What’s Juss Laansoo up to?

Seemingly out of nowhere Juss Laansoo rode to the AMA Rookie of the year award in 2005. The tall, strong Estonian recorded a shock 5^th overall in Hangtown, only his second ever American race, on a privateer CRF450R. Laansoo seemed poised for a great career. Unfortunately it was not meant to be. After a long bout with injuries he finally hung up his boots two years ago. These days Laansoo, 33, is still very involved in the sport. We asked him about his days racing in the US racing for Motosport Outlet and MotoXXX, the remarkable Estonian motocross connection and his coaching gig with Priit Rätsep.

What’s keeping you busy these days?
Juss Laansoo: “Several things, I’m involved with Honda locally promoting their bikes, supporting customers, I do test work for a suspension company called Smartshop Racing and I help young riders like Priit Rätsep. I’m pretty happy with what I’m doing now because Estonia is only a small market for dirtbikes. And our long winter is far from ideal for riding dirtbikes”

Before going over to the US, you won the European championship in the Open class. Still it was quite amazing that a 20-year old rider with your background ended up in the States and did so well!
Laansoo: “It all came down to money really. There were no opportunities for me in GP’s and the prize money had just been scrapped as well. So without money it was difficult even to get in to the series. As a privateer it was a lot easier in America for me. I received support quite easily back then. That’s something I liked about the US.”

You had a little help from Jim Holley (former world supercross champion, test rider and Race Day Live presenter) if I recall.
Laansoo: “That’s right, but it wasn’t just a little help. Make that BIG help! Jim played a huge part in my US career. He helped out with the racing, he offered me a place to stay, he learned me about American culture and he’s a great guy to hang out with. Actually I got in touch with Jim through Pekka Vehkonen who used to race with him.”

Even before Hangtown someone had made a funky 'The Juss is Luss' T-shirt. How did that come about?
Laansoo: "I was always practicing at a track in Valencia not so far from the 'Motocross Action' office. The guys from MXA saw me ride and one of their test riders was wrenching for me so that's how we got to know each other. Because of my size and my style and probably my strange English (laughs) I must have stuck out so they rooted for me, this awkward, tall kid from Estonia! I think it was the Mike the brother of John Basher (Ed. current MXA editor) who came up with the T-shirt idea. I loved it! My biggest regret of my time in America is probably that I didn't get a podium in outdoors."

For such a small country it’s amazing what the ‘Estonian connection’ has achieved in moto. You have GP winners like Avo and Tanel Leok, Gert Krestinov world class riders like Aigar Leok, yourself and Priit Rätsep… And Estonia has finished 4^th twice in the MX of Nations too!

Laansoo: “It’s crazy right? Estonia has quite a nice history in motocross. I guess a lot of our riders have a strong mentality. Most people are not rich but we keep on pushing even when it’s difficult. I know for a moment that I achieved more than I ever dreamed of. And Tanel Leok… that guy is a legend. He just keeps on going!”

Are there currently any good riders come through the ranks in Estonia?
Laansoo: “We do have some talented fast kids, yes. But it’s still too soon to tell. And you need to tick all the boxes: you need the budget, support from your family, some opportunities, help from your school. It’s definitely a long road but I help where I can.”

Your actual pro career was a bit confusing you could say
Laansoo: “Looking back on my career now it’s easier to analyse everything. Both the good and the bad. When I did so well in Hangtown in 2005 I was a bit lucky as well. I didn’t race supercross season that year, so it was easier to get a strong result outdoor early in the season. Guys coming from SX haven’t fully dialled in their bikes yet, they’re still adapting to a different kind of racing. Later in the season they catch up, the elite riders have private tracks at their disposal, more and better support around them… I was never a ‘special’ kind of rider, quite average to be honest! But I had a lot of determination and people told me I had a good eye for line choices.”

Everyone could see the potential but your actual pro career didn’t last long.
Laansoo: “True. I didn’t have a good support team around me. So some decisions affected me really badly. When I rode for MotoXXX I moved into supercross for the 2006 season -without any previous indoor experience- on a 450. Needless to say, not a good move! Also I kept riding with an injured wrist. What basically happened is that I jacked up my wrist myself by riding through the pain and not having the care I needed right away. The damage was not immediately visible on a scan but in the back of my mind I knew something was wrong. When I finally did have surgery they saw that the wrist was in a very bad state. I tried to come back in ’08 but I realized that I couldn’t do what I wanted to. My movement in my throttle wrist was limited from that point on. So after that I did local races as an amateur, some MX3 GP’s also. I got a podium in a Finnish MX3 GP but back then it didn’t mean that much to be honest!”

How long have you been working with Priit Rätsep?
Juss Laansoo: “I started working with Priit from the beginning of last year. His fitness is improving, and he’s a good rider. Priit has only been on the bike since March so the first two MXGP’s he did with 24MX Lucas Oil Honda were difficult. He had no big races under his belt yet and with such a high level in MXGP you need to perform at your highest level.”

What does Priit need to work on to make the next step.
Laansoo: “Bike set-up and the work with the team to make the bike best suited for him. He definitely needs better starts and he needs some fine-tuning on his cornering as well. It’s an area where he can still gain some time. And of course he just needs more experience at the highest level, it’s been a while since he did GPs before.”

Good luck in Matterley Basin this weekend!
Laansoo: “Thanks we’re looking forward to the British Grand Prix. Priit used to race full-time in the UK and he likes the track. It will be interesting to see Chad Reed racing over here as well.”

Images: shotbyBavo & CDS