Standing behind the starting gate and alongside 2015 MXGP World Champion Romain Febvre while he and his mechanic readied the works Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP Team YZ450F for the final moto of the 2016 season at Glen Helen Raceway, I couldn’t help think about how much the 24 year-old’s fortunes had changed in a year’s time. The overall winner at the 2015 Glen Helen USGP, it had been a fantastic, breakout season for the native of Epinal, France, the class rookie stacking up eight Grand Prix victories and fifteen moto wins in a resolute march to his first FIM Gold Medal.
Yes I will be ready, I'm now testing and riding in Italy to set up the bike for supercross because it will be in Stadium so will be like a supercross. It's difficult to judge the race because nobody can say how it is going to be. But racing in the stadium, I like it especially for the public!
The 2016 season was good and bad. I was ready beginning of the season to battle for the title and I had the red plate. After few races I lost it, but was still close to Tim. Then the crash in England happened! After that crash and missing two rounds, it was difficult to come back. Once I did get going again, I came back good. The last four rounds we tried something special on the bike and with the engine for next year to see if it would work. It didn’t end up working like we wanted it to, so the results were not so good!
The Nations. Again a good weekend! So from what I said before, after the trip to USA for the last two rounds of the series, we changed the bike and we went back to what I had before. That’s why the feeling came back and it's why in the Motocross of Nations I was good like that. Nothing more that! It was good to end the season like that. Mentally is also good!
Yes, Tim Gajser came on very strong in 2016. I knew he would be strong because I had already watched him ride before the season even started and he was good. No, it was not a total surprise to see him up at the front, but his consistency surprised me a little bit!
It's good that Jeffrey Herlings is going to move to MXGP. He should have moved up before. He's a good rider, for sure, so I am excited to see what I can do against him!
Next year will be a good fight - like it is every year. And if everyone stays healthy, it's going to be a good one!
For 2017 I will train like I did this year and try to be even more ready. For sure I’ve got the best bike, so we see what I can do.
I love being a professional rider. It was my dream. I like to travel around the world! The only bad thing, let’s say, is the food. For example, when we go to Thailand, the worst thing about it is the food because you need to take care of everything yourself because you can become sick so easily. After the races, I also like to stay home and have a good time with my girlfriend. Sometimes it can be difficult to always travel, but it's my job.
With Yamaha we have very good communication between all the guys. I love working with them. It’s easy for me! On my team, "Team Rinaldi", I like every single person and they are like my family! I'm excited to start the next season. I love racing and I’m going to have some rest before the winter training and from there I’ll keep going.
My plan is that I already signed with Yamaha for three more years – for 2017, 2018 and 2019 - so I will stay here with them to race in Europe. Maybe one day I’ll be coming to race in the U.S. It's always been in my mind, but it is not easy to make such a big decision.
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