PORTUGAL UP NEXT FOR THE SUZUKI WORLD MXGP TEAM Team Suzuki Press Office – June 29. The Suzuki World MXGP team make their way to Portugal this weekend, returning to the Agueda track south of Porto. After last weekend’s scorching temperatures in Italy, where Arminas Jasikonis, Jeremy Seewer and Bas Vaessen performed so well, the forecast seems to be more of the same and this weekend they’ll be joined by the returning Kevin Strijbos, who is finally back at the MXGPs after a seven-round absence. “I will be making my return in Portugal”, said Strijbos. “I’ve ridden maybe six or seven times on my bike now since the doctor gave me the all clear so my elbow is still a little bit stiff but it should be good for riding. I’m just going to go to Portugal without any expectations, I want to go there and take it as a practice event, get myself used to riding MXGPs again. Then we have three weeks before the Czech Republic so that’s where I want to be at 100%, in Loket and then Lommel for the following round.” With Strijbos not racing, Jasikonis has been the sole Suzuki World MXGP representative, but he has exceeded all expectations on board his Factory RM-Z450WS and now heads to Agueda, hoping to continue his good form: “I’ve ridden in Portugal before, but I’ve heard that 50% is a brand-new track so it’s going to be different. It also looks like it will also be hot like it was in Ottobiano, so it will be another tough weekend for me, but I will keep on learning and trying to improve. This is still my first full season so I try not to put too much pressure on myself and I think everyone can see that I’m getting better and better, so that is a good feeling. On the sand, I can really fight with those guys and I’m believing I can do it more and more. It is always tough but I think it will be another good race that I will try and enjoy.”
