The conversation was by way of a Skype instant message session, the participants separated by thousands of kilometres. Yet the tone wafting in from the other side was heavy with frustration, palpable as if the words had been uttered in my very presence. Matiss Karro is normally more cheerful than an accountant that’s managed to balance a budget, like a drop of mercury on happy pills. But for a young sportsman, any sportsman, to have a second season in succession cut short by a potentially career-ending injury, is a hard cross to bear. All of this whilst his star was on the rise and rise. This kind of setback could break less resilient spirits. Yet he bore it with a fortitude one would normally associate with a career philosopher.
The convalescence was long and hard. Every race he had to miss made the barbs feel all the sharper. But it also made his determination all the keener. As the 2013 season rolled along, he was getting chirpier, like a bird preparing for the spring. The first scheduled event for the season at Hawkstone Park was cancelled due to inclement weather that would have the ducks marching off in disgust, so he had to postpone his return one week longer. It’s like telling a five year old that Christmas has been postponed.
Still, time marches on. Before too long, the time had come for the Steve Turner Racing truck to fire up and trundle towards Valence in France. The annual event, hosted on a track situated in an industrial zone, attracts the cream of world championship motocross talent, keen to blast the winter cobwebs out of their bikes’ exhausts.
You may be as talented and dedicated as you like, but a protracted layoff from riding is bound to leave you a little bit rusty. Matiss knew that his fitness was up to scratch, what remained to be seen was how his rhythm on the bike would be. Pounding training laps, after all, does not give you a true reflection of what will happen under race conditions. And this was no club-level event, either. Valence attracts entries form the cream of the world championship motocross world, many of those of French extraction, with knowledge of the track ingrained in their very DNA.
The Latvian underscored the fact that he had not sacrificed much in the speed stakes by posting the 10th fastest qualifying time. To put that in perspective, this put him in the vicinity of Sebastien Pourcel and teammate Jonathan Barragan, Grand Prix Winners both. The skill had not deserted him and the bravery certainly not.
The likable Latvian was buried halfway in the pack at the start of race one, and started his catch-up session from round 15th position. He put the spurs to his Steve Turner Racing KTM, and the game mount responded. A solid ride netted him 10th. A slightly – but not much – better start in race two gave him somewhat of a better platform, and by now his rhythm was retuning as well. He disposed of a few big names, and crossed the line in a very creditable seventh spot. apt reward for a strong ride.
The sun was heading towards the horizon when the organizers called the best riders of the MX1 – and MX2 classes to order for the Superfinal event. Do not, dear reader, automatically assume that the smaller capacity MX2 bikes are at much of a disadvantage though. They are eminently more flickable and easier on the body, especially after a hard day’s worth of racing. The track is also not a candidate for the “easy to pass on” award, so a 250cc bike could, given a better start, actually have a benefit over the 450cc machines. This time round Matiss and his orange steed were completely buried at the start, and the leaders were in another postal zone already by the time he crossed the timing line for the first time, Working his way steadily forward, he was clinical in executing pass after pass, and by the time the flagman called a grateful group of riders home, he was in 11th position.
Matiss’ combined efforts netted him seventh overall for the day. It was a good return to international racing. The speed and rhythm were there, he seemingly held no confidence issues over from his horrific crash, and he knows, as everyone does, that this is only the first step. From here on in, things can only get better.
RESULTS
Qualifying
Race 1
Race 2
Superfinal
Overall
Reporting by Tinus Nel