The UK Arenacross series has announced that defending AX champion and his 2016 team-mate will return for the 2017 championship.
The 2015 and 2016 Pro champion Thomas Ramette is back for 2017 and is aiming for a hat-trick of AX titles. And you wouldn’t bet against the most successful Pro racer of the four-year-old series – he’s in the form of his life.
Ramette didn’t just kick back after winning the title at the London finale earlier this year. He got his gear ready and jumped on a flight to the US to take on the East Coast rounds of Monster Energy Supercross. He then followed that up with a string of indoor and outdoor SX wins in Europe. Ramette has continued the frenetic pace and excellent form in the last few weeks, taking the King of Stockholm SX crown ahead of Arenacross top Pros, including Angelo Pellegrini and Fabien Izoird. And more recently, he added the King of Poland SX award to his rapidly growing trophy cabinet.
“It is cool to return to the series,” said the likable 25-year-old Frenchman. “I have had an amazing couple of years with my awesome SR75 Suzuki team and I look forward to getting back to the UK and the cool lineup of Arenas where we have enjoyed so many successful nights racing in front of the amazing UK race fans.”
Ramette will be up against some stiff opposition next year. Both preceding Arenacross champs Adam Chatfield and Izoird are already signed up and chomping at the bit to get out on track to secure points and a share of the significant prize fund. However, Ramette may have a slight advantage in that he is the only former series winner to return with the same manufacturer, team-mate and team setup.
Ramette’s smooth style, consistency and determined attitude served him well in the closely-contested, and at times, controversial 2016 series, with the London finale particularly heated.
He set the tone for his championship battle from the first gate drop at the opening round in Manchester back in January, with an Arenacross racing masterclass – taking the first win of the series and then adding another four Main Event outright wins.
Through the 11-round championship, Ramette and team-mate Cyrille Coulon enjoyed 10 podium finishes, confirming SR75 Suzuki as undisputed back-to-back Team Champions in the process.
“Coming back to look for the ‘threepeat’ is something special and I do this with the professional respect it deserves,” said Ramette. “I will give it my all while having fun with some good racing and great Pro class competition.”
Cyrille Coulon said: “This series is a big favourite for me. I like the race and the track style sometimes suits my experience. I’ve had a great year with my SR75 Suzuki Team and I like to make good racing for UK fans with many great riders in this series.”
Clearly delighted to continue with the winning partnership, Rob Cooper, Suzuki GB’s marketing manager commented: “Ever since winning this year’s Arenacross championship we fully expected to return in 2017 to defend the title with Geoff Walker and the SR75 Suzuki team. Last year was one of the most entertaining and explosive Arenacross tours the series has ever seen. It provided a great spectacle for the crowds and it was great to be a part of the show, and even better to come away having successfully defended the championship with Thomas Ramette. It was also fantastic to clinch the team championship for a second year in a row. Geoff puts together an extremely professional outfit, and in both Ramette and Cyrille Coulon we have two riders capable of fighting for the title again this year, and hopefully they can help deliver another team championship for Suzuki and the RM-Z450.”
With all the former AX Pro champs returning and a sweet lineup of British motocross talent, the 2017 Arenacross Tour promises to be a must watch from the moment the first gate drops in Manchester on January 7 at the Manchester Arena. The AX Tour then travels to Glasgow, Birmingham, Belfast, Sheffield and London.
For the latest news and to buy tickets, visit www.arenacrossuk.com or call the Box Office on 0844 338 8000.
