Artem Laguta: I don’t want to focus about how to defend the title. I just want to keep being the best (Interview)

The 2021 season can definitely be called the season of Artem Laguta. The Russian rider broke the dominance of Bartosz Zmarzlik and became the first Russian world champion, and he also added a very valuable title of Team Championship with Betard Sparta Wrocław. In an interview with our portal, the 30-year-old recalls his most important tournament in his career so far, he says, thanks to which he finally successfully participated in both the Grand Prix and PGE Ekstraliga and also talks about his approach to the fight for gold next year.

It has been some time since the events that were very important to you, which took place in Toruń. After these few weeks, have you come to terms with the idea that you are the best speedway rider in the world?

At first it didn’t reach me, but it actually looks different from day to day. It is a great feeling and a lot of joy. I would like to thank the family, team, sponsors, fans and clubs in which I had the opportunity to compete again for this very good season. Many people have worked for this success and that’s why we can be happy now.

Throughout the season, you fought a fantastic duel for gold with Bartosz Zmarzlik. You drove away the entire stake and in the end you turned out to be better by three points. Is this title even more valuable thanks to the fact that it was won in such a difficult fight?

Definitely yes. It was a great competition with Bartek. We fought for this win almost to the very end. The world championship in itself is a great honor and a dream came true, but surely gold tastes even better after such a fight.

On that memorable Saturday evening the beginning of the competition wasn’t good for you. Did you feel pressure about fighting for gold?

After this Friday tournament we saw that the equipment was doing very well, so on Saturday we decided to start with the same bike. However, some setting decisions were not right. On the first day it worked, on the second day it wasn’t so good. We changed the bike for race three, but that didn’t help either. So we went back to the first one and tried to do something on it. I had in mind that I had to win two more heats to keep my chances for the semi-finals. The first approach to this fourth gear gave me a lot, in which I felt that the bike had just started to go faster. I already knew that I could afford to win in the next races.

And what was the atmosphere in your pit before this fourth heat? You needed to win from a difficult fourth field.

We tried to stay calm and focused. Nerves are always a bad adviser. From the beginning, when this competition was not going well for me, an analysis was underway to draw the right conclusions. It turned out that the direction we went was right.

Were you and your team considering such a difficult situation before this last tournament and were you getting ready to stay focused?

We didn’t put together a lot of scenarios for this last tournament. We tried to act on an ongoing basis. Everyone in the team has known each other for a long time and we know that in such a situation everyone will behave properly. In speedway, many situations are very dynamic. So the only premise before the tournament is to just win every race.

After fourth heat, everything was going just as you wanted. Was the semi-final in which you went to seal gold “long” for you? If you wait for something the time seems to last so long…

It didn’t take much longer, because I was driving fast (laughs – editorial note).

I am asking this because Bartosz Zmarzlik, when he won his first title, mentioned that it was one of the longest runs in his life.

Ah, it wasn’t like that with me. I was just thinking about getting to the finish line as soon as possible, so this time in this race flew by me quickly.

You have worked for this title all year long. Can you indicate which tournament was crucial for this championship? You probably appreciate the victory in your home place, in Togliatti …

It was Togliatti that was also such a special moment in the fight for the championship. Then I believed that Bartek can be beaten in all circumstances. Then I said to Rafał Lewicki, my manager, that I do not want a medal, but the world championship. However, every Grand Prix I won was important. I also won a torunament in Lublin, for example. Winning in Prague at the beginning gave me a lot of power. I was also happy about these other tournaments, because I didn’t have any weaknesses. Points from every tournament count, so every time I didn’t lose too many points I was happy.

You became the first Russian world champion. Do you think it will help to develop the discipline in your country? You haven’t had much support so far …

Unfortunately, after these few weeks, I can see that nothing has changed. No official congratulations or invitations have been received. The Ministry of Sports and the Federation did not respond. Everything is as it was before.

Have you even received any congratulations from Russia that you wouldn’t have expected before?

Congratulations, but mostly from good colleagues and friends. Congratulations from Antonio Cairoli, my Italian motocross idol, were very valuable to me. These are probably more valuable messages than those that could come from Russian officials.

You became world champion and finally you reconciled great league performances with a great ride in the cycle. What made you manage to do it the most?

I think that with the years that followed, we took the next steps. Much has not changed in my approach to the games. But I changed the club. Driving for the highest goals on the winning team certainly helps. Before that, I was finishing the season in August, and now I was in the game for trophies all the time. The experience at the Grand Prix also came. I feel better year by year and I know what this cycle is about.

We already know the calendar of the next year’s cycle for several weeks. Are these 12 locations good places to defend your title?

I can say that I don’t have tracks that I don’t like, so I don’t see any obstacles to racing for the world championship next year. Recently, I have also had such a reflection that I will not defend the title, because no one will take it from me anymore. This is already gained. I have a medal, a cup and it will be mine. I will just fight to achieve the next challenge, to win the next championship.

Finally, I will ask you about holidays. I’ve seen photos from Italy recently. So you are changing the holiday climate? Recently, you went to the Maldives the most …

In Italy, I am at the competition of my idol, which I mentioned a moment ago. The last three rounds of the world championships are played there, in which he, in turn, competes. I came here full of excitement. It’s nice that it’s off season, but I can still stick to the discipline I grew up with, which I still love very much. Plans for further vacation, however, are, but not yet specified.

Thank you for the conversation.

Thank you too.

Bartosz Rabenda