Born on June 1, 1985, Tanel Leok is the oldest man in the MXGP paddock at 34 years of age. Despite having already been through the highlights of his career, winning three Grand Prix’s and battling the likes of Stefan Everts, Joel Smets, Ben Townley and Mickael Pichon, the veteran Estonian just can’t turn his back on the sport.

He made his GP debut in 2001 in the 125cc class in Holland, and the first of his three Grand Prix victories came way back in 2008 in Ireland, some 11 years ago, Leok is still loving racing, and that is what is keeping the Husqvarna rider continuing in the toughest motocross series in the World.

Amazingly, back in 2001, when a 15-year-old boy entered his first Grand Prix, names like Stefan Everts, Joel Smets, Marniqu Bervoets, Mickael Pichon, Gordon Crockard, Pit Beirer, Josh Coppins, Alessio Chiodi, James Dobb, Steve Ramon, Marc De Reuver, Erik Eggens and so many others were on the start list. Even his uncle Avo Leok, also a GP winner was racing.

All of these former World champions or GP winners are long retired, but that 15-year-old boy remains, still believing that the sport of motocross can give him what he feels he needs to enjoy life.

Of all the riders from 2001, only Kevin Strijbos and Leok remain in Grand Prix, (and Chad Reed who races in USA), a true testament to these two competitor’s motivation and desire to be a motocross racer. 

We caught up with Tanel on the Indonesia leg of the MXGP championship. The once quiet boy is now an experience man, who tells a good story.

MXlarge: I know I should have interviewed you when you celebrated your 250^th Grand Prix, so sorry for that, but congratulations on that landmark. How did it feel to reach that mark?

Leok: Obviously when it happened it was great. When you think about it, it is a lot of races and I have been racing a long time now. It came quickly and was a surprise for me, because I never knew how many I had ridden. I have fans that are really into it and were counting it and then I went to Youthstream to see how many it was, and it was correct. On one way it is a little bit sad, but when you think about how many races that is, then for me it is a little bit impressive. That I managed to be on the scene for that long and be competitive.

MXLarge: Do Youthstream know if you have had the most?

Leok: This I didn’t check.

MXlarge: When did you start in GP?

Leok: I started in 2001. I rode only six races, because I did the German championship and I couldn’t do all the rounds because the German championship ran the same weekend as the GPs back then. 2015 was my bad year, where I raced mainly in England, when I say that I mean not a bad year, it was an awesome year in England, but I missed a lot of Grand Prix’s. I did just a few that year. From that year until now I have done almost all the GPs.

MXlarge: I remember when you and Ben (Townley) and Tyla (Rattray) were racing for the Vangani KTM for Tinus Nel, and you were just kids and now you are a veteran of the GPs. How old are you?

Leok: I am 27.

MXlarge: 27, that isn’t that old?

Leok: Okay, I am really 34, hahaha.

MXlarge: Oh, that is correct, you made a joke about that in the press conference at your 250^th GP. You had a period where you were winning some GPs and you battled up front, you battled Stefan Everts. Was that the highlight of your career?

Leok: Yes, for sure. Until 2012 I was always thinking I could be on the podium, and I was still thinking that in 2013, but it wasn’t happening anymore. In 2014 it was difficult, I thought about stopping and the teams were not coming around. In 2012 I had my last podium. I had injury problems where I kept racing, like in 2006, 2008 and 2012. I had many years like this. Then 2014, it wasn’t clicking anymore, and I was wondering if I was doing enough, but I was doing too much and burning myself out. Nothing was working and the competition was getting higher and even in 2014 I was the old man. I was working too hard and I decided I should maybe go away and be competitive in ADAC or Maxxis, but in 2016 I did some Grand Prix with some friends. Then I started doing testing for Husqvarna and KTM and that was really good for me. Then, when it was clear I would never be top three again, or a World champion, it took the pressure off and I started having fun again. It isn’t as exhausting as it once was. I cut back with training and I started enjoying it more since 2016.

MXlarge: But even this year, you have been running top ten in some races and MXGP is tougher than ever, even tougher when Stefan was racing. What is that like to be competitive as your age?

Leok: I mean, I have had my good races, some tracks I was really good. I was bummed that Mantova started raining and it was a mud race, because I felt really good there.

MXLarge: Didn’t you get a top five on Saturday?

Leok: Yes, I finished fifth and came from 10^th place at the start. That wasn’t bad at all and I felt really great. France, the first race I was 10^th. I need to get the starts and the track suits me. This year is going better than last year. I am more confidence. 2018 I started running my own team, and it was crazy, but now I know how it all works and it is easier to run the team. I don’t need to run around, so much.

MXLarge: You have mentioned when you might start thinking you need to stop, but how will you decide that?

Leok: For sure I want to do next year, because this year I feel good on the bike. Maybe if I had a 2014 situation again, where my head wasn’t feeling good and I felt burnt-out and tired, then maybe I stop, but I feel good at the moment. This year I feel good in the races and also, I am motivated in training. I will take it year by year, and if I feel burnt out, I will step away.

MXlarge: If you could compare 2005 with Everts, Smets, Pichon, Townley, Coppins and so many others. That was when MX1 was at its peak and now we have MXGP, which many say is better than ever. Obviously, the bikes are better now, and the riders training is maybe more advanced, but can you at all compare the two years?

Leok: It is difficult to say. When you think about when I started doing MX1, Marniqu Bervoets was at the end of his career and I remember beating him.

MXlarge: I mean you are as old school as it gets. I can imagine you are racing the guys now and riding behind them and thinking, WOW, check out what he can do. Is that the case, because techniques are way better now?

Leok: Yes, techniques are better, but also when I started racing the tracks changed. The younger riders they grew up with the new style of tracks and I rode old school tracks. All this scrubbing and stuff. Respect to Antonio, because he can manage to still keep up with it. He has figured it out. At my age, like Kevin and me, we are a step behind, while we used to compete with the best and now the gap to Tony is huge. They do a great job with the tracks, but it is for me as an older rider, I am only now starting to figure the tracks out.

MXlarge: At 34 years of age you are still learning.

Leok: The guys on the 85 bikes are growing up on these types of tracks and when I was 85 were raced Gaildorf and it was natural terrain. What is funny, I feel good at Matterley Basin, which has huge jumps, but it still has these off-chamber corners, so old school with the new style in it. That is what I enjoy. I also enjoy stand tracks, because you can’t scrub there. I can do the jumps, but can’t do them fast enough, like everyone else.