Slovenian Klemen Gercar is one of the favorites to win the 2013 FIM Motocross MX3 World Championship. After round two in Troyan, Bulgaria, Gercar claimed for the first time ever in his motocross career the Red Plate. After losing it again at the following round to the current MX3 world champion Matthias Walkner, Gercar is looking and feeling more motivated than ever to take back the red plate at round four of the MX3 world championship this weekend in his home country of Slovenia.
Question: How was the Ukrainian round of the Championship for you?
Klemen Gercar: “Not that good on Saturday, I didn’t find the right feeling and didn’t feel good on the bike. On Sunday it was a little bit better but I didn’t show what I am really capable of, as for the people there, they were really awesome. I finished second and fourth in the races for third in overall which means I was again on the podium. Sure, it is not a bad result, but I lost the red plate and that’s not what I wanted. Now I have even more motivation to get it back during my home round in Slovenia.”
Q: You could fight until the last moment to keep the red plate, what were you thinking?
Gercar: “I was not thinking that much about the red plate because the championship is still long. It’s only the third race and the top 5 riders are close in points, so everybody has the opportunity to win. Anyway, the points we have now are close and anything could happen, it could change quickly.”
Q: Who do you consider as your main rival?
Gercar: “For sure Matthias shows great speed and he is fit for racing, during last two rounds he won three times and was one time second I think he is one of the most serious contenders for the title. Also, Michek, who finished second, Muratov and Krestinov are probably the ones that will surprise me in the middle of the season.”
Q: You had to fight to make passes, how was that?
Gercar: “In first race I didn’t have the best start, luckily I passed Muratov. After that I made too many mistakes, but I know this is what I have to focus on. I made mistakes in Bulgaria also, when I wanted to go too fast, too soon, and in the end I crashed. I have to try to minimize my mistakes and learn from Walkner.”
Q: What do you mean by “mistakes”?
Gercar: “I mean that sometimes you just can’t find a good line or you don’t feel good on the bike. It is important to do a perfect lap, because there is someone waiting for you to make mistakes. That’s why the best way is to minimize mistakes, but everybody makes mistakes, even world champions.”
Q: Which one of the last three rounds do you consider as your best?
Gercar: “Probably Valkenswaard. Sure Krestinov was faster, he won, but I knew he would not be that well prepared for the hard pack. Also it was good that I made a gap on Walkner and Michek, because these are the guys that are most likely to get the title. The season is so long and I need to focus more on Sunday. In Bulgaria I did good in the Qualifying race but on Sunday I couldn’t find my true speed. I learn something after every race.”
Q: What do you think about before the race and what do you do to improve your concentration?
Gercar: “I definitely work hard during the week because on race day you can’t change anything as it’s a result from what you did during the week to prepare. Before and during the race is mentally draining, when you are in the lead, sometimes you are good, sometimes you are not. When you have the red plate, it’s great but you are not so motivated when you lose it, you are even more motivated to get it back.”
Q: How motivated are you to give your best performance in front of your home crowd?
Gercar: “I had a really great race there last year so I’m looking forward to trying to do the same this year. Sure I would like to repeat last year’s result, but it won’t be that easy, Walkner, Michek and other riders will definitely be well prepared. It may be that I have an advantage because I know the track. It’s always pleasant to ride in front of your family and friends, it gives a lot of positive energy and doesn’t make me stress.”
Q: You mentioned that the next three rounds will be just like home races for you, why?
Gercar: “Slovenia, Croatia and Italy are close to my home so I know what to expect from the track, of course not completely, but in the past I’ve had good races there so I am positive for these races.”
Q: What is your training schedule?
Gercar: “At this moment I am training a lot with the bike, but the Ukrainian race showed me that I have to train not only on the bike, I must run and work on my overall fitness. I train with Nened Sipek and he helps me a lot.”
Q: Do you ride also in a national championship?
Gercar: “Yeah, I race the Slovenian Championship and a few selected races like the European Championship rounds that are close to my home.”
Q: What was your best MX3 round in 2012?
Gercar: “Slovenia and Croatia were good ones. I also like the track in Bulgaria (Troyan) it was there I got my first podium and first heat win. I also liked to see all the classes in Great Britain, that race was very memorable for me.”
Q: How did you start racing motocross?
Gercar: “When I was 4,5 years old, I went with my father and family to watch one race, there were small bikes there which you could try between the races and I really wanted to. I didn’t let the bike go till my father told me that he would buy me a new one. After that, I kept asking where my bike was and finally he bought it for me. We then went to one race and I won it. My father then told me that if I was good at school I could go racing.”
Q: What titles do you have already?
Gercar: “I have some national titles, but in 2007 I won the European Junior title in the 125 class. Also something I am proud of is getting third place in the European championship behind Charlier and Herlings.”
Q: Have you ever raced the FIM MX2 World Championship?
Gercar: “In 2010 I rode a few races in MX2 and then again in 2011, but it didn’t go that well.”
Q: Is moving to the FIM MX1 World Championship your goal?
Gercar: “Yeah, maybe, as I have points from the MX2 and MX3, only MX1 is missing because I have never ridden an MX1 race. I know it is really hard, the competition is really tough. Besides, there are a lot of races overseas so I need somebody behind me to organize it all. At the moment I’m working a lot, so maybe in the future I will be able to move to MX1.”
Q: Apart from motocross, what else do you do on a daily basis?
Gercar: “I’m putting so much effort in to motocross, but normally I just try to prepare everything for the races and have meetings with the sponsors. I’m also recording episodes about what I’m doing to make it more interesting for the fans. Sometimes I go swimming or surf the Internet just like everybody else. I also spend time with my family and my girlfriend.”
Q: You said that you are recording episodes, can you tell us more about that?
Gercar: “On the episodes I try to show my fans what I’m doing, not only at the races. I would like to show the fans that it’s not easy behind the scenes and it’s a lot of work. They can also see that I’m a normal person. I think people think when they see me at the track with a big truck, trainer, mechanics, and a physiotherapist that I’m like a sling everywhere but It’s not like that, I’m trying to show that I am close to them.”
Q: Do you spend a lot of time with your friends?
Gercar: “I only have a few friends because I am traveling a lot and I am not often at home. I live a little bit in Croatia with my trainer and a little bit at home with my girlfriend, so I’m moving a lot. It’s difficult to have friends that follow you. But when I go home, I meet friends and we go out for some drinks.”
Q: Would you change your home friends for MX3 riders?
Gercar: “When it’s race, it’s a race. Whatever happens at the track stays there. I’m good friends with Walkner and Michek. I don’t have a problem with anyone.”
Q: As you are looking forward to the Slovenian race, is there something you want to tell your fans?
Gercar: “I invite everybody, my friends, fans or anyone who follows motocross to come and see this event. When you are there you can feel the magic of motocross, the adrenalin and the smell of petrol. I hope that it will be a nice weekend and I hope there is a lot of good battles and no injuries.
Sure, I would like to invite everybody to join me on Facebook, my official page and my web-site – www.klemengercar.com.”
Photo: Gercar in action – pictures copyright: R.Borak©Youthstream