Team HRC to be back on track for MXGP in Latvia

Michelle Liew

July 7, 2020

Riders Tim Gasjer and Mitch Evans are all ready and set for the return to MXGP.

Team HRC- MXGP | Photo credits: HRC

After a break of almost five months, Team HRC is ready to resume the MXGP season on August 9^th at Latvia. The team will be taking on the track in Kegums, an hour south of Riga. This new schedule looks set to include multiple rounds at the same venue, midweek races, and an all-new one-day format.

Riders Tim Gajser and Mitch Evans will be gearing up to start their engines in MXGP soon. Gajser was in a strong position before the postponement of the season. He will be coming back to pick up where he left off in Kegums. Teammate Evans, on the other hand, took advantage of the break to recover from the shoulder injury which is sustained in Valkenswaard in Round Two.

The preparations for the riders begin in earnest with physical and bike training ramping up for this date. The rest of Team HRC will make sure the logistics and everything else in place for the commencement of the 2020 MXGP campaign.

Tim Gasjer (Team HRC)

“I was really surprised to see the new calendar, especially to do three races in Kegums and also three races in Lommel, in the deep sand. It is how it is though. So, I know I need to work hard in the deep sand between now and then and try to get as ready as possible. I’m just looking forward to going racing again after such a long break. I miss the races, the weekends at the race tracks so I’m excited to get back to it.

I’m not sure how this one-day format will work completely but it will mean that track time is much more critical and we need to be ready to work on bike set up quickly and efficiently. Thankfully I know I have a really good team around me so I’m confident we can cope. Really though, I am just happy that they have released a calendar and we are going racing in one month’s time.”

Mitch Evans (Team HRC)

“I’m happy to see the new calendar come out. It looks like it should go ahead finally, at least I’m optimistic that it should be getting back racing soon. The one-day format will be a new thing for the MXGPs, but for me, it is just like racing in Australia where we have practice and qualifying in the morning and then two motos in the afternoon, so I should feel at home with it.

At the moment, with my injury, I’ve had one day back on the bike and I did some flat-track riding. I’ll do this for the first month and then see the surgeon at the end of July and then hopefully get the all-clear to start racing after that. Obviously, it’ll mean I’ll only having one week to really get ready on a normal track, to see how my shoulder feels before we go racing in Latvia. So, I’m not sure if I’ll be 100% by then, as we’ll have to see how the shoulder keeps progressing.

Hopefully, it holds up well and feels good when I’m riding and then we’ll make a decision before that weekend. I’ve never had an injury like this, with this much time off the bike so it’s been tough. I’m really happy to be back on the bike though and getting back into normal training and with an exact date in mind, to build towards and see the rest of Team HRC, the fans and the MXGP paddock again.”

Marcus Pereira de Freitas (HRC General Manager- MXGP)

“It’s great that we seem to have a solid calendar now to prepare for. It is five weeks until the first race so now we need to make sure that both Tim and Mitch are ready to start their engines and perform to their highest capabilities when the three Latvian races take place. There are lots of new changes to the format and the schedule and everything but we are a professional group and I am 100% confident that we will be organised, and showing the best of Team HRC in this MXGP world championship.”