Team HRC’s Tim Gajser Wins Fourth Championship, First in Two Seasons
August 15, 2022 - Honda factory team*1 Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) rider Tim Gajser (Slovenia) has won his fourth championship title, his first in two years, in the FIM*2 World Motocross Championship Premier MXGP class (450cc).
*1 Factory team: Racing team operated by manufacturer. In Honda’s case, HRC-operated team.
*2 FIM: Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme
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This MXGP season kicked off in England in February, with Team HRC’s Tim Gajser competing on Honda’s factory bike, the CRF450RW.
By the end of Round 15, Sweden, Gajser had 13 race wins out of 30, and eight round wins including two three-consecutive round wins. With a 115-championship points gap to his closest competitor, Gajser was poised to take the championship title.
In Round 16 Finland held on August 14, Gajser finished 6th in Race 1 and 7th in Race 2, giving him a sufficient points lead over his closest competitor, finalizing his championship title with two rounds (four races) left to go.
Tim Gajser won the MX2 (250cc class) world championship in 2015. He moved up to the premier MXGP class the following year, in which he earned the championship and the Rookie of the Year title. This win marks Gajser’s fifth the FIM World Motocross Championship title.
Tim Gajser | Team HRC
“I definitely didn’t ride my best, but I got the job done and that’s what I set out to achieve at the beginning of the day. Five world titles, and I can’t believe it. It really hasn’t sunk in yet. A big thank you to the whole of Team HRC, the people at the races and all the support from Japan. Also thank you my girlfriend and all the support I receive from my fans around the world. It has been great to see so many of you cheering me on around the track and I can’t thank you enough. It is a special moment for me and I am just so happy to have got my fifth title!”
Koji Watanabe, Head of Corporate Communications Supervisory Unit,
Honda Motor Co., Ltd. and President of Honda Racing Corporation
“Congratulations Tim [Gajser] for winning the championship. Tim has had a solid season, free of serious injury, and dominating three rounds straight (winning both races in the round), to win back the title. I am proud of him, as he has grown as a rider from his defeat last year. I am truly grateful to all the team staff who supported him to become champion once more, and our many sponsors and motocross fans who support our racing activities.”
Tim Gajser
Birthdate: September 8, 1996
Birthplace: Slovenia
Achievements: 2009 85cc European Champion
2012 125cc JUNIOR World Champion 125cc European Champion MX2 World Championship debut
2013 MX2 20th
2014 MX2 5th
2015 MX2 World Champion
2016 MXGP World Champion
2017 MXGP 5th
2018 MXGP 4th
2019 MXGP World Champion
2020 MXGP World Champion
2021 MXGP 3rd
2022 MXGP World Champion
Honda CRF450RW Overview
Engine: 449.7cm3 liquid-cooled 4-stroke, single-cylinder OHC
Frame: Aluminum twin-tube
Tires: Front: 21 inches, Rear: 19 inches