SUZUKI STARS SHINE AT HAWKSTONE PARK
 Team
Suzuki's reigning world motocross champion Steve Ramon and
his teammate Ken De Dycker both made their presence felt at
the Hawkstone Park pre-season international with a pair of
stunning displays on their electronically fuel injected RM-Z450s.
In almost perfect track and weather conditions Ken De Dycker
romped to victory in moto one after closing down and pressurising
early leader Billy MacKenzie into making a mistake in the
second half of the race. While Ken claimed the win Steve Ramon
held off a charging Marc De Reuver to finish second behind
his teammate making it a Suzuki 1-2 in a field that included
factory riders from all four Japanese manufacturers.
Starting fifth and eighth in moto two Ken and Steve had their
work cut out to battle through to the head of the pack. While
Ramon was able to reach third position to secure second overall
on the day, increasing amounts of pain in Ken's still injured
from Mantova back kept the tall Belgian back in sixth spot
and fourth overall - just one point shy of a podium position.
While pain from Ken's injury stopped him from starting the
mixed capacity Grand Final Steve did the team proud by finishing
as first MX1 pilot after battling through the pack to finish
second behind MX2 rider Tommy Searle who made the most of
the five second head start the 250F pilots are gifted.
"It was a really good day for me," said Steve.
"Okay, I didn't win a moto but I'm happy with my riding
especially after having to come through the pack in all three
races from the start. I was feeling really good with the bike
and we tested a few things and made some improvements so overall
it's been a very positive day."
"The doctor recommended I took 10 days rest because
of my back injury I sustained in Mantova but the team and
I had a few things to test and I really wanted to race here
as it's such a good track," claimed Ken. "In moto
one I got a good start and settled into second place staying
behind Billy MacKenzie and I was able to watch his lines and
see what he was up to then he tangled with a backmarker and
handed me the win. In the closing stages of the race I could
feel the muscles in my back tightening up but I was able to
slow down a little and hold on to the win.
"In moto two I didn't get such a good start and the
pain was there all the time and with the track getting rougher
and rougher I finished sixth. I decided to sit out of the
last race because it didn't figure for the overall. I'm very
happy that my speed is so good so early in the season."
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