THEInterview with JQ's Harri Kullas

Name: Harri Kullas

Age: 19

Hometown: Helsinki (FIN) / Lommel (BEL)

Years in MX: 12

Goal: World Champion

Sponsors: Still negotiating, but I will be racing on the Factory Suzuki MX2 Team.

Best Whip Picture so far:

Who is Harri Kullas?

I was born in Finland. I went to kindergarden and school in Finland but my parents are from Estonia. My parents wanted me to ride motocross already when I wasn't born yet, that's why they named me after my dad.  (He is a former MX rider .ed) When I was younger I tried all different sports like football, basketball, tennis, ice-hockey etc. But when I tried motocross, I realized right away that this is the sport that I like the most. So, first I rode with friends bike but when I got 7 years old, I got my own 50cc KTM bike.

Kullas is a legit Hero in Finland. Already at this early stage of his career.

It is very hard to make it to the GP scene from a small country like Finland. You can be the best rider in Finland and no one will really take notice. How did you manage to get on a team in the World GP:s?

Yes it is very hard to come to the GP's from Finland. The main problem is that Finland is so far, and we have sea between which makes it very expensive. It is hard for the parents to miss their jobs and the young riders to miss school just to make  a few races. When I was young I used to ride a lot in Estonia and Latvia. There we had great races and good riders which made me stronger. During the winter I rode with spikes and after the snow I had almost every weekend races around Estonia and Latvia. I raced a lot and my dad has pushed me. He trained me like a pro already when I was 10. That's why I have made my career from European races to the World GP's. We have analyzied every year what's wrong and right, and tried to work with my weak spots.
Many people think that I haven't had a childhood, but I have! I had also a lot of free time with my friends, of course everything had to be planned then things goes smoother!

Kullas is making a switch from a black Yamaha to the Yellow of Suzuki for 2012.

I was surprised to hear, that eventhough someone is a top 10 rider in the GPs, it doesn't mean that they are paid! So actually many riders have to rely on personal sponsors just ot be able to focus on racing, and getting to the races. Is this actually true, and has this been your case also?

After economy crisis money is not so much involved in motocross. Some team don't have money to make it all year, so they need to have riders who have their own sponsors. I mean if you are top 5 rider, you get good salary. When you are 5-10 then you can get okay salary or at least ”free team”. But when you are out of top 10 then usually you need to pay. I've had a luck also with this, my first team, Team Gariboldi took me in and let me ride in GP's and I manage to make good results for the future. After the good first year I got already better contract.

For 2012 you were signed by the Factory Suzuki MX2 Team, the very team that Ken Roczen used to race for. How did this come about, and how do you feel now?

I feel really great at the moment! I ride factory team, which is very good. There is a great crew, who do a lot of work and want to make me better and faster and give me the best opportunities for the future. The team has had good results in the past, so I know they are really professional.

When the season is ending, you start to look at the choices you have and to get the best deal for next year. I spoke with many teams, including Suzuki. In the end we made a great deal for us and I think both, team and me, are really satisfied with the choice!

Monster Energy has been part of Harri's program for the past couple of years, for 2012 it is not known what will happen, as Suzuki Teams are normally sponsored by Rockstar, but the Factory MX2 team isn't, at least yet. We will have to wait and see!

What are your expectations for the 2012 season?

Of course I want to make every year better results and to be closer to the top. For sure I want to be in top 5 next year. It's not gonna be easy, but I'm working hard for it!

Your two first MX2 seasons have been great, and very consistent. You have been one of the riders right behind the top riders who did most of the winning, Musquin, Roczen, Herlings, and Searle. You tend to finish 5th-10th. What do you feel is the difference between winning and coming so close but not quite close enough to win like you have been? Is it mental? Or is it skill level, or fitness? What is it?

I think in the case of Herlings, Roczen etc, you have to look into the past when they were really young. They have had the team support already back in the days and they have opportunity to ride all year, without the snow. I think that's one of the reasons why they are so strong in such a young age. Of course you need to make a lot of training, spend time on the bike and have the head in the right place. If you don't have physical condition then you are not able to ride 40 minutes fast, or if you haven't spend time on the bike, then you don't have the skills to ride fast. It always depends also of the person, some need more training some less. From my side, I have done a lot training and still do, hoping to get to the top one day.

Are you doing something different, in terms of riding or training, in an effort to get to the top of the podium in 2012?

I have discussed my training with my dad and trainer what we have to do, or change to reach the podium next year. We have made a plan and we follow that and hopefully the podium comes true next year!

Motocross is a tough sport. What kind of training routine do you have? Do you do something every day? Do you have a trainer? What does a normal off season week look like, and how about in season?

Yes, most of the riders have a trainer. Also many riders have the parents with them, like I do. I spend a lot of the time with my dad and do stuff together. During the season it's only about training, there's different kind of weeks, but when I have races on the weekend, then I take next day off and normally I do some training in the middle of week and then I already start to prepare for the next race. Off season is by person, every person does it differently. Some riders take off like a month, some continues training. Normally I take some weeks off, because the season is so long and then is good to relax and have some holiday and to do the other stuff besides training and eat some crap and sleep long.

What are your future goals? Are you going to stick to the World Championship series, or do you want to go and race in USA?

When I was young my dream was to race in USA. I also like to race in the World Championships so I'm focusing now for the World Championship and see what the future brings.

Thank You for your time Harri, have a Happy New Year, and good luck for 2012!