2014 MX2 World Champion Jordi Tixier starts an intense testing phase with Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team in the coming days in Spain and insists that the remarkable achievements of ‘rookie’ Romain Febvre this year has not increased the pressure and expectation on him and the likes of Valentin Guillod who will step into the MXGP category in 2016.
Tixier is ready to begin work in earnest with the works KX450F and alongside Clement Desalle in the new-look KRT squad after recovering from wrist surgery and an injury that forced him to miss the final three Grands Prix of the season. “I only got on the bike two weeks ago and I don’t have too much of a problem to get used to the 450 as I’m enjoying the new KX-F so much,” he claims. “We have many things to test and start really soon with the work we need to do.”
KRT are likely to follow a similar work pattern in preparation for 2016 as they did this year with Ryan Villopoto and Tyla Rattray in Catalunya, and with Desalle and Tixier both new to the Eindhoven based set-up. Tixier knows the spotlight will be on his progress, and that Febvre has set a lofty bar for new entrants into the premier class. “What Febvre did was good…but every rider is different and for me he hasn’t made life more difficult,” he opines. “I am going to learn and give my best every time I’m on the bike. From that we will see what will happen.”
