Recently returned from the ISDE in Germany where he was crowned Junior World Trophy champion with his three team mates Jeremy JOLY (Yam), Alexandre QUEYREYRE (Yam) and Kevin ROHMER (Yam) ... Mathias BELLINO (F - Husaberg) answers some of our questions and looks back over a hugely successful season...
Mathias, in Finland you won your first Enduro World Championship title. Has your accomplishment sunk in yet?
Mathias BELLINO: "Yes, of course, I realise that I am a World Champion! It was my goal since the beginning of the season. It was also a dream. After that, it is a very strange feeling because I dominated throughout the season so the title of Junior World Champion has become almost "normal". This title is also great for all those around me, all those who helped me. This is a big step for my career!”
You’re champion of France, Enduro Junior World Champion and a member of France’s World Junior Trophy title winning team. 2012 seems to be your year...
M.B: "I think any rider has good years and years without success during their career. This 2012 season really smiled to me. A World Championship title is above all a lot of work, you must also be well supported, but I must admit that there is a great deal of luck. Since the first Grand Prix in Chile I knew I had the speed to win the title, but I had to make it a reality and that's what I did. Three titles in the same year, and in such a short period of time, it's great ... it's even exceptional. I wonder if a junior driver has already achieved such a feat!”
"I didn’t even know who Mika AHOLA was!”
You’ve only been racing enduro for two season, your progress has been impressive...
M.B: "Yes, things have gone very well for me. Upon arriving, I knew nothing. For example, I did not even know who Mika Ahola was! I really didn’t know what to expect when arriving in this discipline. Then, when I started my first EWC race in Spain, I finished second. Thereafter I had some difficult races with crashes, injuries, and especially penalties ... The 2011 season was one of learning and it allowed me to not make the same mistake this year!”
Eric BERNARD seems to play an important role in your "outbreak" ... how do you know him?
M.B: "It was in 2010 when I participated in the MX French Championship with KTM HDI team that I met Eric BERNARD. At the end of the season, I was looking for a ride in MX1 and Ericmet me and asked me to come in Enduro. At this time, I decided to go on Enduro and earn money rather than to spend money to join the MX World Championship. My parents are enduro riders; my mother was Champion of France, so I thought I would go one day in Enduro. I didn’t think I would go so soon."
Why did you choose to leave motocross, you were considered a great hope of the discipline?
M.B: "I was a great prospect it’s true, with LARRIEU, CHARLIERand also TEILLET! In the youth categories, I was ahead of all these guys. I had my place in Grand Prix but I broke three vertebrae in 2007 that stopped me. I took some time to recover, more than six months. In 2008-2009, I had tremendous back pain that prevented me from being at my level. In 2010, when I was the youngest driver in the MX1 class, I finished as runner-up behind Xavier BOOG in the French championship. But if you’re not called ROCZEN or HERLINGS, you must pay to ride in motocross. During the past two years, if I had a deal in the World Championship, it is certain that I could progress. I think I could reach for Top 10 in MX1. But I preferred to stop and go on to Enduro at the age of 19 years, I had to seriously think about my future!”
And yet you still kept your spectacular riding style compared to other former motocross racers...
M.B: "Yes, I started to make my reputation in Enduro with this riding style. I've always had good bike control and the ability to scrub jumps very well. By riding like this I am happy and most importantly I see the public taking pleasure, so I have no reason to change my driving style!”
You are very comfortable in the Super Test. Is this because of your thirst for competition?
M.B: "I don’t know. I always thought that you could lose a weekend in the Super Test. For example, last year Antti HELLSTEN (SF - TM)lost his junior title when he crashed and injured himself in the super test in Greece. At the beginning of the season, I wanted to be cautious on Friday night. Then I started to have confidence and I achieved the two best times in Sweden and Finland.”
Does the Superenduro World Championship interest you?
M.B: "Of course! This discipline is a good compromise with Supercross. I have learned that there will be a Junior class and that the tracks are less like trial and much more rapid and dramatic, so I'm really interested. Now, he must evolve the schedules because they are miscalculated! If schedules change, it will become a discipline favoured by many riders!”
"A race is won in the Enduro Test ..."
Many people say that you have a huge room for improvement ... in what ways do you need to work to become a great champion?
M.B: "I have a good foundation, but I'm still far behind NAMBOTIN, MEOor RENETin the Enduro Tests. Everyone knows that races are won on the enduro tests, not the motocross tests. And to be good at this kind of special, it takes a lot of feeling, experience and good vision of the field. For my part, I have a lot of work to do on the physical preparation. Technique and speed, I will work on them both progressively and I must especially avoid injuries!”
Let’s talk about next season, is it true that you will face the big boys of the Enduro 3 class and in particular a certain Christophe NAMBOTIN (F - KTM)?
M.B: "Next season, I'll have to drive in the senior category as the Junior World Champion cannot put his title at stake. Now, we have not decided with Husaberg but each category has excellent riders and one of my goals will be to compete with them. I plan to make a regular season and hopefully make some visits to the podium. A Top 5 would be nice for my first year. But it is true, I have a liking for large four strokes...”
You are often seen as the excitable, young French rider within the calm, Swedish Husaberg team – how does that work out?
M.B: "I like to laugh and have fun, you must take me as I am! With the Husaberg team, it's going pretty well. I think they are happy that I am riding for them. When we eat together we make a "French table" and another "Swedish table", there are less French people in the team than Swedish, yet we make a lot more noise! I have a good team, with good support, with a good bike and my manager Thomas GUSTAVSSONdoes not put any pressure on me for results ... On top of that, I think I make him laugh a lot”
The offseason is approaching ... with so many titles to celebrate, I guess you'll also take a little time out...
M.B: "It has already started... I did some parties after I won the French junior Championship. And that increased with the success at the ISDE. In any case, I look forward to seeing you the supporters in France for the World Championship in Brignoles to celebrate all these titles!”
Communication Enduro World Championship - www.enduro-abc.com -