Team Suzuki head to the British Grand Prix at the brand new Matterley Basin near Winchester this weekend having notched four podium appearances in the last two rounds and are easily the strongest squad in the MX1 class. Kevin Strijbos and Steve Ramon have taken the works RM-Z450s to second and third positions respectively in Bulgaria and Italy, and Strijbos has moved up behind Stefan Everts at the top of the FIM World Championship standings thanks to his recent good form.
Matterley Basin has been designed by Johnny Douglas Hamilton who received many plaudits for his work on the Isle of Wight, Matchams Park and Sun City in South Africa, all of which were generally regarded as the best tracks of the 2005 campaign. Chiselled in co-ordination with Youthstream’s track manager Greg Atkins, the Matterley course has a high standard to maintain. The round will also be the only time this season that the teams and riders of both MX1 and MX2 competitions will face a new and completely unknown prospect: The organisers are, in essence, using the venue as a ‘dry-run’ for the 60th Motocross of Nations in September.
“I love riding in England. The tracks are really nice over there and well prepared,” said Ramon, who finished second overall and won a moto on his last trip to the British Isles. ”I was third again behind Everts and Strijbos in Italy and for sure this week I want to running with those guys. I know it is difficult to challenge Everts but if I can get my starts a little bit better it is possible I think.
“The British Grand Prix is quite special because of the fans and the atmosphere,” the 26 year old, who is fifth in the current standings continued. “I always enjoy going there and the fact that it is quite close to us in Belgium is another positive thing! Most of the GPs are always the same so I always like to go to a new track. It is something different and a fresh challenge.”
Said Strijbos: “I think British tracks generally tend to be pretty good. I don’t know what kind of terrain we will find at Matterley but I am definitely looking forward to visiting a new place.”
The Grand Prix will be the third in a busy three-week period for the teams and riders who will then break for a fortnight before heading to Sweden.
The weather forecast for the weekend predicts hot and sunny conditions although Britain’s metrological reputation is not renowned for its reliability.
MX1 World Championship Standings (after 7 of 15 rounds): 1 Stefan Everts 342,
2 Kevin Strijbos (Suzuki) 253,
3 Tanel Leok 245,
4 Ken De Dycker 231,
5 Steve Ramon (Suzuki) 227,
6 Jonathan Barragan 166,
7 Pascal Leuret 147,
8 Brian Jorgensen 120,
9 Manuel Priem 120,
10 Cedric Melotte 118.
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