Suzuki Set For British MX1 GP Festival

The 2012 FIM Motocross World Championship reaches the 13th round of 16 this weekend with the British Grand Prix at Matterley Basin and Rockstar Energy Suzuki World MX1 will travel to the UK with its works RM-Z450s for the race that will precede a swift end to the Championship in September with the final three rounds occurring in four weeks.

Clement Desalle and Tanel Leok both retain positions in the top 10 of the premier class MX1 standings: Desalle is second and just 30 points away from his second grasp of the red plate this season while Leok is only 29 from being able to climb into seventh spot.

Matterley Basin will host a Grand Prix for the third time and has been extremely popular with racers since its inauguration in 2005. The flowing and natural setting inside the 'bowl' landscape normally provides ample line choice through the soft and earthy terrain. Desalle missed the 2011 edition due to injury and Leok captured fourth place in the first moto before a heavy crash ended his participation in the second sprint.

"I raced there in 2006 and I really like the circuit," said Desalle. "It is a modern track but then there are also some old fashioned things about it. I hope it will be looked after in a good way because the mud will see a lot of action this week but I'm looking forward to going.

"We've had a small break from the GPs and this was good before a busy month in September. I carried on with my training but I also found time last weekend to take part in a famous 12 hour enduro-type event not far from me. I did some of the practice on Saturday with friends and also helped start the race on Sunday so it was pretty cool," he added.

"I really like Matterley," said Leok. "I think it is one of the best tracks we have and somewhere that you enjoy racing as well as riding. I'm feeling in great shape and have been training just how I want over the last two weeks. My goal is to make the podium in these final few races and I have been getting a bit closer."

The British Grand Prix will also see a major spread of Suzuki off-road racing equipment thanks to the meeting coinciding with the MXGP Festival: Four days of racing and 10 classes will involve two-stroke and four-stroke RM and RM-Z motorcycles in 85cc, 125cc and MX2 (all UEM European series) competitions in what could be a prosperous weekend in 'yellow.'

The early forecast for the weekend in Winchester predicts hot and sunny conditions.

MX1 World Championship Standings (after 12 of 16 rounds): 1. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 492 points; 2. Clement Desalle (BEL, Rockstar Energy Suzuki World MX1), 462 p.; 3. Christophe Pourcel (FRA, Kawasaki), 435 p.; 4. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Kawasaki), 402 p.; 5. Ken de Dycker (BEL, KTM), 368 p.; 6. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, KTM), 319 p.; 7. Xavier Boog (FRA, Kawasaki), 306 p.; 8. Tanel Leok (EST, Rockstar Energy Suzuki World MX1), 277 p.; 9. Rui Goncalves (POR, Honda), 273 p.; 10. Shaun Simpson (GBR, Yamaha), 223 p.