Stefan Everts factory Suzuki team continue to be frustrated by injury and has Kevin Strijbos ruled out of action for rounds 11 and 12 of the MXGP series in Great Britain and Italy.

Everts has been able to call on both Ben Townley and the former world championship runner-up just six times this season and Suzuki competed without representation in the premier class two weeks ago in France for the first time this century.

The New Zealander and Belgian have been battling with the same left wrist injury. Townley was able to get on track at Matterley Basin last weekend but had missed two rounds after a training crash. Strijbos sustained his ailment during the Grand Prix of Spain three weeks ago and needs more time – the capsule in his wrist bears the brunt of the damage.

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“We had another MRI and we spotted a fracture and the specialists could not understand how it hadn’t been seen before,” Strijbos said. “I rode the bike on Thursday [prior to the British GP] and the speed was there but then it was also painful and was affecting my wrist. It was 50-50 if I could ride and I saw pretty quickly that it wouldn’t be possible.”

Strijbos is also out for the Grand Prix of Lombardia this weekend but then has a four-week spell in which he’ll be able to get fully fit for the Czech Republic round towards the end of July. “Now we just have to wait but I think the break after Mantova will help a lot,” Strijbos offered.

Team Suzuki World MXGP have still to taste podium champagne since Everts took the reigns of the Lommel-based operation but their progress in the MX2 class has been excellent with Jeremy Seewer posting seven rostrum appearances. The fate of Townley for 2017 remains unclear but Strijbos has a contract to keep on the RM-Z450.