For a lack of a more original expression we always hear riders talking about putting the pieces of the jigsaw together. Often these pieces, depending on so many variables, seem tantalizingly elusive. Ten year’s after his iconic countryman Roman Jelen reached his career best overall, 6th in the 650cc World Championship, Klemen Gercar is getting closer to completing his jigsaw. The 22-year old Slovenian is currently leading the MX3 series. He’s 12 points ahead of Martin Michek and 18 points ahead of world champion Matthias Walkner with three rounds left in the championship. Gercar, a former European MX2 Junior champion, not only has eyes set on the MX3 world Championship, the Ufo rider wants to move into MX1 GP’s next season. Making his third wildcard appearance with 24MX Honda Racing this weekend Klemen looks forward to prove himself in Loket. If the sandy Finnish and German GP’s gave no clear indication of what the well-spoken young man from Ljublana is capable of the Czech Grand Pix provides him with an excellent opportunity!
You’re the first rider from Slovenia at the highest level of the sport in quite some time. Still it’s great to see you at the forefront of a small wave with the Irt brothers (Peter, Jernej and Matevz), Tim Gajser who’s getting faster and faster and even some interesting kids in the 65cc.
Klemen Gercar: “That’s true indeed. The scene is not so big in Slovenia but we have some nice tracks and the level is increasing. We have only 5 rounds for the Slovenian championship, in MX1 it’s mostly me fighting with Gajser, or sometimes Irt. Hopefully we can help the sport grow with our good results internationally!”
Last year you had your breakthrough in the MX3 world Championship, now you hold the red plate and you’re still making progress. It’s only natural you’re looking at MX1.
Klemen Gercar: “There’s no doubt about it, MX1 is the very best class and also it still is another level. However we have some good riders the class who did MX1 or MX2 before and showed their speed. To go from MX3 to MX1 is a good step, and it’s realistic. To go from the European MX open class to MX1 GP’s is impossible. So first I want to finish my mission in MX3, but I have to thank 24MX Honda and my boss Ladislav Exner to give me a taste of MX1 already this year. This gives me an idea of what I need to work at and where I stand.”
You had some interesting lap times during the MX3 GP in Maggiora where you raced on the same day and on the same class as the MX1 guys.
Klemen Gercar: “That’s right! I really liked to race in Maggiora. For sure the first MX1 races didn’t went as I wanted… But there were many changes compared to Maggiora, I was riding with a new team, on the 2013 Honda CR450R -which was new for me- on tracks that I didn’t know and I hadn’t trained in the sand for four months. So it was difficult! I think I will enjoy racing in Loket, it’s hard-pack and should suit me a lot more. I haven’t raced there but at least I have been there as a spectator!”
Time goes quickly, many people forgot that you had some terrific results on the smaller bikes.
Klemen Gercar: “Of course it’s not easy to come from Slovenia and do the international stuff when you’re young but I did well. First I went to the 85cc European Championship and in three races I got three top 3 finishes. I was fighting with Marvin Musquin, he won title and I finished 4th only a few points behind Marvin.
I was working hard and I didn’t even know the names I was racing with! All I wanted was to win so in hindsight I realize that was a pretty good start. After that I moved to the MX2 Junior class, which is like the UEM 125 class now. In 2007 I won the European title as a privateer. I was on the road with my dad and we received some support from Yamaha Slovenia and Akrapovic.”
You’re getting closer to realizing your dream of racing in the MX1 World championship fulltime, but many times you were just hanging in there by your finger nails to keep that dream alive. There will be many cliffhangers if they ever turn your career into a story!
Klemen Gercar: “That’s true, it takes a lof of persistence and the right people around you to make it happen. And I know that sometimes you need a break and that one outstanding race can convince people and change everything. In 2008 I didn’t have enough sponsors to do the European MX2 championship but my win in the muddy race in Croatia certainly was a turning point! I received a call from Gariboldi to do 2 races with them. Everything worked out and we made a deal for the following season. Just like now in the MX3 GP’s all the pieces fell in place and I finished 3rd in the EMX2 series. In 2010 I moved into MX2 GP’s with Silver Action. I got 2 injuries straight away and the season turned into a disaster. I didn’t have the time to recover properly because the team pushed hard to come back as early as possible because I was the only rider. The results were bad and we quit. At that point I thought my career was over. After two months away from the bike I received an offer from 3C Racing to compete in the MX2 GP’s in 2011 and 2012. That deal ended up nowhere and it was a big, big blow for me. I decided to stop motocross after the first 2 GP’s.”
Early 2011, you were not only without a team but even without a stock bike!
Klemen Gercar: “I didn’t have anything, no money, no sponsors and no bike. Through the help of a friend I raced a regional Italian race on an old KTM 250. The weekend after that I went to the Italian championship and won! KTM Italy helped me with the bikes and I got a bit of support from a small, privateer team. I didn’t have a mechanic at races so that was hard, but I rode pretty good on the SX-F 250 in the Open class at the European MX of Nations. We finished 4th with the Slovenian team. That’s how I landed the deal with Ufo Racing for the MX3 GP’s in 2012.”
Do you feel more of a 450 rider now?
Klemen Gercar: “Maybe my riding style suits the MX1 bike better, but a lot depends on the team as well. Just look at the strong results I had with Gariboldi in 2009. This year a made another big step in my development and I hope to do the same in 2014!”
Was it a disadvantage not to have anybody riding motocross before in your family?
Klemen Gercar: “Maybe it was at the beginning. I had no bike skills and nobody could show me. So I started learning from what I saw at the track and I learned what other riders did from video. But motocross as always something that I really wanted to do myself. When I was 4 we went to see a race with the family. I saw a PW50 I tried it and fell in love with MX, I didn’t want to give it back until my dad promised to buy me a new one!”
So Roman Jelen was definitely one of your heroes when you grew up?
Klemen Gercar: “Absolutely! Roman also helped me a bit with my riding a couple of years ago, I learned a lot from him. We’re still good friends and we live only 10k from each other. Roman is a nice guy and a good rider. I have been lucky with my coaches, first I worked with Sebastian Kern and now with Nenad Sipek who only quit riding himself last year.”
It seems you have a good group of people around you back home?
Klemen Gercar: “It’s part of my job to get this people around me to support me. Racing, training and chasing sponsors and taking care of my own marketing is impossible. Luckily I have some friends to help me out with my website, PR, videos and marketing. All of that is getting better and better as well!”
Especially in MX1 there are so many great riders, what do you think you can bring to the table?
Klemen Gercar: “I never give up. I try to train and ride harder than the others I think I’m very consistent with my racing. Over a season that’s definitely an advantage. When I’m 15th one time I can be top-15 most of the time. Where I can win, I will be fighting for victory almost every race. Hopefully I’ll have a bit of luck on my side to prove myself.”
Good luck this weekend and the remainder of the season!
Klemen Gercar: “Thanks!”