MXGP World Champion Tim Gajser tells us how he trains at home

Michelle L.

April 17, 2020

This time on the Isolation Diaries, we have MXGP World Champion Tim Gajser!

Just earlier this month, three-time motocross world champion Tim Gajser did an online training session with Team HRC physio, Filippo Camaschella. The rider learns some few easy home-based exercises to help him stay fit and healthy during this quarantine period.

The Slovenian rider also talks about how his life is at home during this lockdown, as well as answering some fan questions about fitness and how he prepares for a normal motocross week. When asked about whether the lockdown has made things more difficult, Gajser said “Everything is quite normal really. I have a gym at home so I train normally, but except for the bike. It is really difficult because we have to stay at home. I have not been on a bike now for over two weeks, so we will see. Hopefully, we will pass through this tough time soon and start with the races again.”

Tim Gajser | Photo credits: HRC

Gajser spends all of his days training at home.

“Every day twice a day, once in the morning and then in the afternoon. I keep my plan and although I’ve had to adjust a little bit, I’m trying to train the same as I was before. I want to stay in good shape because we don’t know when we’re going to start with the races. But I hope we start soon.”

“I think to be physically fit is the most important thing. If you aren’t in good shape, you can’t hold the bike because the bike is big and powerful. So you have to be able to cope with that and be able to ride two motos for 35 minutes. It is really important to have a great preparation before the season and even during the season to continue working hard to maintain the condition that you built up at the beginning of the season. So yes, it is very, very important.”

“Basically, my schedule for the week is that I run a lot, I cycle, I row indoors a lot. I go to the gym. Then in normal conditions, not now because of the COVID-19 virus, I would train twice a week on the bike, Tuesday and Thursday on the bike and then usually Friday we are travelling to the races. Of course, we ride over the weekend on Saturday and Sunday so basically four days on the bike and then on the other days I’ll be running or cycling or rowing or in the gym. One session in the morning, one session in the afternoon. That’s how I keep my body in shape.

Gajser also stresses the importance of recovery.

“Recovery is really important, especially for us. We have like 20 races in a season, so almost every weekend we are racing, so it’s really important after Sunday’s race, to have a good recovery on Monday. You need to be fit for the next weekend so you need to recharge the batteries from the race because you are tired and empty after the GP, so you need to make sure you are topped up to be ready for the new week and the new weekend. It is also important to listen to your body.”

“Sometimes your body is tired and it is better to take a little bit of time off than to go training because when you are tired, you don’t do correct training and that isn’t good. If you train too much or over-train your body, it isn’t good, so you need to maintain the balance between training and rest and that’s the best way.”

Gajser also mentions that he keeps track of his heart rate when he trains. “I tried to ride with the heart-rate monitor strap and I think my average heart-rate was about 178 and maximum was 190. But of course, it is different for everyone so mine will be different from yours. It is useful information, but you can’t really compare it between one person and the next.

Due to the strict rules during the lockdown, Gajser is not able to travel on his bike.

“At the moment, everyone knows we are in tough times with the virus so it is not easy to go on the bike. I tried at the early stage to get on the bike once a week, but with all the rules that the countries made, they don’t allow us to go outside too much so it’s difficult. So now I try to train in the gym and not on the bike. It’s not easy, especially for motocross riders and all sports-people because we are used to train hard and go everyday on the bike. It’s not easy but we will survive and will enjoy it even more when it is over.

“I’m really enjoying my riding and for me, that’s the most important thing, to love what you do. Otherwise, if you are doing something without love, then the success won’t come. Because you are there because of something else. I really love to ride my dirtbike, since I was two and half years old, until now and hopefully in the future I will continue to love riding my dirtbike, having fun and having a good time.

“All the sportsman, we are lucky because this is our job and we do it for passion as well. I don’t feel like motocross is my job because I am having so much fun on the dirtbike. So, I think I am very lucky we can enjoy our sport and have fun and share with all our fans.”

“I also want to thank all of the fans who watch us and I hope we can see each other at the races soon.”