Ken De Dycker preview GP of Bulgaria

De Dycker chasing first KTM podium

Belgium’s
Ken De Dycker currently sits in fifth in the MX1 World Championship
standings. Ahead of the second round of the
series, taking place in Sevlievo (Bulagaria), De Dycker and his Kiwi
mechanic Jeremy Long have continued to familiarize
himself with the KTM SX-F 450 together with the Red Bull-KTM De Carli
team in Rome.

Taking
advantage of the two week-spell between the Dutch GP and the
Bulgarian race Ken has switched from sand to hard
pack. The factory KTM replacement rider for Max Nagl is no stranger
to the fast and flowing Sevlievo track. While the
scenic Bulgarian track was inaugurated in 2002 Keeno hasn’t missed
any single GP event in Sevlievo since 2003.

Only
in 2003 and last season he didn’t reach the top ten overall. De
Dycker has also shown his speed in Bulgaria before: he
won the first moto on the hot Sevlievo track in 2009 and finished
third overall that year behind Josh Coppins and Jonathan
Barragan. The weather forecast for this weekend is mixed with rain on
Friday and Saturday, but Sunday should be
mainly sunny and temperatures could be reaching around 18° C.

Ken
De Dycker: “We
didn’t get around to extensive testing with the bike but I managed
to ride quite a lot in great conditions.
That was also our main goal anyway. The hard pack tracks I visited in
Italy were perfect for what we will be facing
this weekend. I feel confident in making the transfer from the sand
to this type of soil. We also made further progress
in adjusting the suspension. I
like riding in Sevlievo but the conditions can be a bit of catch22
situation; you really need that good start to run with the fastest
guys rightaway! So to have some rain on the track before the GP is
not a bad thing at all. Technically it’s not the most
challenging event on the calendar but I know I can do well here. I
have had some strong races in the past and with two
good starts I should be able to run near the front.”

Ken
De Dycker scorecard Sevlievo - Bulgaria

2011:
19th
overall (22/17)

2010:
6th
overall (4/8)

2009:
3rd
overall (1/8)

2008:
10th
overall (10/11)

2007:
6th
overall (8/6)

2006:
7th
overall (7/6)

2003:
DNF