SUZUKI MX1 AIMS FOR GERMAN WIN
 The
FIM MX1 Motocross World Championship continues at pace with
the fifth round of 15 occurring this weekend at the Talkessel
circuit in Teutschenthal for the Grand Prix of Germany.
After recent set-backs Team Suzuki riders Kevin Strijbos
and Steve Ramon, second and third in the standings respectively
with their RMZ450s, now have a last chance to gain victory
on European soil before the series travels east to Japan later
this month.
Strijbos, who captured second position at Teutschenthal in
2006, is looking for a way back into the spotlight after his
win in Portugal was followed by a 'bad day at the office'
last weekend in Italy when a second moto crash meant only
fourth position overall. The result itself was by no means
a disaster but the Belgian did gift 17 more points to MX1
leader Josh Coppins with the gap currently at 36.
"Obviously things did not go to plan and I have no explanation
for the change in my riding from Saturday to Sunday, the most
disappointing thing was letting Josh get further away,"
he commented. "Every GP he is there. I can't afford to
get much wrong and it is a pity there are not more riders
with us but there are still plenty of motos left and we have
to be optimistic for Germany."
Steve Ramon has not walked the podium since the first round
of the season at Valkenswaard last month and has since taken
9th, 8th and 5th. Again it is his point total that carries
the main evidence of his poor luck with starts and he stares
at a 78 margin to Coppins after four meetings.
"There are no tactics now for the championship and I
just have to go out there every week and do the best I can
to get some better results. I want to win a GP soon and then
see what we can do from then on," said the 27 year old
who slipped off on the first corner of Moto1 at Talkessel
12 months ago but still managed fifth overall.
Talkessel is a popular and historic track having hosted World
Championship events for more than two decades. The undulating
course has a fast and flowing layout and is likely to see
a host of close lap-times as a result. The German mud is fairly
hard-packed and the terrain even gets dusty if the weather
is good.
Some work has been carried out for the 2007 incarnation and
a new loop exists adjacent to the finish line table-top that
cuts the long fast straight in half and will noticeably lengthen
the lap. The terrain has also been mixed in an attempt to
soften the soil. The Grand Prix usually draws a decent crowd
and has been a staple part of the FIM calendar this century.
The meeting this weekend also witnesses the first of three
rounds in the Women's World Cup.
"It is a fast track when it is dry with a hard earth
also, I hear they have changed a few things so it will be
interesting to see this weekend," commented Ramon who
wanted to work on some suspension and engine settings this
week in preparation for Germany.
The forecast for the weekend predicts cloud but warm temperatures.
MX1 World Championship Standings (after 4 of 15 rounds):
1 Joshua COPPINS (NZL) 194, 2 Kevin STRIJBOS (BEL) 158, 3
Steve RAMON (BEL) 116, 4 Ken DE DYCKER (BEL) 106, 5 POURCEL
(FRA) 103, 6 BARRAGAN (ESP) 100, 7 Tanel LEOK (EST) 98, 8
James NOBLE (GBR) 91, 9 Mike BROWN (USA) 81, 10 Marc DE REUVER
(NED) 80
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