MXGP World Champion Tony Cairoli claims he has yet to reach his “complete potential” as a Grand Prix racer and believes the challenge of the 2015 season and the remarkable depth in the premier class of the FIM Motocross World Championship will see him hit new levels of performance.

Speaking less than a fortnight ago in Qatar and amidst a curious desire not to fulfil many media duties (mainly because of incessant questions about his anticipated duel with Ryan Villopoto) #222 said: “I think this year will be the one where I can be at 100 per cent. I think I was at 80 per cent most of the time last year. I don’t think people really see me on the limit.

“The only times where I have pushed really, really hard were some days at the Motocross of Nations. In the World Championship you wont often see me at the limit.”

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“So I think there is still potential and we are working to be in top form by the middle of the season because everything has started so early. The knee injury from the Nations robbed me of two months. I’m still not so happy with my recovery at the moment but my speed is much better.”

Cairoli won the second moto in Thailand last weekend, which represented his first 25 points of the season, and his superior run from the first corner to the chequered flag was a small ‘answer’ to the speed and dominance of Villopoto from the first outing at Nakhonchaisri.

The result enabled him to take part in his first podium ceremony of the year after missing out with fourth position at Losail. “We were able to adapt a little bit from Qatar last week but it was very hot here and I’m not such a fan of the heat, even if I am from southern Italy,” he said afterwards.

“I know I can be upfront every weekend. I don’t care about the win I know I need to be top five every weekend. A lot of riders are getting faster and faster and you need good starts and I need to focus more on that.”