Strijbos Fired-Up For Spanish MX1

Team Suzuki's Kevin Strijbos won all three of the motos at the second round of the Belgian Championship at Neeroeteren last Sunday and also claimed victory in the Wuustwezel International race on Bank Holiday Monday to approach this weekend's Grand Prix of Spain - and the second test of the FIM MX1 World Championship - in fiery form.

The 21-year-old Belgian has recovered well from recent knee surgery and flew out of the gate in all three races on Sunday to stake overall honours ahead of team-mate and reigning Champion Steve Ramon. He then beat his countryman as well as competitors such as works KTM rider David Philippaerts again on Monday at Wuustwezel.

"It was pretty easy actually and I felt good in at least two of the motos but I had been suffering with some stomach pain a couple of days before and I struggled in that last moto," he said of Neeroeteren. "The international takes place in my town each year so it is an important race for me and was nice to win it again."

Ramon came through a busy holiday period with two runner-up positions (2nd-3rd-2nd at Neeroeteren and 1st-2nd-3rd in the three races on Monday) and was fairly satisfied with his riding. "It was pretty good," he summarised. "Neeroeteren was difficult because there was a lot of dust and it was not easy to see the holes and bumps. I did not get good starts in the first two motos. Kevin was strong and could make a gap quickly. Second place overall was ok and I am still leading the Championship."

"Wuustwezel might have been better, especially after I won the first race, but I crashed in the second moto and then had trouble trying to pass Philippaerts in the third," he added.

After taking third and fourth positions respectively at Valkenswaard for the Grand Prix of Benelux two weeks ago Ramon and Strijbos now face back-to-back World Championship events with a trip to Catalunya and the Bellpuig circuit preceding the Portuguese GP and a visit to Agueda.

"Bellpuig is a cool track and it has been getting rougher for the last few years which makes it interesting," said Strijbos, who was one of only four riders to claim an MX1 moto from 36 sprints in 2006. His chequered flag was earned at the Spanish setting. "I won a moto last year, which was not an easy thing to do with Stefan riding so well," he continued.  "I hope to be on the podium at least. My knee has not bothered me now since the Grand Prix last week so I know that I will be ready to go for the win."

"It's a good track for racing but not one of my favourites," remarked Ramon. "Bellpuig has changed a little bit in recent years and has become slower. I have heard that the weather is not so good there at the moment so it could be a mud race!"

The Bellpuig circuit has been a popular and consistent stop for the World Championship every year since the start of the millennium. The Grand Prix enjoys good support from the Catalan 'generalitat' and was last year voted 'best circuit and infrastructure' by series promoters Youthstream.

The course itself is a quick 1600 metre, hard-pack test that curls around a steep central hill providing a series of hefty step-ups as well as some of the most breathtaking jumps seen on the GP schedule.

The Spanish Grand Prix routinely enjoys a healthy attendance, particularly in the off-road racing hotbed of north-eastern region Catalunya. Despite a week of wet and dismal weather over nearby Barcelona, the forecast for the weekend is slightly better with scattered showers predicted near the city of Lleida.

World Championship Standings (after 1 round of 15): 1 Joshua Coppins (NZL) Yamaha 47, 2 Jonathan Barragan (ESP) KTM 41, 3 Steve Ramon (BEL) Suzuki 37, 4 Kevin Strijbos (BEL) Suzuki 36, 5 Marc de Reuver (NED) Yamaha 35, 6 Ken de Dycker (BEL) Honda 34, 7 Maximilian Nagl (GER) KTM 25, 8 James Noble (GBR) Honda 24, 9 Manuel Priem (BEL) TM 19, 10 Mike Brown (USA) Honda 19.