The four factory riders of the KTM Red Bull Racing team go to Loket in the Czech Republic refreshed, with good memories of the circuit from last year and with podiums in mind for this weekend's Grand Prix racing.
As the long and tiring season goes into the final third of the race program, Jonathan Barragan and David Philippaerts of MX1 and Tyla Rattray and Tommy Searle of MX2 all took some restorative time out in between the last strenuous Grand Prix in Faenza, Italy and this weekend's race. Now with batteries charged they go to the Czech Republic with renewed fighting spirit and "Ready to Race" in true KTM style.
Barragan returned to his home in Spain after Faenza for well-earned rest and light training, and this week has been in Belgium honing his skills with KTM team boss Stefan Everts. Jonathan will not be fazed if the hot weather in central Europe extends to the races on Sunday because he is accustomed to riding in such conditions in Spain. "I was overall third in Loket last year and it will be good for me if the weather is hot," he said.
MX1 factory team partner David Philippaerts is still struggling with the remnants of a shoulder injury that was further inflamed at the races in Faenza, a track that he rode on as a young boy. He has been continuing medical treatment to reduce the inflammation and was only able to ride again on Wednesday. Still experiencing discomfort from the injury, Philippaerets will follow up with more treatment in Belgium after the Czech event, where he will spend time training with Everts in preparation for the next Grand Prix. "Even though I haven't been able to ride and still have some pain when riding downhill, I have been running and doing other fitness training to keep my muscles in shape," he said. Philippaerts is currently fourth in the season's standings and Barragan is fifth.
KTM's MX2 riders, the tough and wiry South African Tyla Rattray and the ambitious and talented British teenager Tommy Searle also both took time off to recharge batteries after the strenuous Faenza races. Tyla took time out for fun and Formula 1 action by visiting the Grand Prix at the Neuburgring in Germany where he attended a Red Bull event. He also trained with Stefan Everts and is fit and ready for the races in the Czech Republic. "I am happy to be going to Loket. It is a good track and I won the first race here last year. I probably could have made the podium but I crashed in the second race but this year I will be going for it," the Durban-born rider said.
Searle, bristling with confidence and now a recognized threat to even the most experienced of riders, has been home in the UK and training hard whenever the extreme wet weather conditions allowed. "I hope to put in a good race this weekend. I had a good race in Loket last year and I will definitely be going for a podium this weekend. Both Rattray and Searle have confirmed that they will be staying on in MX2 with the KTM Red Bull Racing Team for the 2008 season. Tyla is third currently third in the championship standings and Tommy is in fourth place.
With a hot weekend predicted for the Czech races, the riders will face a hard and fast track with gravel stretches that offer little grip but plenty of thrills for the expected large crowd of spectators.
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