Rockstar Energy IceOne Husqvarna Factory team manager Antti Pyrhonen has worked with many of the best riders in the MXGP class. A passionate and very professional man, Pyrhonen has just signed two young talents, with one eye on 2019 and another on the next five or six years.

The signing of Pauls Jonass and Arminas Jasikonis isn’t for the short term, but for the long run, and while these two 21-year-old riders will have complete backing from the Husqvarna factory, you know that Antti will be with them, working hard, and making sure they give everything they have.

We sat down with the 40-year-old Fin and asked him about his two new boys and also about the current situation in World motocross.

MXlarge: Firstly, congratulations on your two riders. You must be really happy with two young guys who you can influence on?

Pyrhonen: Yes, definitely, I am looking forward to working with the guys, they are both young, 21 years old basically we can help them with bike set-up and improving them.

MXlarge: I remember speaking to Stefan (Everts) a few years ago, and he mentioned to me that it is easier dealing with the younger riders because they are willing to listen and learn. The older guys are maybe more set in their ways. Is that something you have experienced?

Pyrhonen: Let’s say, I enjoyed working with all our guys. So when it was Max Nagl, or Gautier Paulin, or another guy, you know, we had a great cooperation and we had a good working relationship. And we were able to get good results, Nagl finished third and Gautier also finished third and this year fifth, so we did a good job together. On the other hand, the reality is that Jeffrey is setting a new level, speed wise in motocross and also in MXGP. We are not just looking at 2019, but also a little bit further, and find somebody who can match that speed. Maybe not next year, but hopefully 2020 and 2021, we can have a guy running closer to his pace and be able to battle of the win.

MXlarge: In saying that then, do you think guys from this era, guys like Paulin, Desalle, and the others, they can’t learn enough to match his speed in the future?

Pyrhonen: I don’t say that, never underestimate those guys, they have shown for many years they are capable of doing good things, so don’t underestimate Gautier, or Clement or Max, those guys are great riders, but of course, the reality is, younger guys make bigger steps. I think the more experienced guys will be there, but I think our younger guys, can already join that battle with the more experienced guys, but they can eventually in two or three years they are capable of stepping it up and challenging for the win. That is the eventual goal and the big plan. Both our guys are 21 and in two or three years, they will be in their prime.

MXlarge: When you see the guys coming up from MX2, whether it was Febvre, Gajser or Seewer, they all do really well, those very top MX2 guys. I get the feeling Pauls (Jonass) will be similar to Gajser and Febvre once he is fit?

Pyrhonen: I think Pauls will do very good, like you said. He is already two or three years been in the battle for the World title, and he has shown he is capable to battle for championships and capable to go through the whole season under pressure, race after race. I think he will go well, but of course the current knee injury slows down the process, so we give him the time to grow into the class and get the speed. We have a long-term plan with both our guys.

MXlarge: Obviously both your guys are close to Finland, and I guess you all have a similar culture and attitude?

Pyrhonen: Yes, that is interesting for me. They are from the North of Europe and we share the same values and one of those values is to work hard, and for that I am looking forward to working with them. On the other hand, Max was German, Gautier was French, Todd was from Australia and I have worked well with all of them. Whoever I had in the team, everyone had their strengths like this and it was good working with all of them and the team learnt from each guy and they also learnt from us. I always had a great relationship with my guys and I look forward to that situation with Pauls and AJ as well.

MXlarge: A couple more questions. Obviously the MXoN was a big success for the Grand Prix riders and it looks like we have come full circle and the European riders are now like the American riders of the 1980s and 90s. We hear a lot of excuses from the American media or American fans, but why do you think that is?

Pyrhonen: Firstly, all the respect to the US guys, we all know their main target is in the supercross and they are training in that and that is their priority. That could be one thing, they do so much more work on that one, and motocross is in the second position for them. On the other hand, I think the European guys have worked hard and the speed is amazing. With the heavy competition, we know from MX2 there is the age rule and that is pushing the talented, young hungry guys into MXGP, and of course the more experienced riders need to push their limits. The second thing is Jeffrey Herlings, his high speed and heavy work, everybody is trying to keep up with the work and the speed, so this is for sure a reason we have a great guy who is showing everyone how to do it and keep up with him. Of course the overall set-up that the FIM and Youthstream worked on, the two-day format, it isn’t just racing in Sunday, we also race on the Saturday in the qualification races. So the guys are working hard every week and with all these things together the level is just higher.

MXlarge: You mentioned Jeffrey, and I have to say, I know Stefan at times you could watch him and think, WOW, he did amazing things on a bike, but with Jeffrey, it is nearly every weekend you think that. I might exaggerate things, and get too enthusiastic, but I can’t remember seeing somebody ride like this on such a consistent and regular occurrence. What do you think?

Pyrhonen: I agree, and I remember the times when Stefan rode and I was sometimes close to watching, and Stefan was a great talent and so natural and he made it look so easy, he made motocross look easy. On the other hand, Jeffrey, the raw speed, is just really high, and I am not sure I have seen anyone race at this level. One guy who was close, and that was Ricky Carmichael. When he came to Europe for the Motocross of Nations in Zolder, and Ernee, he was also raw speed and riding on the edge, and Jeffrey is like that. Pure speed is so high and it’s great to see.

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