Tim Gajser Reflects on a Tumultuous 2021 MXGP Season: Broken Collarbone, Tight Championship Fight, and Resilience
The 2021 MXGP season will undoubtedly go down in history as one of the toughest—and most rewarding—of Tim Gajser’s career. As the Slovenian rider navigated through injury, intense competition, and a fiercely contested championship battle, it became clear that the season was a true test of his resilience and determination.
At the Grand Prix of France, the 25-year-old was in high demand. Fans filled the fences and crowded the team awnings at Lacapelle-Marival for round 12 of 18, the first GP in 18 months without any COVID-19 restrictions. Amidst the excitement, Gajser was in his element. His Honda CRF450R, resplendent in its full red livery, was parked outside the HRC hospitality, a symbol of both his grit and his performance through an extraordinary season.
The Slovenian’s 2021 campaign was a rollercoaster, with highs and lows that tested his physical and mental fortitude. Just three weeks before France, Gajser had suffered a serious injury while training: a broken left collarbone. The injury came as a blow just as the championship was heating up, forcing the rider to undergo surgery and take a brief hiatus from racing. Despite this setback, Gajser’s fighting spirit remained unshaken.
“I crashed,” Gajser explained with a laugh during an interview after the France GP, dispelling any rumors that his collarbone had broken without a fall. “It was a pretty clear one. The bone was completely snapped, but there was also a two-centimeter crack. Normally when it’s a clean break, they just reset the bone and put a plate and screws. With me, they had to fix the crack too, so I got an extra screw and a larger plate than usual.”
Despite the severity of the injury, Gajser’s resilience shone through. After surgery and just a couple of precautionary laps, he made the difficult decision to race in Sardinia 
In Sardinia, Gajser’s resolve paid off. He fought his way to a respectable 12th-place finish, giving himself a brief respite before the MXGP season ramped up again. The 2021 Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations provided a temporary break in the calendar, and it was exactly the recovery time Gajser needed. By the time the series resumed in Germany at Teutschenthal, Gajser was back in full force.
The GP of Germany saw Gajser reclaim the red plate, the symbol of the series leader, after a dramatic turn of events. A controversial collision between rivals Jeffrey Herlings and Jorge Prado in the second moto opened the door for Gajser to seize his fourth overall win of the season. The Slovenian took full advantage, clinching victory in the second moto and moving back to the top of the standings. He was back in the championship hunt, but the tight race at the top meant that his lead was far from secure.
However, just a week later in France, Gajser found himself losing that top spot once more. Jeffrey Herlings’ fifth win of the season, combined with a strong second-place finish by Romain Febvre, left Gajser in third, trailing by a mere 10 points. The competition was fierce, and every round brought new challenges for the title contenders.
Yet, despite the setbacks and challenges, Gajser remained upbeat. He found moments of humor and optimism even as the pressure mounted. “From the beginning, I knew I wouldn’t do the Nations because of the weird scheduling, but it was definitely a good break for us,” Gajser remarked. “It was only 14 days, but it was enough to feel much better with the injury. Before Germany, I was in a way better position than before Sardinia, even though I was a bit surprised to take the overall there.”
For Gajser, the key to his success lay in finding the right balance between pushing himself and allowing time for recovery. “I wouldn’t say everything was easy, but everything was clicking in Germany. I was enjoying myself, and it gave me a confidence boost to know I could win without having to push too much.”
As the season wore on, the battle for the 2021 MXGP championship remained neck-and-neck. With each round bringing a new twist in the saga, Gajser’s resilience and fighting spirit would be put to the ultimate test. Yet, regardless of how the season unfolded, the Slovenian rider knew that the 2021 campaign was one of the most challenging—and most rewarding—of his career.
With the tight competition, multiple injuries, and the high pressure of the MXGP series, Gajser’s 2021 season has proven that no obstacle is too great for a rider who refuses to give up. It may well turn out to be the hardest—and most satisfying—gold medal of them all.
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