Tim Gajser
that goal, then we will see. But yeah, I
currently live full time at the moment in
Slovenia - actually still with my family
- but during the winter break I think I
will move in with my girlfriend, so that’s
also a big step for me in my life.
So you have your full set up in
Slovenia, practice tracks and bikes
etc.?
Yes, at home actually. I’m living in a
really small village, it’s really peaceful
- I really like when I get back from the
races to go there and relax, you know.
Also, I can go gear up in the garage,
take the bike and go straight on track,
do my training then go back to the
garage and get changed - so it works
really good. I don’t spent time traveling
to the track each day.
Have your two world titles given you
a lot of exposure in Slovenia? As a
country with a small population, I
would imagine a World Champion
will be renowned?
Slovenia is a small country of only two
million people, but we have The Alps in
our country so winter sports are more
popular. So skiing, ski jumping, those
are the sports that gain recognition.
There has never been a sportsman that
had any great success in motorsport
from Slovenia. When I won my first
World Championship many people
said it was the biggest ever sporting
achievement for Slovenia.
And do you feel that way?
I can say that, yeah, I can feel it. It’s
unbelievable what is happening, to
see the people travelling to the races
to support me in large numbers from
Slovenia - wearing my shirts with the
yellow and red. When I see them up
on the hill, like a full hill of my fans it
makes me really happy, it gives me
even more motivation.
To have that following is great, they
are happy when I am doing well but I
hope they see me as a good person
as well. It is really important to me that
I stay the same as I was in the past.
Okay, I am now a World Champion
but at the same time you are just a
normal person, so I think that it is really
important the fans see that side of me
as well. I like to take time for them,
I will have a picture with as many as
possible, always say hello, the little
things make a difference so it’s really
important to stay a good person. The
fan base is getting bigger every day,
when I go to the market or the gas
station everybody knows me. That’s
nice because two years ago nobody
knew who I was - many didn’t even
know what motocross was - but now
everybody knows.
Motocross in Slovenia has grown, I
race in the National Championship
and 3 or 4 years ago there was
like four riders on the gate but now
we have full gates. The same is
happening with the kids’ class so
it’s an honour that I have helped the
popularity of the sport.
Final question, lets talk about this
event tonight, the SMX, it’s a new
initiative bringing SX and MX riders
together inside a stadium, teamed
by way of manufacturer on what is,
lets say more of an indoor MX track
here at the Veltins arena. What do
you think about this event, and how
did the track ride in practice?
The track is quite enjoyable, if I’m
honest the track is not too difficult, it’s
kind of an easy track, but we can have
a lot of fun as there are some nice
jumps that we can scrub and make
some big whips on so I’m looking
forward to tonight - I’m ready to go.
It’s the first time for an event like this
in Europe, we have some of the best
SX riders from America and some
of the best MX riders from MXGP.
We never have an event like that so
it’s nice to be here in Germany. The
stadium is amazing, it’s huge and
really nice, I think it’s going to be
a really nice show and some good
racing and I hope we will be back
again next year. t
/TimGajser243
@TimGajser243
@TiGa243