In less than a month the FIM Motocross World Championship will start in the International Circuit of Losail, Qatar, and the following week the Championship will fly over to Thailand for the second MXGP of the series. There are many expectations generated around these two first events of the season, and now there is one extra motivation to do not miss them, as Livia Lancelot, 2008 FIM WMX Motocross World Champion, will take part in both Grand Prix.
Question: Everybody is counting down the days for the start of the series, especially because the first two Grand Prix they take place in two new venues, there is going to be the MX1 and MX2 Superfinal and in Qatar the race will be organized at night. Besides, it has been recently confirmed that you will also take part in the first two MXGP of the season, how excited are you to be part of these two MXGP that will be for sure part of the history of the sport?
Livia Lancelot: For sure I’m excited to be a part of these two GP, I have never been in those two countries, I have never raced an Mx2 Grand Prix, so it is going to be all new for me.
Q: How important is for you to have been chosen to race these two MXGP?
Lancelot: This is important because I am not racing the World Championship anymore, but I can see that even if I choose my races, people don’t forget me … and even if my world title is getting old, I’m one of the fastest Women in the World!
Q: Were you surprised when you received the news? Was it difficult to take a decision?
Lancelot: Yes, I was really surprised, but I took the decision in a few seconds !!
Q: Stefy Bau was the first woman who tried to take part in an MXGP in 2005, but she did not succeed in qualifying for the main event. Four years later in the Grand prix of Brazil, Mariana Balbi became the first woman to race an MX1 Grand Prix obtaining a 24th overall position, how do you feel when you think that a part from being an important name in the history of the FIM WMX World Championship you can also be part of the history of the FIM Motocross World Championship?
Lancelot: I don’t think about that, I’m just happy to race, I’ll give my best, and we will see if my result deserves to be part of the History!!
Q: Do you think that this exceptional fact of having a woman among all the men in the World Championship can become something normal and have more and more women in the entry lists?
Lancelot: It will be hard to find girls with enough speed to race with MX2 riders all the season. I don’t know if the girls can progress enough to be a part of the MX2 as a normal rider.
Q: If you succeed in qualifying for the main event in both Grand Prix you will be racing also the Superfinal with the MX1 and MX2 riders, how do you feel when you think that you will be able to race together with riders like the seven-times world champion Antonio Cairoli?
Lancelot: I have already raced against Tony, or even Stefan Everts, at some events like Valence, or the Charity Race, so I’m ready! But I don’t think that I will be in the main event!
Q: We have seen you quite busy during the winter time racing some Supercross, Le Touquet last weekend, … how are you feeling physically at the moment? Do you feel better than ever? How are you facing this new challenge?
Lancelot: I’m busy all the year, and I like that. I really enjoyed racing Le Touquet with the 450, and I won’t say that I feel better than ever but I feel great. I’m missing some training in the hard pack at the moment, but I’m working on it. I really like new challenges, this is always a new motivation!
Q: What is your main goal for Qatar and Thailand?
Lancelot: Actually I don’t know, I’ll give my best as always, and I will see where I can finish, but I know that the MX2 riders are really fast, so I can’t expect so much…