There is a saying that goes: “If it wasn’t for bad luck, he wouldn’t have any luck at all.” Matiss Karro must at times have wondered if this phrase had been coined for him in advance. The likeable Latvian had certainly suffered a run of misfortune that would have had lesser spirits give up the whole foul jamboree and move to India. Having recovered from a serious back injury suffered in 2012, he returned to racing as the 2013 season kicked off. His final preparatory session before the first GP of the season ended in more misery though when he suffered a wrist injury which forced him to pitch his tent on the sidelines once again.
The 2013 GP season was already two races old before the likeable Latvian got his opportunity to play. The third round of the series fell to be contested at Valkenswaard in the Netherlands on Easter Monday. The track is a gearshift or two away from Matiss’ apartment in the same country, so travel fatigue would not feature amongst the factors that would influence his race day at least. What would have an impact, though, was his lack of training time. Motocross is a technical and physically demanding sport, and you can be as fit as you like, but nothing quite prepares you for the rigours of world championship racing like time on the bike. And of that he had had previous little. Still, he wasn’t going to mope around and open Easter Eggs. There was racing to be done, and he was ready to defend his corner as the anchor member of the Steve Turner Racing KTM squad.
The early sessions clearly indicated that Matiss was still battling to come to grips with the rigours of world championship racing after the enforced layoff. Moreover, he set the risk scale on the conservative side, not wishing to manufacture yet another early exit from racing. He qualified in 18th position, and prepared himself for some gnashing of the teeth on a tough race day.
The first race start launched the Latvian into proceedings just outside the points. He rode sensibly and built up his rhythm step by step. A few laps into the race, he moved into the points scoring zone, but still he kept it sensible. His main objective was to find the endurance to finish the race and open his world championship tally, and in this he succeeded. He crossed the line in 18th position, good for 3 points.
Confidence is a great thing, and Matiss had ladles a spoonful or so of it onto his plate with the first race result. This resulted in a better start in race two, which catapulted him straight into the points. The going was tough, but he gritted his teeth, and by mid-race distance he had found sufficient rhythm to allow him to move forward. He piloted himself through the field, visibly finding more enjoyment from his riding, and by the time the flagman waved the black-white against a setting sun, he had moved up to fourteenth position.
Eighteenth and fourteenth in a race may not sound like much, but for a return ride in a world championship event for a rider who had suffered a series of devastating injuries it is a big deal indeed. Matiss had his name inscribed next to the number 14 for the overall result of the day. Moreover, his 10 point haul slotted him solidly into 20th position on the world championship points table.
He ever-cheery young man was pretty chuffed after the day’s events. “I achieved what I set out to do,” he enthused. “It was tough, because I didn’t have chance to ride much before the race, but I just wanted to finish both races and score points in each. My rhythm started getting good towards the end of the day, and from her3e on it can only get better.”