There will be many smiling faces when the number seven of Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory rider Arminas Jasikonis is rolled out onto the starting line for first warm up. It was back at the end of September in 2020 that the Lithuanian rider crashed hard at the Grand Prix of Lombardia and was rushed to hospital in Cremona, Italy.
Jasikonis was diagnosed as having a traumatic brain injury and, as is routine procedure with injuries of this type, placed in a medically induced coma in order to stabilise his situation. The motocross World stopped as we all prayed for his recovery.
Now, some eight months later and with the 2021 FIM Motocross World Championship about to fire into life, Jasikonis is back on the bike and racing. While what happened a year ago brought the sport to its knees, the return of the giant from Husqvarna gives everyone a feeling of gratification. His team manager Antti Pyrhonen gave us some news on how Jasikonis is doing of late.
“AJ is actually really good,” Pyrhonen said. “Considering the accident, how bad it was, well since then he has recovered really well and all the steps have been positive, for weeks and months it has been going in the right direction. We are very happy and lucky, because there was no one set-back, but of course he lost a lot of base training time and last October, November and December, we started light training in January and he is doing a good job, but he still needs more time to get race ready. I think it will be soon, some easier races and built it up, maybe towards Matterley Basin or Maggiora, but it will be a process in the development and steps. We need to grow into the season and go through this process and step by step get into the GPs and racing. We need to ride him into shape.”
As for Jasikonis, firstly the number of messages and concern he had from fans and people inside the MXGP paddock made his journey to his recovery much easier and he won’t forget those who thought about him in a tough time in his life.
“I couldn’t even go through all the letters and messages,” Jasikonis said. “There were so many, and it was nice that people really wanted to take care of me. We are not there yet, where I wish to be, but we are coming. We keep on training, and we will get there sooner or later.”
When Jasikonis did return to the track, it was a very difficult situation as he not only struggled to find his speed but had to find that rhythm that is ever so important at the level the best motocross riders in the World race.
“I mean, it wasn’t easy, with so many good riders around and everything. It was a normal day of training, and the track wasn’t easy, pretty bumpy. First, I need to get back to my speed and then I need to get into my race rhythm. It isn’t going to be so easy. We have our plans to keep on working and then when I am strong enough to come back, we will decide. We are on a good way, doing some positive race practice and everything, but we just keep on working and when I feel I am strong enough, we make a comeback, we won’t come back until I can do a 30-minute race. I need to do a 30-minute race and see it is going the right way.”
Now, racing a pre-season race this weekend the world will be able to applaud once again for the tall, friendly Lithuanian who has so much to offer in the toughest sport in the world. He might not return with horns blowing and celebration, but his return in itself is a victory and no doubt when he arrives at his first GP in 2021, there will be many more to welcome his return to the MXGP paddock.
Photo Credit: Bavo Swijgers
