 
"I still believe, I'm
the best rider out there!"
During last weekend in the FIM Gala in Andorra,
we met our two times World Champion Colton HAAKER
(USA – Husqvarna) to talk about his elbow injury
and what he expects for the new season…
Hello Colton, we would like to have more
information about your injury…
Colton HAAKER: "I had a big crash,
hitting my elbow on a rock and cut it open after
the first round of Endurocross. Then, I had an
infection inside the elbow and the arm and I
fought this infection with antibiotic for a month
and then did few races with it. I just couldn't
stop the infection and ultimately had a surgery.
That's why stopped the Endurocross series, to get
this surgery and just get it fix and save my arm.”
 How
do you feel now, a week before the SuperEnduro
season opener?
C.H: "I feel good. I don't think like I'm
120% but I feel like when I was 100% before the
Endurocross. I won the first round there. I know
what I have to do in Poland and I know the season
he is going to be long so I'm just looking forward
to build my momentum throughout the series.”
Did you have time to get a good training?
C.H: "Yes! I've had a couple of weeks to
ride. From round 1 there is more competition this
year so I think it's going to be an interesting
year.”
"Taddy is returning and that's really
exciting!”
Everybody wants to beat you; you are the big
favorite…
C.H: "Yes, I know! It's good! For so many
years, I wanted to beat these guys and now, I get
to beat them. Taddy is returning and that's really
exciting. I think it's really cool. After his
farewell ceremony last year, I think it's a bit
ridiculous to comeback but at the same time, I'm
exciting to racing him again. I always racing him
so, to see him go last year was a bitter sweet
because I felt that we always had some good racing
together and great battle. He was always someone I
could race tough and battle hard with and at the
end of the day we check hand so I enjoyed it. But
at the same time, the ceremony was amazing and he
said 'that was it' so we'll see in Poland now how
it goes…”
 It
seems you have a big rivalry with Cody WEBB in the
US and now this is coming to SuperEnduro.
C.H: "Yes, I mean, Cody and I have been
battling for years now. We have both been going at
it in SuperEnduro and Endurocross and this year,
the injury took me out of it, which is a bummer
for our series in the US because it really made it
kind of boring to watch. But I'm really happy to
be healthy for SuperEnduro. It's better to give up
one series to hopefully save another. If I kept
fighting it, I probably have surgery at some point
and I probably ruined my chances of SuperEnduro
title as well so better to get it done then rather
it screwed my out of two titles.”
Who do you think will be the most dangerous?
C.H: "I always think that everyone out
there is extremely dangerous. They are all very
competitive but at the end of the day I still
believe I'm the best rider out there and I think
at the end of the race it's me against myself. If
I can show up, be Colton out there, I don't
believe anyone can touch me to be honest. Me
riding at my very best, I don't think there is any
one in the world that can touch me now or the
years before. I think I'll be the best rider if I
show up.”
What are you expecting this season except a
third title?
C.H: "I expect the season to be really
intense. I don't expect there to be anyone to
really dominate. This year will be really
interesting with all the competitors. It's going
to come down like in 2016 when it came to the last
race. It's going to be that unpredictable!”
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