Suzuki and Steve Ramon are just several days away from being able to seal their first Manufacturer's and Rider's titles in the FIM MX1 Motocross World Championship. The final round of 15 in the 2007 competition takes place in the sand of Lierop in the Netherlands this weekend and Ramon enters the last two motos with a 14-point advantage while Suzuki lead reigning champions Yamaha by 29.
After his fourth position at Donington Park last weekend Ramon will wear the red number plate for the first time this season and the first time in his four year MX1 career. Despite injuries to both of his wrists the Lierop circuit will present an easier prospect for the 27 year old.
"It feels good to be leading the championship at last; it is what we have all been working for and it just took a long time to get here!" he commented. "There is one GP to go and I just want to finish the races and stay calm. Lierop is hard physically but it will better for my wrists than Ireland or Donington. I can feel a small improvement now anyway."
"There has been more attention and pressure this week; a lot of phone calls! However I have kept to the normal routine," he added. "I think a win at the weekend will not be easy but I have to remain concentrated and finish the job."
Main title threat Josh Coppins is unlikely to fully fit just days after pulling out of the second moto in Britain with a painful left shoulder. Even if the New Zealander does make it to the chequered flag first both times in Holland, Ramon needs only to finish no lower than third and fourth in the two races to make sure of his second world championship and first in MX1.
The sand of Lierop is renowned for providing a rough and bumpy test as the surface churns into a series of lines and deep shifting ruts. The speed is high but the technical demands are also prominent. Ramon finished on the podium with third place last year and his comfort across this type of 'Benelux' terrain means that he stands a very good chance.
Kevin Strijbos will also be looking to cap a strong end to the season that has seen him grab two wins and a podium from the last four races. The Belgian is firmly in the hunt for the overall runner-up position in the championship and needs to score 24 points more than Coppins (50 remain) to give Suzuki a perfect 1-2 finish.
Team principal, Sylvain Geboers
"Last week got what we have been working for since the beginning of the year but since round 10 in the Czech Republic Steve has been riding with a partly broken scaphoid and this has not helped his results. The injury situation with Josh is a pity, but a championship runs over 15 rounds. There is still one round to go and we hope we can finish it properly and take the title."
Weather predictions for the weekend and across the venue 10km from Eindhoven, are bright but cloudy with temperatures around 20C.
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