Suzuki MX GP: De Dycker Unlucky at Bellpuig

Team Suzuki Press Office - May 17.

Teka Suzuki World MX1's Ken De Dycker was unlucky to only record 12th position overall at a hot and sunny Bellpuig circuit for the Grand Prix of Catalunya. The Belgian suffered a double crash and DNF in the first of two motos in front of 20,000 spectators and then collected sixth place with a sore left wrist in the second race.

After the swamp that engulfed the 2008 event at Bellpuig, blue skies and pleasant temperatures graced both days of the Catalan meeting for what was the sixth round of 15 on the FIM MX1 calendar. The effect of the welcome sun made the hard-pack dirt strangely slippery as constant watering was needed to contain the dust. By the second set of motos the ground was bumpy and punishing on the motorcycles.

Sadly the RM-Z450 could not be present on the podium for the sixth year in succession as De Dycker unwillingly clipped the wheel of the fallen Tanel Leok on the first lap of Moto 1. The 24 year damaged his clutch in the accident and then while struggling on the following circulation, hit the Spanish mud again, forcing him to pull into the pits. Nursing a painful left wrist as a consequence De Dycker started reasonably well in the second moto but needed time to find a rhythm and therefore held a steady mid top ten spot until the flag.  

De Dycker is now third in the championship standings and stares at a 48 point gap to leader Antonio Cairoli.

Injured team mate Steve Ramon will have another scan on his neck this coming Tuesday with the examination involving movement and rotation of the spine. If the test is clear then the Belgian will be able to leave his exercise bike and head out onto the roads as he bids to keep his physical fitness in check.

Teka Suzuki WMX1 now enjoy a break from world championship duty but in just over a week will have to cross the English Channel and head to Mallory Park for the British Grand Prix and the seventh round of the FIM series.

Ken De Dycker, 12th:

"It is a bad day but thankfully my wrist does not feel too bad and in the next few days we can see if there is anything wrong. Zero points in the first moto was not good and luckily Cairoli did not win. There was nothing I could do about the first crash because Leok was on the ground right in front of me. I just touched his rear wheel while trying to get out of the way but it pitched the bike sideways. The clutch lever was completely bent. Riding without the clutch wasn't a good idea. In the second moto my wrist really hurt over the bumps and also when I had to stand up and steer the bike. We will keep fighting and hope for better in the next weeks."

MX1 Moto1:1. Jonathan Barragan (ESP, KTM), 40:38.899; 2. Clement Desalle (BEL, Honda), +0:10.982; 3. David Philippaerts (ITA, Yamaha), +0:11.453; 4. Joshua Coppins (NZL, Yamaha), +0:16.273; 5. David Vuillemin (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:17.446; 6. Gareth Swanepoel (RSA, Kawasaki), +0:18.617; 7. Maximilian Nagl (GER, KTM), +0:19.177; 8. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, Yamaha), +0:51.165; 9. Tanel Leok (EST, Yamaha), +0:54.074; 10. Aigar Leok (EST, TM), +1:05.652. 27. Ken de Dycker (BEL, Suzuki), -20 lap(s).

MX1 Moto2: 1. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, Yamaha), 39:22.225; 2. Maximilian Nagl (GER, KTM), +0:01.314; 3. David Philippaerts (ITA, Yamaha), +0:13.691; 4. Jonathan Barragan (ESP, KTM), +0:18.063; 5. Billy Mackenzie (GBR, Honda), +0:20.186; 6. Ken de Dycker (BEL, Teka Suzuki World MX1), +0:23.058; 7. Clement Desalle (BEL, Honda), +0:23.655; 8. Joshua Coppins (NZL, Yamaha), +0:23.983; 9. David Vuillemin (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:33.488; 10. Gregory Aranda (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:39.470;

MX1 Overall Result: 1. Jonathan Barragan (ESP, KTM), 43 points; 2. David Philippaerts (ITA, Yamaha), 40 p.; 3. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, Yamaha), 38 p.; 4. Maximilian Nagl (GER, KTM), 36 p.; 5. Clement Desalle (BEL, Honda), 36 p.; 6. Joshua Coppins (NZL, Yamaha), 31 p.; 7. David Vuillemin (FRA, Kawasaki), 28 p.; 8. Billy Mackenzie (GBR, Honda), 26 p.; 9. Gareth Swanepoel (RSA, Kawasaki), 25 p.; 10. Tanel Leok (EST, Yamaha), 20 p.; 12. Ken de Dycker (BEL, Teka Suzuki World MX1), 15 p.

MX1 World Championship standings (after 6 of 15 rounds): 1. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, Yamaha), 231 points; 2. Jonathan Barragan (ESP, KTM), 195 p.; 3. Ken de Dycker (BEL, Teka Suzuki World MX1), 183 p.; 4. Joshua Coppins (NZL, Yamaha), 175 p.; 5. David Philippaerts (ITA, Yamaha), 174 p.; 6. Tanel Leok (EST, Yamaha), 162 p.; 7. Clement Desalle (BEL, Honda), 162 p.; 8. Maximilian Nagl (GER, KTM), 155 p.; 9. David Vuillemin (FRA, Kawasaki), 101 p.; 10. Steve Ramon (BEL, Teka Suzuki World MX1), 100 p.