Tony Cairoli to race Lakewood and High Point - interview

By Andrew Hill on 8th Jun 22

After a fantastic start to a debut AMA Pro Motocross season where the nine-time world champion had initially committed to two rounds, Tony Cairoli has re-upped for at least another two and teases more. We also loved what he had to say about his reasons for the sweet scrub after pulling the holeshot it's priceless.

We've suffered through the air hose noise so you don't have to. So if you don't fancy watching the Swapmoto video (embedded at the foot of the story) you can read the transcript below.

Im pretty happy with the weekend, not about the result," said Cairoli. "But I cannot expect much from myself Im just getting some training now. Were a little bit out of shape, as we have only prepared for one month now, after six months of not riding [intensively].

Im getting good feedback from myself, so considering the [little] amount of training I have, I am happy.

Of course, we missed a little bit of speed the first few laps of the race, but this we know. We try to work a little bit on it because I feel the first three or four laps I lost so many positions after I settle with a good pace, and I could ride a good pace until the end of the race.

Im not really satisfied about the speed because in the first part of the race, we need to work more on a good pace.

We are here to discover this new world and try to enjoy every race.

Asked about his holeshot and scrub

I see that Kenny [Roczen] was next to me so I say okay maybe somebody get a good shot and I can make a huge poster for my home, because Im a good friend of him and I really, really enjoyed to ride with him again after so many years.

After that, he passed me, and I tried to follow a little bit because I know hes very fast for two or three laps, but I get nearly arm pump, like one lap to go because I dont ride, and Im not used to that pace. After I get fifth/sixth place and I was okay with that. I just try to improve every race.

On the pace of US nationals timetable

I struggle a lot with the time in the morning a lot because normally [in MXGP] we have 40 minutes of free practice, and then we have 30 minutes of pre-qualifying practice plenty of time to make a good lap. And here I basically do one or two laps, and then somebody cuts in front of you, or you get in a mix with a slower rider. You really need to adapt to the new thing we will learn. Its nice because Im also learning this now this new type of race.

On racing the next two AMA Pro Motocross rounds (Lakewood and High Point)...

TC says, Yes, but on the whole series, he says, I dont know actually, the plan was to do two races, then KTM say they are happy with what we are doing; testing a lot for the team and I say okay, we are here, lets do another two races and maybe also for me its nice because I can get more in the season. After that we have two weeks [break in AMA racing] and maybe I will go back to Italy and try to do more testing, more working on the setting of the bike we dont know, it depends on how the next races go, well see if we come back or maybe we take a break and come back at the end of the season, because I want to do more races at the end of the season because I want to prepare for the Motocross of Nations, which is a big event for us.

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