Coming to Suzuki at the end of the 2015 season, with a new team, new colours, and new people who speak the same language, Jörg Pyka has been the 2016 mechanic for Ben Townley with Team Suzuki World MXGP. Together they have had their first share of ups-and-downs on the track and now Jörg reflects on how and why he started in the motocross world and how his work with the team has been so far.

First experience with motocross? Can’t remember, but I was addicted to the sport from the start. I was always interested in MX and I tried to do as much as possible around it and to be involved. I had been riding as an amateur in local races in my home country Germany up until one point when I got hurt really badly. I tried to stay with my passion, but in a different way, because for me it was impossible to ride anymore, so that’s when I decided to become a mechanic and try to help other people reach the top.

I started in 2004 as a part-time mechanic. During the week I was working in a normal job, and every weekend we went to races in the German Championship and Supercross races. But at one point you get so much into it, that you want to do it always and want to be there full-time. You work in the sport and you meet new people all the time, and at one point the teams start to be interested in you and ask if you want to be a race mechanic. And that’s how we started in 2008, full-time working at the GPs.

I worked for a German KTM team, but my rider got injured, so I got the opportunity from KRT to work for them. From 2009 to 2015, I was involved in that team for riders like Barragan and Paulin, but I felt like I wanted to make the next step, so I got the opportunity to go with Suzuki; and I took it.

Now I’m already nine months with Suzuki World MXGP and I’m having a really good time with the team, with the riders; and everything around it. We are working on a really highly-professional level and that makes it even more interesting.

So far with BT we had an up-and-down season and it has not been as expected, unfortunately. However, to work with Ben, and with his strong character is always fun and a pleasure for the people around him. It keeps you going to the next level.