Team Suzuki Press Office – July 9.
Rockstar Energy Suzuki World MXGP’s Kevin Strijbos will be aiming for his fourth successive podium result in the premier class of the FIM Motocross World Championship this weekend as the 2015 series heads to Kegums for the Grand Prix of Latvia.
The Belgian will be the sole runner on the works RM-Z450 as Clement Desalle has still not recovered fully from the MCL damage in his left knee to be able to contest round 12 of 18.
Desalle sought medical advice on the joint last week before the Grand Prix in Sweden and was counselled not to start riding. The trip to Latvia and Kegums, scene of the 2014 Motocross of Nations, has come just too soon for the Belgian. Both Desalle and the team will now be looking towards the Czech Republic fixture at the end of the month and where ‘#25’ has a good record of victory.
Strijbos, meanwhile, has been in pleasing form with second position in Italy, third in Germany and then third again at Uddevalla last weekend; all since returning to MXGP duty after wrist and thumb problems. The 29 year old will now try to add to his tally of silverware at the Kegums circuit, a short distance outside the capital city of Riga. The track is formed from a fine, sandy terrain that can either be rough and rutty in damp conditions or fast and bumpy if the ground is mainly dry. With the weather forecast predicting rain today (Thursday) and tomorrow, but brighter skies through the weekend, then the largely flat course could present a slight mix of surfaces and challenges.
“I have not been that good at Kegums in the last few years, except for the ‘Nations, but I still have a lot of confidence at that track,” said Strijbos who memorably won the second of three races at the Motocross of Nations last September. “It is a bit sandy but also gets a bit sketchy because of the hard base. There can be some strange bumps. Hopefully they will start to water it quite early. We have been doing a lot of sand riding in Belgium and hopefully it will pay off.”
Strijbos has gained good points since arriving back in MXGP in the wake of his forced absence and has moved up to 11th in the championship standings. While his form is at a high point, ‘#22’ insists there is still some more to come. “There are a couple of small ways to get better but I’m at a good level,” he says. “It is not long since I came back but also it is not like we can make big gains. I’m happy with the feeling I have on the bike at the moment and for the motos. We will keep on working.”
Rockstar Energy Suzuki Europe’s Glenn Coldenhoff had a good day at the Grand Prix of Sweden with two more solid top-10 finishes in ninth and sixth. The MXGP rookie is starting to force that distinctive ‘#259’ as a regular part of the top-10 in the premier class. He has some good ‘previous’ at Kegums. The circuit did not stage a GP in 2014 due to its role as ‘Nations host but in 2013 Coldenhoff scored a first moto placing of third in the MX2 class.
“I am really looking forward to Latvia because I always have a good feeling there,” said the Dutchman who is currently 10th in the MXGP points table and has added to his scorecard in all 22 motos this season; his first with the RM-Z450. “I think the weather should be good which means the track will be a bit harder.
“The goal at the beginning of the season was to establish myself as a top-10 guy,” he explains. “I wanted to keep consistent in the first half of the championship and just keep going and keep being in the gate. Finally we are getting closer to the top-five and things are going well at the moment. For sure I want to be in the top-five soon.”
Next to him in the Rockstar Energy Suzuki Europe awning will be Jeremy Seewer in the MX2 class and with the RM-Z250 and yet another racer in ‘yellow’ keen to get to Kegums. “I like it there. I don't know why but in the past I went well and scored my first European Championship victory two years ago,” he says. “I was really ‘on it’ after a bad start! At the ‘Nations last year I had a really amazing Qualification race against Cairoli and Glenn Coldenhoff. It is quite fun and sandy and I’ve become used to the sand as I’ve been a lot more in Belgium this year.”
Like Stribos, Seewer has had to wash his race kit free of champagne this week after walking the box in Sweden for his third trophy of 2015. The Swiss is hitting a promising patch of speed and combined with some bright starts is regularly coming into contention for eye-catching results. The 20 year old continues to build positive momentum in just his second year of Grand Prix racing. “I’m a rider that doesn't take too many risks and at Uddevalla it was difficult to find the limit; how much risk do I take?” he commented. “Until the second race I was always being a bit too careful. With the holeshot I was able to switch the button and the speed was there. I know I have the speed easily for the top-five and even for the podium. I will try to continue like this; and on the sand as well.”
Latvia brings the European Championship into a supporting role again and the EMX250 class will play out round seven of nine. Brian Hsu – chasing his third podium finish in a row after milestone achievements with the RM-Z250 in Germany and Sweden – will once more partner rookie Bas Vaessen.
MXGP World Championship Standings (after 11 of 18 rounds): 1. Romain Febvre (FRA, YAM), 419 points; 2. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 380 p.; 3. Maximilian Nagl (GER, HUS), 360 p.; 4. Gautier Paulin (FRA, HON), 351 p.; 5. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, HON), 319 p.; 6. Clement Desalle (BEL, Rockstar Energy Suzuki), 291 p.; 7. Shaun Simpson (GBR, KTM), 257 p.; 8. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, YAM), 232 p.; 9. Todd Waters (AUS, HUS), 224 p.; 10. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, Rockstar Energy Suzuki), 196 p.; 11. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, Rockstar Energy Suzuki), 186 p.
MX2 World Championship Standings (after 11 of 18 rounds): 1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 423 points; 2. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 345 p.; 3. Valentin Guillod (SUI, YAM), 335 p.; 4. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Rockstar Energy Suzuki), 311 p.; 5. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KTM), 307 p.; 6. Jordi Tixier (FRA, KAW), 306 p.; 7. Max Anstie (GBR, KAW), 262 p.; 8. Julien Lieber (BEL, YAM), 259 p.; 9. Aleksandr Tonkov (RUS, HUS), 256 p.; 10. Dylan Ferrandis (FRA, KAW), 205 p.
EMX250 European Championship Standings (after 6 of 9 rounds): 1. Nick Kouwenberg (NED, HON), 219 points; 2. Maxime Desprey (FRA, KAW), 217 p.; 3. Adam Sterry (GBR, KTM), 200 p.; 4. Damon Graulus (BEL, YAM), 197 p.; 5. Ander Valentin (ESP, YAM), 145 p.; 6. Alvin Östlund (SWE, YAM), 132 p.; 7. Brian Hsu (GER, Rockstar Energy Suzuki), 131 p.; 8. Steven Clarke (GBR, HUS), 118 p.; 9. Simone Zecchina (ITA, KAW), 98 p.; 10. Nicolas Dercourt (FRA, KAW), 96 p.; 23. Bas Vaessen (NED, Rockstar Energy Suzuki), 34 p.