After a prosperous off-season that has included victories in France and the UK, Rockstar Energy Suzuki World MX1 are now ready to ‘remove the gloves’ for the first round of 15 in the FIM Motocross World Championship in Bulgaria this weekend.
The tall climbs and steep drops of the fast Sevlievo circuit will provide the first serious test of the RM-Z450 works machinery in 2011 and the team will be hunting their third consecutive podium finish at the GP as well as chasing their maiden victory at the venue.
Belgian duo Clement Desalle and Steve Ramon will have their sights set on further improvement over the second and fifth places captured overall in the 2010 series as the current season will take-in visits to 14 countries, three continents and involve six months of racing.
“I’m feeling good, no stress and we did another moto with the bike last Tuesday so everything is ready and I’m happy,” said Desalle who opened his account as a factory rider with the team with third place at Bulgaria in 2010. “Sevlievo is a nice track with fun jumps and some waves sections. I don’t know if we will find any changes to the layout when we arrive on Friday but I’m excited to get there and start the season.”
“I’m ready to go and I felt quick at the last race I had at Hawkstone Park a couple of weeks ago,” commented former world champion Ramon who grabbed a trophy at Sevlievo for third position in 2007. “I will be doing a bit of training before we travel to Bulgaria this week and that’s all really. The track there is pretty fast and depending on how they prepare the ground then usually some ruts come up and a few lines develop. I like it and it can be a physical GP.”
Suzuki Europe MX2 will travel east to Sevlievo with a brand new rider and renewed focus on the intensely-competitive MX2 division.
Using the RM-Z250 motorcycle that fought expertly for the 2010 title and scored 11 podium results, former European champion Valentin Teillet has been handed the responsibility of spearheading the German crew’s quest to keep the podium in a shade of yellow.
The long up-and-downhill plunges of Sevlievo carry good memories for the team after capturing second and fifth positions 12 months ago as the Bulgaria meeting opened the 2010 GP campaign. The quick layout should see the second generation of the RM-Z’s fuel injection come to the fore and Teillet’s small and agile frame will admirably suit the characteristics of the bike.
