Arminas Jasikonis took the hard and long road! All started in 2017 with a full factory ride in the Suzuki team after Stefan Everts picked him up during the 2016 season. As a 19 year old the long Lithuan rider directly moved to the MXGP class. He finished 7th in the 2019 season, the number he is riding with for the 2022 season. The 2022 season starts at Matterley Basin this weekend in the UK onboard his Gebben Van Venrooy Yamaha, the same circuit where he returned racing in the 2021 season after a terrible injury in the 2020 season at Mantova. MX Active asked him about his upcoming 2022 season.
MX Active: First of all how are you?
AJ: I’m good, I am very happy, happy with my new team Gebben Van Venrooy Yamaha Racing and happy with the people around me. Talking about how I am feeling relating my injury in 2020, during the offseason 2021 it really went much better, last year during the season it was very very difficult for me because of the problems with my, head.
MX Active: Is the rehabilitation still an ongoing process?
AJ: No, I would not say it’s an ongoing process anymore. Offcourse it’s not the same like it was before, and yes offcourse I have injury related issues, but I don’t complain. I am just looking forward, enjoying my life and getting the best out of it!
MX Active: Did you recover 100% from the Mantova injury in 2020?
AJ: No I’m not recovered 100% at all and I am not back at the level I would wish I was right now. At the moment I am around 75%-80% of my level. I also had a very complicated offseason and even my preparations were not perfect. I had a bit of bad luck, but I am happy I am feeling good now, the season is long so let’s keep on growing!
MX Active: How did the preseason racing/training go for you?
AJ: Every week we’re getting better bit by bit. It wasn’t the best pre season as I told but we don’t keep complaining, that just takes away expensive time! I did two pre-season races in 2022, Lacapelle Marival and Hawkstone Park and used these races as a training and for testing the bike. The training program is nothing to complicated actualy, no need to complicate things, more simple is better. And ofcourse the training program during the week depends from if we have a race or not.
MX Active: Your first return in the MXGP in 2021 was at Matterley Basin, the same track where the 2022 season starts this weekend. What do you remember of the 2021 edition being back behind the gate again?
AJ: That was a realy nice moment! It was so nice to be back racing, because few months before I had no idea if I would be able to ever race again. It was a great pleasure to be allready back behind the gate.
MX Active: Your best result in the 2021 was a 6th place in Lommel (2nd moto). Are you able to improve these results in 2022? What’s your goal for the 2022 season.
AJ: Lommel is one of my favourite tracks, for sure it’s a goal to improve that result from last year. Besides that my goal is to consistently improve race by race!
MX Active: How did you and the Gebben Van Venrooy Yamaha Racing get connected?
AJ: My Manager has good contact with the Gebben Van Venrooy Yamaha Racing Team so that’s how it started! And from both sides we are looking forward to work together as a team including my new team mate Calvin Vlaanderen.
MX Active: What other sports do you love other than motocross?
AJ: A lot, just ask me to do any sports and I’ll be there! I love everything about doing sports and talking about sports!
MX Active: Who is your favorite sports hero?
AJ: I am a fan of many riders. As a kid Ricky Carmichael was the one and even now I am fan of many riders even if we are behind the gate together and I race them!
MX Active: What is your favorite song to listen before racing?
AJ: I love everything to listen, before gate drop I go more to hip-hop side!
MX Active: Being one the largest riders in the paddock. What´s your size of your shoes?
AJ: My shoe size is 46-47. Yes I wear huge motocross boots.
MX Active: Tell us about your greatest achievement till date?
AJ: 2020, Latvian MXGP 2nd overall! (Working for more of those days!)
MX Active: Which Championships are you racing in 2022?
AJ: MXGP is the main one and I will try to race so national and international races.
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