VALENTIN GUILLOD INTERVIEW: “THREE WEEKS AGO, I BROKE MY COLLARBONE, AND HAD SURGERY”

Maybe you’ve never heard of Valentin Guillod before, but if you’ve been watching the 2025 AMA motocross series, you may have now. Currently twelfth in points, after his ninth overall at Thunder Valley, Guillod, from Switzerland, first began his racing days as a pro in 2010 MX2 (World 250 class motocross in Europe). Valentin had a successful Grand Prix career. The Swiss rider would battle eventual champion Jeffrey Herlings in 2015, but come up short for the 250 World Championship. Moving up to the MXGP (450) class for 2016, Valentin raced successfully, but didn’t regain his championship form of race wins. It should be noted that MXA first interviewed Valentin Guillod at the 2015 Glen Helen USGP (January 2016 issue of the magazine).

BY JIM KIMBALL

VALENTIN, LET’S HEAR ABOUT YOUR DECISION TO COME TO AMERICA AND RACE? So, it started in October of last year. At the end of the GP season, I finished ninth overall, two years in a row and I still did not have a ride for 2025. I told myself, “I will make myself ready for the beginning of the 2025 MXGP season. I will do the first six rounds and if there is no place in a team, or if a rider is injured, to fill in, why not come to the U.S.?” Then, I thought that there may be a fill-in spot at HRC Honda for Tim Gajser, who was injured, but they chose not to fill his spot. So, I said, “Let’s go to the U.S.” I came here one week before the AMA Motocross series began, and it was a bit of a rush to organize everything, but I found a small spot with the Rock River team, and here I am.

Valentin Guillod finished ninth at the Thunder Valley National with moto scores of 14-8. Photo: Align Media.

WHY DID YOU NOT GET AN MXGP RIDE: YOU FINISHED NINTH IN THE MXGP SERIES THE LAST TWO YEARS? What I see now with a step back, looking at the situation, I am 32 years old and am going on 33, so I am getting older. But when I see the guys like Romain Febvre, who is 34 next year, he is still racing as a Factory rider, and is leading the championship, so that is not an age concern. I am feeling much better now than ten years ago, mentally and physically. The last two years I was racing in the top five to the top ten every weekend, but I think I missed a small step to show the team that “Okay, I am capable of getting in the top five.” I think that is the reason.

EARLIER THIS YEAR, YOU WERE CONSIDERED A PRIVATEER IN MXGP AND RIDING A YAMAHA YZ450F. HOW DIFFERENT IS YOUR YAMAHA HERE? In Europe, I was riding a full-stock bike, stock suspension with just a setting inside, and an aftermarket exhaust. When I decided to come here, I took my suspension and exhaust from Europe.  I asked the team to put a stock engine in, and said, “let’s just race every weekend.” 

YOU HAVE NEVER RACED AN AMA MOTOCROSS.  ARE YOU HAPPY WITH YOUR RESULTS? Yes, but also, about three weeks ago, I broke my collarbone, and I had surgery. I raced at Pala, with just three days of practice on the bike. I was happy with the race and was not expecting the result. I was more expecting two15-place finishes. So, I was happy with the situation from where I was coming.  Not much riding, still injured, a rush to organize everything and jet lag! It was a very new situation and new racing with finishing eleventh overall at Pala. That was good, but then Hangtown was difficult physically. The first race was not too bad, as I finished thirteenth. 

THEN AT THUNDER VALLEY, YOU FINISHED NINTH OVERALL! That was great, as I took my first top ten at an AMA National Motocross. I finished the day with 14-8 moto scores, so I really enjoyed the second moto. And this was at the same venue where I raced the Motocross Des Nations back in 2010!

Coming as a top-five MXGP rider, Valentin has proved he has what it takes to run up front. Photo: Align Media.

CAN YOU COMPARE THESE INITIAL TRACKS TO THE GPS? Yes, the tracks here in the States are comparable to Europe. But here the tracks seem much larger. Not large as a track, but how they built the track. In Europe, it is way more compact, so it is tighter, especially the corners. In Europe, we have one fast line and only a few places where you can maybe pass. Here in the U.S., you have both inside and outside lines at the same speed.  You have more possibilities to pass. In Europe, you are staying behind the guy in front of you, and then, when  he makes a small mistake or when he is a bit slower, you can try to make an attack.  Here you can just change your line, go a little faster, and maybe pass him, so that is the big difference.

WHERE ARE YOU LOCATED HERE IN THE STATES? I am living in Lake Elsinore with a French guy who is also racing. He rented me a room at his home, and I am staying there.

AS THE SERIES GOES EAST, THE TRACKS ARE OFTEN SOFTER. WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS? I will do the full motocross season, and the goal is to qualify for the SMX Play-Offs. With going to the East Coast, I am a bit scared of the humidity because in Europe, you do not have much humidity.  We just have a few races where it is quite hot and humid, but let’s see how it goes.  I am just happy to be here.  Every race is a new experience, just to be with new people, and working with a new team and that I am happy with that!

Valentin’s goal is to stay healthy and race all eleven rounds of the pro motocross series and have his results speak for his riding. Photo: Align Media.

ULTIMATELY, YOUR GOAL IS TO GET INTO SMX AND HOPEFULLY WIN SOME BIG MONEY. Yes, for sure. I did six MXGP’s in Europe, and I made some top-five and top-ten finishes, and unfortunately, I did not win one dollar. Here I came to the States, and I already made some money – yet the goal is to win some money to be able to live, and to pay my bills at the end of the month.  

IS THERE ANYONE YOU WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT-OUT TO? Yes, for sure! Of course, Gizmo Mods/Rock River Powersports, O’Neal Racewear, 100%, Alpinestars, ASV, and some personal sponsors, Kehrli Motos, and Martinet-Mecanique.