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)
- Joshua Coppins (NZL, Yamaha), 368 points
- Steve Ramon (BEL, Suzuki), 271 points
- David Philippaerts (ITA, KTM), 222 points
- Sebastien Pourcel (FRA, Kawasaki), 222 points
- Jonathan Barragan (ESP, KTM), 214 points
- Kevin Strijbos (BEL, Suzuki), 211 points
- Mike Brown (USA, Honda), 196 points
- Tanel Leok (EST, Kawasaki), 179 points
- Ken de Dycker (BEL, Honda), 178 points
- Billy Mackenzie (GBR, Kawasaki), 154 points
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