2007 MX1 World Champion and Teka Suzuki WMX1 representative Steve Ramon gained his first podium finish of the 2009 motocross campaign at the weekend when the Belgian guided his fuel-injected RM-Z450 to third place overall in the third and final major pre-season International event at Hawkstone Park in the UK.
The 28 year old took two fourth positions through the dark Shropshire sand and under bright English skies to earn his first trophy of the year. Team-mate Ken de Dycker earned another chequered flag with his straightforward victory in the second moto but a technical problem ruled him out of the first sprint and he could only place seventh overall.
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“That was better,” commented the former world number one, “my speed and physical condition is getting up to a good level and we are progressing. Again the result was not of major importance but a podium finish is encouraging and shows we are on the right lines.”
“We were having a few problems in practice and then they happened again in the race,” said De Dycker, who had set the fastest lap-time before running into trouble. “I had trouble making speed and when a rock flipped up and smacked my hand I thought it was better to stop. The team changed engines for the second race and after I made a good start - I think I was third - I was able to follow some lines and win quite easily.”
The Teka Suzuki WMX1 team will now head to southern Europe for the third and fourth rounds of the Italian championship on March 8th (Ponte a Egola) and 15th (Gazzane di Preseglie) to continue their preparations for the opening Grand Prix of the FIM world championship which will take place at Faenza, near Bologna, on March 29th.
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