SUZUKI MX1 DUO ON FORM FOR GERMANY
 Team
Suzuki MX1 riders Kevin Strijbos and Steve Ramon head to Germany
this weekend for round four of the FIM MX1 World Championships
at Teutschenthal, both on form and set to improve on their
top-seven positions.
A Suzuki rider has been present on the podium at the last
two Grands Prix and both Kevin Strijbos and Steve Ramon have
both collected silverware. Strijbos is currently fourth in
the series, one point from third and 16 from second spot.
With Sebastien Tortelli out injured for two months, there
is a real possibility that the team could leave eastern Germany
with a top-three berth prior to the trip to Japan in three
weeks.
Strijbos is enjoying some good form at present after his
runner-up position in Portugal and victory last weekend at
a Belgian International in his home town of Wuustwezel with
1-3-1 scores in the three motos.
“It was a good race. I had some arm-pump in the first
moto and although I won, it was not easy,” the 20 year
old said. “We changed the suspension for the rest of
the day and we did not have any more problems. I crashed at
the start in the second race and came from last to third and
then in the last moto I holeshotted and was gone. I was happy
to win because I had a lot of fans there.
“After the podium in Portugal and the race in Belgium,
I am feeling confident for this weekend,” he continued.
“Teutschenthal is a fast track and it is not that complicated.
We should see quite a few riders grouped together and I don’t
think it will be that easy for Everts this time. Again it
will be important to take a good start to be with the front
guys.”
Steve Ramon is back to full fitness after his high-speed
crash in Portugal that caused him to DNF the second moto and
leave the circuit with a damaged shoulder and bashed head.
“I had to rest for a week after hitting my head but
I went practicing last Sunday and everything is fine now,
“ he commented. “I was disappointed about the
GP in Portugal mainly because I lost a lot of points and dropped
to seventh in the Championship. With Tortelli crashing out,
I could easily have been third now.
“I want to be ready for Teutschenthal and take a good
result to be right back up there. The track is nice to ride
and there is more grip when it is a little wet. Everybody
is fast around that circuit so the start is crucial again;
we’ll see how it goes,” he added.
The Talkessel circuit in the small town of Teutschenthal
houses a grippy and fast course that features many undulations
and inclines within its ‘bowl’ setting. The German
circuit holds the rather unusual honour of hosting two Grands
Prix for different countries; specifically the East German
GP in 1971 (250) and West German 500cc race in 1993.
The team gained a podium result at the venue 12 months ago
thanks to Joel Smets but Strijbos missed the event due to
injury. Steve Ramon was 10th overall but came third in the
second moto.
The weather forecast for the weekend predicts sunny and warm
conditions although there is a chance of showers on Friday.
MX1 World Championship standings (after 3 rounds
of 15): 1. Stefan Everts, BEL 142, 2. Tanel Leok,
EST 115, 3. Sebastien Tortelli, FRA 99, 4. Kevin Strijbos,
BEL 98, 5. Jonathan Barragan, SPA 97, 6. Ken de Dycker, BEL
97, 7. Steve Ramon, BEL 83, 8. Cedric Melotte, BEL 66, 9.
Pascal Leuret, FRA 65, 10. Manuel Priem, BEL 53.
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