Published February 21, 2024
These are exciting times for Swedish talent Isak Gifting. After years of racing in the MX2 World Championship, he plans to compete in his MXGP World Championship in 2024.
The Swede signed a contract with Italy-based team JK Yamaha in 2024 and hopes to learn as much as possible during his rookie season, but he has a lot of speed and future potential. be.
We spoke to Gifting ahead of this weekend’s Hawkstone International, where he races in front of British fans.
GateDrop: Isaac, there were a lot of rumors about racing overseas instead of MXGP in 2024, a silly season rumor for you, but was that an option?
gift: Yes, I actually considered it, but it didn’t work out. And I was always excited to try the MXGP class here in Europe.
GateDrop: You ended up signing with JK Yamaha in 2024. How did the deal with the team come together?
gift: We started the conversation quite late, but everything went very smoothly after that. I went to Italy to test a little with them and then decided to go for it.
GateDrop: Obviously last year was your last year competing in the MX2 World Championship due to age regulations, what do you think about the age regulations in MX2?
gift:I think it would have been better to maintain classes for all ages like in America. Instead, have some kind of point system that you may eventually need to step up to. It doesn’t really matter to me since I wanted to go up to 450cc anyway.
GateDrop: Since you’re on an Italian team, you’ve spent a lot of time in Italy during the offseason. What was it like coming to Italy and doing the laps? I think we will be based there this season as well…
gift: Yes, I am currently based in Italy. That’s amazing, I’ve always loved Italy and even spent Christmas here for the past two years. Also, I think recent Belgian and Dutch tracks are difficult, so Italy and France are also easy.
GateDrop: You competed in the opening two rounds of the International Italian Championship. How did they turn out for you? Even with 450cc, you can get a lot of speed!
gift: It was much faster than I expected, so I’m very positive. The 450cc also allows for smoother riding. This may come as a surprise, but I’ve adjusted pretty well to be honest. A good start in Mantua was also a big factor. I hope to put together some decent motos eventually.
GateDrop: When you jumped on the 450cc, how did you find it? Did it take you a while to get used to the power or adjust the style?
gift: It had power from the beginning, and I’ve always liked it. It certainly took some getting used to, but it still does. But it feels smoother than I expected and I’ve already recorded some fast lap times in the pre-season races. With a different approach than before on the track.
GateDrop: What are your expectations for this year’s MXGP World Championship? The level is high!
gift: I’m humble, but I’m also hungry. I just want to be in the top 10 and learn from it. We hope that on the right day we can deliver something better, but first we need to see where we are.
GateDrop: You will also be competing in the Italian Championship against Ducati! What are your expectations for that series? I’m sure he’ll be aiming for another Nation title after the British series he won last year…
gift: It was a fun job racing the national championships alongside the world championships. It’s true that there are a lot of races and I don’t have a lot of free time, but I think that’s a good thing for me. I’m definitely aiming for the title but it’s a long road and I know the Italians are just as fast in their home country as they are in the UK. We look forward to your new challenges!
Interview: Andy McKinstry
Image: Hawkmania