Tim Gajser: Defending Until the End

When you have the last two MXGP championships in your pocket and know that winning a championship isn’t easy, then going for number three should be something you can deal with a little easier right? Experience has put Team HRC rider Tim Gajser in the mix time and time again and 2021 is no different, with him running third in a GP title for the ages.

Having won 35 GPs in his career and holding this years red plate for a number of rounds, the Slovenian heads into the final three rounds of the championships as committed as ever and knowing that GP wins have to come in these three rounds.

“It is a tough championship,” Gajser said. “We know it is nearly over, three rounds to go and we are pretty much starting from zero. It is unbelievable after 15 GPs that we are so close. We all did so many mistakes. I was leading, a nice comfortable 20-point lead and then I get injured, it was a struggle and the same with Jeffrey and he struggled. It is a nice season, and interesting season, and the racing is really nice, but what I like most is the racing between us is very clean. When we pass, we pass with a lot of respect. Now we wait and see what happens, we have the three GPs, and the best man will win it.”

While the action has been intense between Gajser, Jeffrey Herlings and Romain Febvre, the Honda mounted champion is still happy to see more faces join the party and produce some of the best racing the sport has ever seen.

“Yes, we are all pushing, that is clear. Next to this you have the pressure, and everybody knows what they have to do. It is the same for Jeffrey and Romain, we want to beat each other every race, I want to beat these two guys and they want to beat me. The racing is good, and it is nice some others mix with us, Tony, Jeremy, Glenn, they can join us, and we have some really good racing. I want to win, and I will give my best and from now on, everything is open, just a couple of points separating, and it is game on, and we need to be smart, aggressive, be in control and try and have fun. I know it is difficult to have fun but try and have fun.”

Now, as Gajser goes for a Grand Prix victory at Trentino this coming Sunday, he will also be looking at heading to the Mantova round of the title in a weeks’ time with the red plate. Starting to build momentum is the most important aspect of this year’s title race and with just a handful of points separating the big three, victory is nearly the only option.