MxLarge Story
Tommy Searle interview - Only First Counts
Interview Thursday 19th May 2011 By Geoff Meyer
Monster Energy Kawasaki rider Tommy Searle sure is consistent in 2011, but the British rider knows that consistency won’t cut it if he isn’t winning races and GP’s. After three rounds of the FIM World MX2 Championship Searle sits in third place in the points standings and despite three podium finishes he needs a win and he needs it soon.
Sickness weakened him at the United States Grand Prix last weekend. It was a race he expected to fight for the win. His experience riding the Glen Helen track came to nothing though as the Red Bull KTM riders (Roczen and Herlings) out jumped him at the start and never looked back.
What Searle needs is victory in Brazil this weekend and then head to the Grand Prix of France, set for the St Jean dÁngly track, a circuit he has won on in the past. We caught up with Searle last weekend and asked him about his USGP and also what to expect in the coming weeks.
Q: Tommy, I understand you didn’t feel well last weekend. How did you get sick?
Searle: I went to watch the Supercross in Las Vegas and last weekend it was really, really hot, and all of a sudden the weather changed in California and I was going in and out of the air conditioning and at the time I didn’t realize. Then I went training at Pala, and I started feeling tired. This week I didn’t train at all because I felt so tired. I was hoping it would be over quickly, but it lasted a long time. Normally I don’t get ill, so I was pretty disappointed.
Q: So your training was minimal, which isn’t the perfect preparation for a GP is it?
Searle: I didn’t ride or train after Tuesday. I wanted to be ready for Glen Helen. I mean like I said normally I don’t get sick and I take the right vitamins to prevent it, but I guess everyone gets sick.
Q: How did you feel at the USGP then?
Searle: Luckily the weather was cool on Sunday at Glen Helen, otherwise I would have been in real trouble, but the problem is I need to be 100% right to fight with these guys. It’s not like I was physically tried in the race, but when I woke up on Sunday morning I just didn’t have energy, normally I like to laugh and joke around, but I was just not interested. I usually have so much fun, but I didn’t have the energy to have that same fun. It’s just been like let’s get through the weekend and do my best. I didn’t have too much fun this weekend.
Q: What did you think when it was raining?
Searle: The rain was the same for everyone, I mean I don’t want to be going on about being sick, hopefully in Brazil I will be okay and I can run with those guys. I need to run with them, I can’t be getting third places all the time, that isn’t going to cut it for the Championship, end of story.
Q: What do you expect for Brazil, what type of circuit?
Searle: I know Justin Barkley is out in Brazil and he always makes a nice track. Whatever the track is like we all have to ride it, it’s the same for everyone. I know it’s a small track and a little bit Supercrossy, as long as they prep it will be okay.
Q: I noticed you got a great start in the second moto, but those KTM’s came past you quickly.
Searle: I got such a great jump in the second moto, I don’t know what they do, and I think they have a different gear ratio or something. They had the edge around here today. I mean it gives us something to work on and Mitch (Payton) and everyone saw it and he said after the race that it can’t happen again. We run back to the shop and work on it and see what we come out with next week.
Q: The holeshot should have been yours, but that straight is so long.
Searle: Had it been any other track I would have gotten the holeshot, but the KTM’s are working well and they have a good set-up, everyone knows their bikes are fast, but I believe our bikes handle better and we are not lacking much, I came out of the corner in third, so just a little bit faster. I mean I was trying to block the guys on my right, but Ken was on my left and normally I would have moved over and tried to stop them. You know those guys are going to be fast, so I just need to put myself in a better position.
MXlarge: You like the circuit for round five at St Jean d’Angly in France?
Searle: I have won there before. I went 1-1.
MXlarge: You won there?
Searle: Yep, I went 1-1, but I think it was for third overall (laughing). I don’t know, you do the maths, but I think 1-1 gets me an overall or not.
MXlarge; It would be bad luck if it didn’t….
MXlarge: Why do you like that track?
Searle: I don’t really like it, I just ride well there. I got good starts and led races from start to finish. I like all the tracks, I have fun now, it is all good and I believe I can win.
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