STRIJBOS BACK FOR SWEDISH MX1
Team Suzuki will be back to full strength at the Grand Prix
of Sweden at Uddevalla for the ninth round of the FIM MX1
Motocross World Championship this weekend as Kevin Strijbos
was given the all-clear to resume riding last week.
The 21-year-old Belgian missed the trip to Bulgaria almost
two weeks ago after recurring problems with the cartilage
in his left knee that has already been operated on twice in
six months. After a period of rest the Portuguese Grand Prix
winner was able to indulge in gentle training as well as make
some practice laps on his RM-Z450 in the last few days.
Although not at 100%, Strijbos will travel to Scandinavia
this weekend in a bid to collect World Championship points.
His absence at Sevlievo meant that he slipped from third to
sixth in the series standings.
"The knee is still not completely ok but I have been
riding four times now without any problems and I want to race,"
he said. "I think the only problem I might have is with
my race fitness because going 40 minutes at full speed will
be tough. I hope I can start well in Sweden and give all I
have until that 30 minute point where it starts to get hard.
Looking at the championship I am down to sixth but the standings
are close so it is important to get as many points as I can.
We have a few GPs now where there are breaks in between the
races so I am optimistic that I can recover and get stronger
before a busy time in August."
Steve Ramon will aim for his third consecutive podium this
season in Sweden. The former World Champion is entering an
excellent spell of form and has not dropped out of the top
four in the last five motos. The Belgian led the second moto
at Uddevalla until the last lap 12 months ago and claimed
runner-up position overall.
Ramon did not compete in the fourth round of the Dutch Championship
at Halle last weekend, instead opting for a break after a
heavy international and domestic streak of racing commitments.
He conceded the lead of the series but still holds third position.
"There had been too many races in a row and with a lot
coming up so I decided to take a break and was happy for it,"
the 27 year old said. "Leok did not have a great weekend
though I see so I am only 25 points behind and might be able
to make that up if I race the last rounds later in the season."
"Sweden is a decent enough track and I have good memories
of last year even if the second moto left me disappointed,"
the rider who is currently second in the World Championship
said. "Stefan passed me on the last lap but he was very
fast that season and very few people came close to beating
him. I was second overall in 2006 and will be looking for
another podium this Sunday."
Uddevalla again hosts the Swedish round of the world championship
and has been an ever present part of the FIM schedule since
the start of the century. The venue underwent an overhaul
with a reversed layout, several new sections and improved
terrain for the 2006 edition of the Grand Prix. The alterations
were well-received on a course that was beginning to show
signs of wear-and-tear, especially with the hard-pack and
hard nature of the dirt. The revised Uddevalla produced more
lines and passing opportunities and permitted the closest
finish in recent memory between David Philippaerts and Antonio
Cairoli in the MX2 class.
The trip furthest north for the series is usually a popular
one and for the third year in succession provides a round
of the FIM Women's World Cup. The weather forecast for the
weekend is not good and predicts showers and rainy conditions.
MX1 World Championship Standings (after 8 of 15 rounds):
1. Joshua Coppins (NZL, Yamaha), 368 points; 2. Steve Ramon
(BEL, Suzuki), 271 p.; 3. David Philippaerts (ITA, KTM), 222
p.; 4. Sebastien Pourcel (FRA, Kawasaki), 222 p.; 5. Jonathan
Barragan (ESP, KTM), 214 p.; 6. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, Suzuki),
211 p.; 7. Mike Brown (USA, Honda), 196 p.; 8. Tanel Leok
(EST, Kawasaki), 179 p.; 9. Ken de Dycker (BEL, Honda), 178
p.; 10. Billy Mackenzie (GBR, Kawasaki), 154 p.
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