After a frustrating 2024 season marred by injury Australian talent Liam Owens is finally getting the chance to show what he’s capable of on the European stage. Now based in Germany and part of the Cat Moto Bauerschmidt Husqvarna squad, Owens has been steadily building form in the EMX250 championship. We caught up with the likeable Aussie to talk about his winter preparation, adapting to life in Europe, and his goals for the future—including a potential move to MX2 or even the United States down the line.
Gate Drop: Liam, Obviously, last year you got injured so you missed a lot of racing so what was your winter like, coming into the season, whenever you got to Germany?
Owens: Yeah, I didn’t have any visa issues this year and that worked out quite well because I had it last year. I was able to renew it, and that was very good for me in Germany, actually. I was quite lucky with that. But I started winter a little bit earlier. I had shoulder surgery, and I came back and did all my rehabilitation here with the Pro Sports Alliance team, I got all that fixed up and then I just started about two or three weeks earlier with pre-season just to roll around, start going, get used to it before Nico and everyone came. That is when we started really getting really into it. The winter was really big through December before we had a break, and then we went to Spain, and then it got fun.
GateDrop: Last year, obviously, with the injury, you missed quite a lot of racing. So, coming into this season, what were you thinking for round one? Obviously, in terms of races, you were quite rusty, but only you would know how good of a winter you had. So, were you confident coming into the season, or did you know you maybe needed a few races to get back into it?
Owens: I’m not so worried about speed. I feel like I can build. My learning curve is quite steep at the moment. What I missed out on was all the race experience last year, not necessarily anything on the riding side. Yeah, I improved over the winter and got fitter just as I rider, I’m getting older now. But I think I didn’t have so much expectations. I was just going and wanting to learn and get good results and build throughout the season. I feel that’s what’s happened this year so far, is just that I’ve had a really steep learning curve. I’ve had some good starts, I’ve had some bad ones, I’ve had some bad qualifiers, I’ve had some good ones. Same with races, and that’s the thing I’m struggling with at the moment. There’s always just something. I go and have a good race on the weekend, and then there’s always that one race that, whether it’s my fault, the bike, getting disqualified this weekend for goggle Lane. It’s on me at the end of the day, but it’s a little bit frustrating. It’s just always something in bad luck.
GateDrop: You’re based in Germany I believe, what’s it like living in Germany? It’s pretty different from Australia?
Owens: Yeah, it’s a lot different from Australia, but I really like the scene. I can ride my bike to go to the shops, I’m back home, I’m going to take a big car. That’s probably the biggest thing I noticed. It’s a bit more relaxed. It’s just living in the way, people ride bicycles and stuff. In Australia, it’s not really like that. It’s more just driving.
GateDrop: In terms of the culture and the language, are you picking up any of the language, or not so much?
Owens: Well, I found out that German, I underestimated how hard German is, but I’m learning German. I know it just is not so good. But yeah, I’m enjoying it. I’ve got German teammates, but it is a little bit harder because we’ve got mechanics that aren’t from Germany, so they’re not always speaking it. But I try and learn a little bit. I’m just learning quite slowly.
GateDrop: In the last few rounds, I feel like the speed has been good. You’ve been able to put at least one good moto together. Now, I guess you’re just trying to put two good moto’s together. That’s probably the next goal?
Owens: Yes, that’s right. I’m looking forward to having a dry round, but at the end of the day, everyone has the same track, so I can’t really blame that. But I do feel that it is important to put two good races together, whether it’s even an 8-8. It’s important just to do a good one and string them together and then build from there. I’m trying to go one in and out, or one disqualified. You just need to be consistent and keep building.
GateDrop: And the first moto yesterday, you were really good, fourth, I think. And you passed Zanocz. That must have given you a lot of confidence. What did it feel like to finish fourth and to work your way into that position? Because it wasn’t easy and what did you think of the track? The track was mega on Saturday!
Owens: Yes, I was quite happy with it. I still obviously want more. I wasn’t over-confident about it. It’s kind of what I expected from myself. It was how I should ride and how I should execute. There wasn’t anything out of the ordinary, feeling-wise. I’ll save that for when I get a podium.
But the track was quite good. I think they did a good job when they expected the rain to really kind of seal the track. Like Portugal, the Saturday was good. But Sunday it’s always hard after everyone’s rode and then it rains so much and the bikes don’t stay on the track. So, it was really soft today.
GateDrop: Your teammate got a podium. Do you put much laps in with him? And also Mads when he’s injury-free? And what’s it like riding with him at the practice track?
Owens: Yeah, we ride together. We’re all good buddies. So in between riding, we cook dinner together. We do training and cycling together. So, we’re just like the three amigos really. So, it’s a good moment. I’m really proud of my teammate, Nico. He’s had two podiums so far this season. So, he’s going in the right direction as well. Hopefully I follow in his footsteps and we can be up there together.
GateDrop: When he’s at the practice track, what’s the speed like? Is it pretty similar? And if so, that must give you confidence because you know he can get a podium. And on the practice days, if you’re a similar speed…
Owens: I’d like to say I’m faster most of the time. But at the same time, he hates losing. So, he’ll always do a few extra laps just to assert his dominance. And then me and him are like, ah, that’s enough. But we’re quite similar. It depends on the day. Someone can start the day faster and then the guy that was last will end up being a second faster in one of the motos.
So, we kind of learn off each other and then build and then another person learns off each other and then we just keep going further and further.
GateDrop: There’s a few Aussies in the class, Jake Canon and Ryan Alexanderson, after he had the visa problems, is back. What’s it like having a few Aussies in the paddock? And for any young Aussies that might aspire to leave Australia one day, what advice would you give them if they come and race the GP’s?
Owens: Yeah, it’s awesome having Jake and Ryan here. It’s good to just see some familiar faces we’ve all grown up with racing, especially Jake, since I’ve been five. We’ve been playing around having motos at the local club days. Any advice? I don’t have so much. I think it’s important to do well in Australia. Set a bit of a plan, come here, just try it out, make sure it’s what you really want to do. Because imagine, four mud rounds, and if I’m being honest, it’s not so enjoyable, but if you really embrace it, when you come here, just really enjoy it, taking everything, taking the crowd, taking coming 30th, taking coming 15th, and then each time you get a better and better result, you enjoy it more and more.
GateDrop: Plans for this year, obviously you’ve got 13 EMX250 rounds, are you hoping to maybe ride an MX 2 GP here or there, if the calendar allows? In the future, I’m guessing you see yourself as an MX2 GP rider, maybe not next year, but within the next two or three years?
Owens: Yeah, I’d love to race the MX2 World Championship. I do have a little bit of a thought about going to America, but at the moment, I’m so invested here, when everyone helped helped me get here. We invested money to come here, obviously, so I want to do this right first, and then go to America, but if the opportunity came up, I think I would still take it. But my goal is MX2, I’d love to race it with this awesome team, so that’s probably the next step, the Cat Moto team is the closest thing to a factory team. We have good bikes, there’s no reason why we can’t get good results.
