Steve Ramon placed the works RM-Z450 - being used for the first time with the new evolution of the aluminium frame – fifth fastest in Timed Practice today at a hot and busy Uddevalla circuit for the Grand Prix of Sweden and the ninth round of the FIM MX1 World Championship as Kevin Strijbos was a close seventh. The reversed Scandinavian course is undulating and very dry after good weather conditions. A lap is fairly short with the average time taking just over a minute and a half.
Strijbos was third and then fourth fastest in the two free practice sessions. Ramon was a little bit further back in eighth and sixth and changed some settings with his front forks as well as another sprocket before qualification. The track became rougher as the day wore on but again the riders had to fight the heat and find an effective set-up for the dry bumps. Both Belgians retained a presence in the top five during the 30-minute Timed Practice: Ramon set a lap inside the last two minutes that placed him fifth and was happy with the progression of his speed throughout the day. Strijbos on the other hand was a bit frustrated and took his time to get to grips with the track.
Further good weather is predicted for tomorrow and the riders are set to start their first moto of 35 minutes and 2 laps duration at 13.05 local time.
Steve Ramon:“I’m happy with fifth because in the first session it was very difficult to find a good rhythm and get my lines sorted. We changed the front fork and the second practice was better but I still could not get smooth. We switched the sprocket for qualification and I have to say that the Timed Practice was very good for me. I found my riding came easier and I could make some decent laps. I’m fifth but the times are really close.”
Kevin Strijbos:“I wasn’t happy when I ended the session. My time was good enough as I was only half a second from pole but I did not get comfortable on the track. I was making a lot of mistakes. The first practice was so-so but in the timed qualifying I made many small errors that easily would have compensated for that difference to pole. I felt good on the start and I know the Suzuki is strong off the line. If I can get away well then I can hold on because the hot weather will really test people’s fitness.”
MX1 Timed Practice classification:1 Stefan Everts (BEL) Yamaha 1:42.234
2 Joshua Coppins (NZL) Honda 1:42.376
3 James Noble (GBR) Honda 1:42.392
4 Tanel Leok (EST) Kawasaki 1:42.452
5 Steve Ramon (BEL) Suzuki 1:42.500
6 Ken De Dycker (BEL) Honda 1:42.794
7 Kevin Strijbos (BEL) Suzuki 1:42.824
8 Jonathan Barragan (SPA) KTM 1:43.226
9 Javier Garcia Vico (SPA) Honda 1:43.500
10 Antti Pyrhonen (FIN) TM 1:43.572
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