News 22 Jun 2016

Rookie MXGP points leader Gajser coy on 2017 plans

Monster Cup appearance could lead teenager to the US.

Source: Supplied.

Source: Supplied.

Words: Adam Wheeler

With a 74-point lead in the FIM Motocross World Championship in a stunning debut season so far, Honda Gariboldi’s Tim Gajser is firmly on course to adding a second title to his 2015 MX2 crown after notching his sixth victory from eleven rounds at the British Grand Prix last weekend.

The 19-year-old has started to attract a lot of talk and attention about his wishes for 2017. Gajser, who is linked with Honda for another three years at least, has been touted for a saddle in the AMA Supercross series as well as a move direct into the official HRC team in MXGP and then also remaining with the Italian Gariboldi set-up for a potential championship defence.

When asked what he’d prefer the Slovenian said: “It I still early to speak about that. We are talking a little bit but we still have seven races to go so we are focussed on finishing the GP season. The plan I can say at the moment is to do the Monster Cup at the end of the GP series and that’s all for now.”

Considering his supercross ambitions (despite not having contested any of Europe’s major events like Lille, Genoa or Geneva) Gajser is likely to step-up his stadium preparation this winter and the Monster Energy Cup will mean the MXGP points leader will be the first leading name from the world championship to attempt the special invitational.

Gajser has not hung around in any racing class for long. He jumped out of EMX250 to begin MX2 swiftly in 2013, made his Grand Prix apprenticeship in 2014 and was world champion the following year. He then scrapped plans to stay on the CRF250RW to remarkable effect this season.

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