Jeremy Seewer begins a new chapter in his Motocross GP career this year; after six FIM medals in ten seasons of GP racing the twenty-nine year old Swiss joins the Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP in search of the elusive Gold.
Interview and Images by Kawasaki EU
Jeremy, a new bike, a new team, a new adventure for you?
Yes of course; you can’t start from zero on so many occasions in your career with a new bike that you need to get used to, with new people around you, with everything new but it’s been a good journey so far. There have been some ups-and-downs, which is normal, but I’m enjoying it and I’m happy!
You’ve been racing nine years in yellow and six in blue, now in Green with a new motivation?
I don’t really function that way; I’m not a guy who has to see new motivation in everything new, but of course it’s nice to discover new directions. Some of them are way better and sometimes you wonder why you never did them before; why nobody previously pointed you in that direction as it seems so natural. There can also be some other things which might feel more negative and I need to work on that, but for sure I’m really motivated to make everything work. Of course it’s easier to stay in your comfort zone because you know the package, you know you can win races, and you know what to improve to advance. But when you change like now, you have a new motivation but you start everything from zero. It’s more of a risk to move to somewhere new – it would be easier to stay where you are – but I’m happy and proud with what I have done and I think it’s the right direction for my career. Many people tell me that Green suits me, and when I see myself on some clips I say ‘wow, that looks nice’.
You stayed so long with previous brands that, as you say, you have to start from zero?
It’s not easy. Let’s say to 90% it’s straightforward because we top riders can ride fast on any bike, even a stock bike from any brand; I can ride fast and enjoy it but then to carry the speed to GP level is another story. To find the last 10% and then the last 5%, the final 3%, that’s where it gets more complicated and then you really need time to test and set up the bike, suspension, engine, chassis, brakes, everything; you have so many options in a factory team to make it right for you. In a few weeks I will know where I am; honestly the feeling is already good but racing up-front at the very top level will be the final confirmation.
You can learn from new people around you, but you also bring to the team all your experience?
Yes of course, it works both way. They show me new things and it can take some time to work together, but then I bring a lot of experience, especially on the riding side; we each bring our strengths and we can put the pieces of the puzzle together.
The season will be long; do you have a plan?
I’m not planning too far ahead; at the moment I’m just focused on setting my bike up and doing some pre-season races without any pressure. I’m just trying to enjoy it, to go through this normal process, fixing the evolution on the bike and then looking forward to the first races.
Physically you feel ready ? Did you have a good winter ?
Yes! Physically I had a really good winter; I kept working on that and tried to improve; trying to work harder but also to regroup better and I don’t think I have ever previously been in such good shape. That’s super positive.
