MxLarge Story
MXLarge interview - Antonio Cairoli
Interview Tuesday 30th June 2009 By Geoff Meyer
Cairoli is in good company and it is easy to see that the Italian rider is something special in the sport of Motocross, not just for this moment, but in any era he could win, he is that good.
With two MX2 titles to his name Cairoli sits in with a very impressive list of riders who have won two titles. Names like Donny Schmit, Jeff Smith, Bengt Aberg, J.M.Bayle, Heinz Kinigadner, Hakan Carlqvist, Bill Nilsson, Trampas Parker, 
Frederic Bolley, Mickael Pichon, Alex Puzar, Sebastien Tortelli, Sten Lundin, Rolf Tibblin, and John Van Den Berk are all two time winners of a World Motocross Championship.
The list above him is even more impressive, with just seven riders with three World titles, those being Greg Albertyn, Alessio Chiodi, Paul Friedrichs, Andre Marlherbe, Guennady Moisseev, Gaston Rahier and Dave Thorpe.
Of course above that list is also reachable, and with just three riders winning four World Championships (Harry Everts, Torsten Hallman, and Heikki Mikkola) it obviously isn't going to get easier for Cairoli.
The Italian wants to take it one step at a time, and his next step is next weekend’s Grand Prix of Sweden, a circuit that he has won before, and a circuit where has often shown off his very best.
Top 15 GP winners of all time: 1. Everts, Stefan BEL 101, 2. Smets, Joel BEL 57, 3. Robert, Joël BEL 50, 4. Geboers, Eric BEL 39, 5. Hallman, Torsten SWE 37, 6. de Coster, Roger BEL 36, 7. Pichon, Mickael FRA 36, 8. Mikkola, Heikki FIN 32, 9. Rahier, Gaston BEL 30, 10. Cairoli Antonio 29, 11. Friedrichs, Paul GER 28, 12. Jobe, Georges BEL 28, 13. Malherbe, André BEL 28, 14. Chiodi, Alessio ITA 27, 15. Strijbos, Dave NED 27
If Cairoli can win this year’s World MX1 Championship, then he will join a list of immortals of the sport and we the public will be able to enjoy that moment, be it in Lierop, Holland, or Canelinha, Brazil.
MXlarge: Antonio, can you tell me about what has happened in the last three weeks. First how did France go for you?
Cairoli: France was a hard track for everyone, really hard and one line. I was still injured from my crash in Mallory Park, so I couldn't practice the whole week, I went to Ernee, and my condition was not good, but I got a podium, so everything was okay. Ernee is not one of my favorite tracks.
MXlarge: Germany was better for you obviously?
Cairoli: We then went to Germany also not my favorite track, but they made some changes this year and it was better, more technical then you can make a good race, I like it like that. I won the Grand Prix there and I feel confident for the rest of the season as my condition is coming better and better.
MXlarge: And your win in Latvia, you enjoyed that didn't you?
Cairoli: I am really happy about this GP, it is one track I was thinking it was more hard to win, I am fast on hard tracks, in sand I still need to learn how to ride 40 minutes, my lines were good and I didn't get tired. First heat I could almost pass Clement and this is good for the championship. Second heat I didn't get a good start and I waited, and rode easy for the first lap, then I pushed more and more. I worked hard this winter after the recovery of my knee, in the first races (rounds of the season) I wasn't fast enough and my condition wasn't good, but now I am strong and I can push more than at the start of the season. I liked the second moto with a fight and coming back from the back. Sometimes getting the holeshot is sometimes nice also. For sure I could see Clement was fast at the beginning, but after 15 minutes I pushed more and the gap was changing and then I knew I could catch him and then after passing De Dycker I was able to catch and pass Clement. There were two places I had good lines here and I used them well.
MXlarge: What are you thinking now, what is your next goal?
Cairoli: I think just GP after GP, sure I want to take as many points as possible, but after three or four GP's then I will think about the Championship. For now I just want as many points from each Grand Prix. It would be good to win the championship in Lierop, but David and Max are really strong at the moment, so it's going to be hard to pull away from those guys, but I try.
MXlarge: How is the MX1 class compared to the MX2 class last year? You also had good battles there?
Cairoli: The battle in MX1 is tough, you pass or you get knocked out. In MX2 you can have more fun, less weight on the bike and you can play more. The riders are more experienced in MX1 and they know how to stop you from passing or passing you.
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