MITCH EVANS TO RE-OPEN HIS MXGP ACCOUNT

Jett Lawrence’s much-anticipated return to racing this weekend in the AMA 250SX east series is no doubt on many Aussie moto fans’ radars. But don’t forget fellow Aussie Honda rider, Mitch Evans, who, after being sidelined through injury all last season, re-joins Tim Gajser on Team HRC to contest the opening round of the 2022 MXGP World Championship at England’s famous Matterley Basin circuit.

Interestingly, Honda’s marketing department has wrapped the MXGP boys’ return to racing in a series of “fighting back”-themed PR; alluding to the fact both riders are making a comeback in 2022, albeit for different reasons. For the 23-year-old Evans, it’s all about fighting to reestablish himself as a class frontrunner after so long off the bike. And for Gajser, it’s about fighting back after coming up so agonisingly short in his quest to become a five-time champion last season.

Here’s an excerpt of the Team HRC PR, and a cool video that offers an insight into both characters and their off-season training regimes:

Tim Gajser and Mitch Evans will be under the Team HRC awning in 2022 as they both look to rebound from differing 2021 campaigns, and put their Honda CRF450Rs at the front of this highly competitive MXGP class.

Just over three months after the conclusion of the 2021 season, the World Motocross Championship starts again this weekend (February 19-20), with the Team HRC duo of Tim Gajser and Mitch Evans heading to Matterley Basin, England for this 2022 opening round. On a track that holds fond memories for both riders, this will be a good chance for them put on a strong showing and try to start the season off on the right foot.

For Gajser, this will mean an attempt to win a moto here for the fourth year in succession and grab hold of the red plate, like he has for much of the past three years. Unfortunately, the #243 just missed out on the title last year, but he’ll be aiming for world title number five in 2022, with the long and flowy Matterley Basin venue being the perfect venue to begin his fight for this year’s MXGP championship.

Teammate Evans missed out on 2021 entirely but in his first outing for Team HRC in 2020, he took fifth overall, including a third place in moto one to really show why he deserved to ride the amazing CRF450R. Now though, after over a year of recovery, the Australian is back for a gate-drop once again and while there isn’t too much expectation placed on his shoulders, he still wants to go out there and show everyone he is still one of the best motocross riders on the planet.

In 2022, the MXGPs return to a two-day format, meaning that there are now six sessions for the riders to work upon settings and improve their set-up. It starts with a free practice, and then a timed practice before the Saturday afternoon Qualification race. That race then determines the gate-pick for the two motos on Sunday afternoon, after a morning warm-up session.

While the weather forecast isn’t great, the Matterley Basin track is still a magnificent venue and hopefully a large number of fans will turn up and witness the beginning of what should be another intense year of the world motocross championship.

Mitch Evans (#43): “It’s been a really tough 15 months for me, not being able to race and not being able to ride for such a long time. It’s been hard, both physically and mentally to try and stay positive and to keep the motivation high to come back to what is an extremely high level of motocross in the MXGP class now. However, I am feeling better and better every day now and my fitness and strength is ahead of the schedule I’d set out for myself. I know that it won’t be easy to race these guys right away because they are going so fast, but I’m not putting pressure on myself and I truly believe I can get back to that level. You never lose your ability to ride, so it’s just a case of getting my left-side strong enough and that is happening day by day. I’m really thankful to have had the support of Team HRC throughout this period and I’m really looking forward to paying that back by putting in the results on the track. I’m trying not to put too much pressure on myself because I know I’m not at the level I want to be at yet, but the important thing is to go out there and perform as best I can and get used to racing with these guys again. The pre-season races were good practice, but this is the real thing now. I really want to enjoy the weekend and enjoy being back involved with Team HRC at the world championships.”

Tim Gajser (#243): “I feel really good coming into this 2022 season. Obviously last year didn’t end the way I wanted, as I finished third in the championship, which is still good, but it isn’t what I aim for. I did have a lot of good moments and those are the things I am focusing on and building upon in this off-season. We haven’t had a lot of time to switch-off and relax so that has been difficult, but I am feeling fit and healthy and ready to fight for the championship.I always enjoy coming to Matterley as it is probably my favourite track on the calendar. I had a really good round here last year and the track just really flows for me. Hopefully the weather will be okay and we can have some good motos. I am happy that we are back to a two-day format as I believe that is what a world championship should be, and I think that will help everyone get their bikes stronger for the Sunday races. I am extremely pleased with how my Honda CRF450R is riding right now though, we worked hard this winter to improve it and I can’t wait for the first gate drop.”