Martin Vaculik: I am happy that I can do what I love

Martin Vaculik, one of the team’s pillars, in a conversation with ekstraliga.pl talked about his form, equipment and preparations for the upcoming season. In the conversation, he also touched on topics related to the team’s atmosphere, stress in key moments, as well as his best memory in his career.

• Martin Vaculik and Anders Thomsen will form a strong point of the GEZET STAL team. However, the athlete emphasizes that success depends on the entire team.
• I have a mental coach who helps me prepare properly for competitions – he admitted about dealing with stress in key moments.
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Mikołaj Lemieszek (ekstraliga.pl): How do you assess your form before the upcoming season? Are you fully ready to compete? Has anything changed in your preparations?

Martin Vaculik (GEZET STAL Gorzów): Yes, I am well-prepared for the season. I am glad that I managed to work hard during the winter. At the end of last season, there were some minor injuries, but now there’s no trace of them, which makes me very happy. It didn’t affect my preparations either, which is crucial for an athlete. Physically and technically I feel ready. I still have a lot of riding before the first league match, so I have time to test the equipment and refine my form.

Have you made any changes to your equipment? Maybe you’ve changed your tuner?

No, everything stays the same as it was at the end of last season. Of course, there are new engines and motorcycles, because new equipment appears every year, but that’s standard.

What is the significance of riding for GEZET STAL Gorzów for you? How do you feel in this club?

This is already my seventh season with the club, so I really feel at home here. I like the stadium, I like the track, I feel good here, and I enjoy spending time with the people associated with the club.

Now the team will be based on two strong pillars – you and Anders Thomsen. A lot will depend on you. Do you feel additional responsibility?

Yes. I think Anders and I will do everything to present a high form. But it is a team sport, every point scored by all riders is important. Juniors, other seniors – everyone has to contribute. That’s where I see our strength, in this teamwork.

How do you cope with stress in key moments, for example, in the PGE Ekstraliga final or the Grand Prix?

I work on it. I have a mental coach who helps me mentally prepare for competitions and teaches me how to react in difficult situations. Sometimes it works better, sometimes worse, but overall I feel strong in this aspect.

Is there a track where you feel particularly good outside of Gorzów?

I like fast, well-prepared tracks, the bigger ones where you can develop speed.

Any one favorite?

I don’t want to point out a specific one to avoid unnecessary analysis. I like all tracks and just enjoy riding.

What moment in your career do you remember best?

Probably the first win in the Grand Prix. It was an extraordinary experience. But many league matches were also important for me – PGE Ekstraliga is the strongest league in the world. Everyone dreams of riding here, of competing in front of such an audience as in Poland. For me, it’s a dream come true – I ride in the best league in the world and in the Grand Prix. I am happy that I can do what I love.

What are your goals in this year’s Grand Prix cycle? Are you aiming for the podium?

I don’t have a specific goal, I don’t want to say that I am going for a specific place. I just want to stay healthy, without injuries, enjoy riding, and fight for the best possible positions.