Standing Construct Yamaha’s Valentin Guillod and Rockstar Suzuki Europe’s Jeremy Seewer both stood on the podium behind HRC Gariboldi’s Tim Gajser in Sweden last weekend; the first time that two Swiss riders have scaled the rostrum in the history of Grand Prix racing.
According to 20-year-old Seewer it bodes well for his country if Pro Circuit’s Arnaud Tonus can recover from a virus and the trio can fly the flag at the Motocross of Nations at Ernee, France on September 26-27.
“If Arnaud can be fit then we have a really strong team I think,” the Suzuki man said. “If he is at his normal level then Arnaud is really strong and I believe Valentin and I are also on a good level. If everything comes together and we don’t crash all the time like last year then the podium spot is going to be possible.”
Guillod is enjoying his best ever season, his second (and last) in the MX2 class since winning the 2013 EMX250 European Championship. He currently has a deal to ride a Yamaha for his first term in MXGP in 2016 but there were hot rumours in the paddock in Sweden that Suzuki had made a generous bid to lure #92 away from blue and into the factory team to replace Clement Desalle, who has allegedly accepted an offer to ride for Kawasaki next year.
Guillod is unlikely to enter the Michele Rinaldi-run Yamaha works unit and would probably saddle a YZ450F from within his current Standing Construct awning and under the continued guidance of manager and mentor Yves Demaria. It is assumed – whatever the brand – that Guillod will make his 450cc debut at the Nations either in the MXGP or MX Open class.
Tonus is riding and training in California for an imminent return to the Pro Circuit Kawasaki and would also steer a 450. Tonus has another year on his contract in California and Seewer, the smallest and lightest of the potential Swiss team, is also committed to Suzuki and MX2 for 2016.