Newly crowned ADAC MX Masters Short Season Champion Jordi Tixier started out in motocross at the age of three. After taking the French Junior title, he went on to win the European 125cc Championship in 2010. When Ken Roczen became 2011 MX2 World Champion and decided to further his career in the USA, Tixier inherited his place in the KTM Red Bull MX2 works team alongside Jeffrey Herlings for the 2012 season. In 2014, the Frenchman himself won the MX2 World Championship. The following year, he switched to Kawasaki, but his season got off to a stuttering start and was brought to an early end when he sustained an injury to his hand. In 2016, Tixier made the step up to the MX1 category, and in 2018, he won the Motocross of Nations as a member of the French national squad. Last winter, he founded his own JT911 team to contest the World Championship. He competed in the 2020 ADAC MX Masters as a member of the KTM Sarholz Team. We talked to Tixier about his recent achievement and his season in general.
Congratulations on winning the ADAC MX Masters Short Season Championship!
Jordi Tixier: "Thank you very much. It is always enjoyable to win a title. We have worked hard for it all year. Winning the ADAC title was one of my objectives for 2020, and I am delighted to have succeeded."
What was the secret of your success in clinching the title with one moto to go?
"There is no secret; it was just a lot of work. I work a lot on myself; sometimes that pays off, and when it does, that's good." (laughs)
After your win at Grevenbroich it was by no means certain that you would be among the starters at Tensfeld. What ultimately gave the ADAC MX Masters the edge over the MXGP which was being contested at the same time?
"I have a very good relationship with the KTM Sarholz team and it was our declared goal to win the title this year. But things were also going very well for me in the World Championship where I am in the Top Ten. It was not an easy decision. I talked to my German and French sponsors and then opted for the ADAC MX Masters. It wasn't easy, but in the end, I am very happy with my decision."
This year has been an exceptional one, and not only because of the coronavirus. You decided to set up your own team for the World Championship not long before the start of the season. How did that come about, and how satisfied are you with the way things have worked out?
"It's a long story, and it was also a difficult decision I made at the end of 2019. But now I am very proud of what I've done. Building up my own team has taken a lot of effort, but fortunately I have some great sponsors behind me who have been supportive since I was a youngster. Without them, it would not have been possible, and I am very grateful to them. My father, my girlfriend and my family have also helped me a lot and given me their backing. There were some very exhausting weeks until the team was ready. But now everything is going really well and we are giving the works teams a run for their money in the Grand Prix events. That makes me very proud."
Will you carry on like this as master of your own destiny, or would you rather be part of a factory team?
"To be honest, it's very difficult to secure a place in one of the factory teams at the moment. There are a lot of good riders who all need good bikes. I have signed another contract with KTM for my own team and we will continue next year as we did in 2020. That gives me a good feeling. We are not a big team, but we have an excellent bike, and that is very important. I don't feel I'm missing out on anything, and I'm looking forward to next season."
You have said that you are keen to get back to the level you were at in 2014 when you became MX2 World Champion. How difficult have the past few years been?
"It's been really hard since I switched to Kawasaki and the MX1 GP, and I've had to contend with a lot of challenges. There have been some injuries, but also some problems with the teams. Ultimately, I was getting pretty frustrated and I didn't feel like carrying on. This season has been a difficult year, but the hard work is paying off and I am happy again. I have never given up, and I know I have a highly supportive girlfriend and family who will stand by me when the going gets tough. That is important for a rider. I now have an excellent team, I'm happy to be racing well again and I'm enjoying my motocross again. I think people can see that when I'm on my bike."
Are you planning to compete in the ADAC MX Masters next year as well?
"To be honest, I'm talking to the KTM Sarholz team about it right now. I like the championship; it's very professional, there are really great tracks and, with the demanding sand surfaces this year, it has helped me a lot to improve my sand skills and keep up to speed for the MXGP. I would be very happy to be back in the starting line-up in 2021."