Kick-Start

Hailing from Ptuj, Slovenia, Tim Gajser is a 21-year-old from a south Central European nation of a mere 2.1 million inhabitants.

- Eric Johnson

Although coming from an unlikely home for a Motocross World Champion, the sincere, animated, and totally genuine young man has risen to the top of the sport twice. This month, Gajser traveled to the United States to compete in his first American Supercross event, the Monster Energy Cup in Las Vegas. Unfortunately, his race came to a halt just a few laps into the first of three main events, but Gajser was impressive nonetheless and has his sights set on eventually crossing the Atlantic to race in the States full-time.

What do you make of this whole American Supercross spectacle at the Monster Energy Cup? 

It’s nice. It’s completely different than what we are used to back in Europe, but I really like it. Before I came here I spent a couple of days in California testing on a Supercross track. Actually, that was the first time for me. I never rode real Supercross before. I have a Supercross track back home that my dad made for me, but still, when I came here, it was completely different. I was really enjoying it this past week and today, here in Las Vegas, it’s just amazing.

How did you feel on the Honda Supercross test track back in California? Was it kind of sketchy for you, or did you feel comfortable on it? 

I just took it easy at the beginning. After every session that I was riding, I was getting more comfortable and gaining more confidence as well, and in the end I really started enjoying it.

You’ve been out on the Monster Energy Cup track a few times here today. What’s your take on it? 

The track is nice, you know? It has some really gnarly jumps with really steep takeoffs and steep landings and you have to be really precise and perfect everywhere. It’s nice and I’m enjoying it so far.