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Team Suzuki
Team Suzuki will head to the historic setting of Namur and the Citadelle for their home event; the Grand Prix of Belgium, this weekend and the 12th round of the FIM MX1 Motocross World Championship.
Kevin Strijbos and Steve Ramon both have reasons to enter the meeting with renewed vigour. Strijbos claimed his third career success last week and seems to be back to full fitness and top form, while Ramon is buoyed by news that series leader Josh Coppins will miss the GP due to a shoulder injury and the Belgian champion has a fantastic chance to place himself back in the title chase.
“It is an unlucky situation for Josh but it proves that anything can still happen, “ said Ramon who finished on the rostrum with third spot 12 months ago. “The Czech Grand Prix could have been better for me but we come to Namur at a good time because I like this track a lot. I had a good GP in 2006 and there will be quite a lot of fans to cheer me on. The course is really technical and in some places even close to Enduro. You have to be really smooth. “
Ramon trails by 77 points in the championship standings but a double moto haul this weekend could cut that deficit down to 27 with 150 left to win in the remaining rounds.
“Even though it is my home GP and there is a lot to look forward to for that reason I have to honest and say that I hate the track at Namur, “ commented Strijbos, who last year injured his shoulder in practice and took fifth place on Sunday. “Many people say it is the best, but to me it is one big long dangerous loop. “
“I will try to do my best as always, “ added the winner of Grand Prix in Portugal and Czech Republic. “I don’t have any problems with my knee anymore. I can cycle like normal and if I need to put my foot down during the race it doesn’t bother me. “
In other news the team have also been testing the 2008 RM-Z450 stock motorcycle with fuel injection. “We have been quite pleased with how the bike works and we have put some mileage on it through the last two weeks, “ said Team Principal Sylvain Geboers.
Namur has had a weight of adjectives thrown at it over the years and since it first appeared as part of the first ever FIM Motocross World Championship in 1957 (500cc). Quite simply it is unique. The thin, fast and dark course runs across the Citadelle and through the hillside park within the town centre. The lengthy layout has more than its fair share of peril due to the close proximity of the trees, differences between light with the shade of the foliage and the near vertical drops.
The weather forecast for the weekend is good with sunshine and decent temperatures predicted for Sunday.
