Team #Suzuki Press Office – July 4.
The Uddevalla circuit roasted in some superb summer temperatures today as the Grand Prix of Sweden and the 11th round of 18 in the 2015 FIM Motocross World Championship at Uddevalla got underway with practice and the MXGP qualification heat race.
Across the dry, loose but often hard-packed terrain, Rockstar Energy Suzuki World MXGP’s Kevin Strijbos took his works RM-Z450 to his first pole position after winning the 20-minute and two-lap sprint to confirm first entry in the gate for the two Grand Prix motos tomorrow.
Strijbos already notched the fastest lap in Timed Practice around a circuit on which he captured third position overall in 2014. It meant he rolled to the line in first place for the Qualification dash on Saturday afternoon. After altering his set-up to cope with the tight and wavy course the 29-year-old Belgian made a great start and then kept a reasonably consistent pace to remain ahead of Romain Febvre and mark his first Pole of the campaign.
Rockstar Energy Suzuki Europe’s Glenn Coldenhoff placed two Suzukis in the top five of MXGP with fifth position. The Dutchman was also sharp into the first corner and through a busy opening lap. He then fended-off Tommy Searle to equal his best qualification slot in his maiden MXGP year.
Over in the MX2 class Rockstar Energy Suzuki Europe’s Jeremy Seewer also claimed fifth on his RM-Z250 for a satisfactory day for the yellow camp.
Further sunshine should see the mercury rise to almost 30 degrees for race day on Sunday.
Kevin Strijbos:
“I got a good start, which is quite important on this track I think. When I got to the lead I put some good laps together but then I saw Febvre was catching me. I was thinking about where I could go faster but also making some mistakes in places, so I wasn’t too happy with the second half of the race but having the Pole is good. The track is going to be hard and slick again tomorrow.”
MXGP Qualification Heat: 1. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, Rockstar Energy Suzuki), 24:12.498; 2. Romain Febvre (FRA, Yamaha), +0:04.589; 3. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Honda), +0:12.068; 4. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, Honda), +0:18.685; 5. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, Rockstar Energy Suzuki), +0:20.152; 6. Tommy Searle (GBR, KTM), +0:21.503; 7. Todd Waters (AUS, Husqvarna), +0:29.100; 8. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, Yamaha), +0:36.430; 9. David Philippaerts (ITA, Yamaha), +0:37.860; 10. Shaun Simpson (GBR, KTM), +0:38.600.