race I was so scared with the fuel that I didn’t push too hard. It was a difficult day.”

The previous week in Qatar Searle looked comfortable, but also careful. Coming back from two years of hell meant the talented 26-year-old wasn’t taking any risks, so early in the season.

“It is nice to leave the race healthy and that makes me very happy. In each session I learnt more, rode smooth, made no mistakes and I had good lap times. I was one of the fastest riders so there’s nothing to worry about and step by step I think I can get up to the front. I had injuries each of the last two seasons so it’s important for me to get some races under my belt. The track was bumpy; you have to be sensible here with the darkness but overall it was a good weekend.”

Now onto Valkenswaard, a circuit he hasn’t raced on in four years due to injuries. Back in 2013 he finished in ninth place in his MXGP debut at the circuit. Can he finally put together a solid weekend at Valkenswaard, like he did in 2012 when he finished third in the MX2 class?