Injured Slovenian multi-time motocross world champion Tim Gajser has started riding again after more than three months off due to the broken femur he sustained at the Italian International at Pietramurata in February.
He won’t be ready to race at this weekend’s round eight of the world series in Latvia, but his factory Honda team-mate, Ruben Fernandez, will be and he has a lot of great memories as this is the venue where he got his first-ever MXGP podium last year.
The likeable Spaniard will be hoping to get up on the box once again after just missing out in France last time out.
Despite that disappointment, it was actually a positive sign of just how much the Honda rider has improved because it was terrain where he never really felt comfortable, yet he rode smart and consistent and just put in two solid results.
Kegums is a unique surface, as riders have to get used to a soft top layer early on in the weekend before they reach the hard base underneath.
This makes bike setup crucial, but it is something that Fernandez was able to do well in previous years and expects to be able to do again.
Currently sitting joint-third in the MXGP championship, with a win at the opening round in Patagonia-Argentina, 2023 has been good for Fernandez and he’ll be hoping to continue that form this coming weekend.
Things have also got better for reigning MXGP champion Gajser as he finally got back on his Honda CRF450R after his injury lay-off.
Recovering patiently from his broken right femur, the Slovenian has been doing all the rehab necessary in order to make this moment happen, and now he’s finally been able to spin a few laps of his famous Tiga243land track.
It is still too early to make a decision on when he’ll take his next gate-drop, but this is a positive step in his recovery and is great news for all his fans around the world.
Photo courtesy Honda
Find BikesportNZ.com on FACEBOOK here
MXGP – World Champs Top 10 (after 7 of 19 rounds):
1 Jorge Prado (ESP, GAS), 342 points
2 Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 318 Points
3 Romain Febvre (FRA, KAW), 263 Points
4 Ruben Fernandez (ESP, HON), 263 Points
5 Jeremy Seewer (SUI, YAM), 243 Points
6 Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, YAM), 226 Points
7 Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, YAM), 217 Points
8 Mattia Guadagnini (ITA, GAS), 203 Points
9 Maxime Renaux (FRA, YAM), 202 Points
10 Valentin Guillod (SUI, HON), 162 Points
MX2 – World Champs Top 10 (after 7 of 19 rounds):
1 Jago Geerts (BEL, YAM), 319 points
2 Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), 318 Points
3 Kay de Wolf (NED, HUS), 307 Points
4 Thibault Benistant (FRA, YAM), 303 Points
5 Simon Laengenfelder (GER, GAS), 259 Points
6 Roan Van De Moosdijk (NED, HUS), 254 Points
7 Liam Everts (BEL, KTM), 235 Points
8 Kevin Horgmo (NOR, KAW), 201 Points
9 Lucas Coenen (BEL, HUS), 196 Points
10 Jan Pancar (SLO, KTM), 149 Points