Team Suzuki Press Office – August 27.
Team Suzuki World MXGP’s Kevin Strijbos grinded out an 11th-place finish at the TT Circuit Assen today in qualification for the Grand Prix of the Netherlands and the 16th round of MXGP 2016.
The Belgian pushed his works RM-Z450 through the shallow and fine sand temporarily constructed into a short, twisty and rough layout across the famous Dutch asphalt.
Hot sunshine and blue skies opened the second visit for the FIM Motocross World Championship to the venue famous for Grand Prix road racing. The motocross course had been created through the importation of trucks of sand in a matter of days and riders experienced some inconsistencies with the terrain; the sand having a hard base and being slippery in places.
Strijbos struggled to find his rhythm and confidence even through some alternative set-up options. The Belgian ruled the Lommel sand to win the Grand Prix of Belgium last month but Assen was a different type of challenge: The 30 year old motored to 11th place for a reasonably satisfactory position in the start gate tomorrow but will be hoping to discover a better feeling in morning warm-up in preparation for the two 30-minute and two-lap motos.
Team-mate Arminas Jasikonis was running in the same spot around the edge of the leaderboard as Strijbos but a slip through the waves section led to a crash and a small problem with his goggles meant that the Lithuanian lost time. He was able to remount and ride again but will take to the line in 27th on Sunday.