Suzuki MX1 Men Head To Bulgaria

A trip to Bulgaria and the Sevlievo circuit awaits Team Suzuki and their works RM-Z450s this weekend in what will be the sixth round of the 2006 FIM MX1 World Championship.

The Belgian crew have seen one of their two riders finish on the podium at the last four Grand Prix including a runner-up position for Kevin Strijbos in Germany and then for Steve Ramon two weeks ago in Japan.

Suzuki are the only manufacturer with two riders in the top six of the series standings as Strijbos currently lies fourth and Ramon fifth. The Belgian pair banished the effects of jetlag returning from Sugo 10 days ago by claiming podium results at Kester for the fourth round of the Belgian Championship last weekend behind current World Champion and MX1 standings leader Stefan Everts.

Strijbos was second overall and Ramon was third.The impressive Sevlievo circuit has all the facilities and infrastructure required by a modern motocross venue. The fast and hilly course with 100% views for spectators has apparently been adjusted to comply with FIM rules and to lower the speed ahead of its third World Championship event this weekend.The inaugural Bulgarian Grand Prix took place in 2002 and was run again in 2003 before vanishing off the calendar for more than two years.

Prior to the ’02 edition at the regenerated Sevlievo location, the FIM competition had not visited the country for almost two decades. The course was popular with the riders but perhaps is notoriously remembered for being the track on which the career of 250cc Grand Prix winner Pit Beirer ended 36 months ago.

If the MX1 class can be counted as an evolution of the blue ribbon 250cc category then Suzuki have enjoyed past success in Sevlievo as Mickael Pichon owned proceedings in 2002 upon the potent RM250."The track is fast, maybe a little too fast," said Ramon who last competed at Sevlievo in his 125cc title-winning campaign of 2003 and scored sixth position after a first lap crash had left him down in 26th. "I have had some decent rides there on the 125 in the past and it will be different for sure this time around with the Suzuki. I am looking forward to it though. I enjoyed the track in 2003 although I am sure there will be a few changes for this weekend."I really need to start being consistent and close the gap in the standings.

The podium in Japan was good but I need to be there regularly," he added.Also concerned about the standings is Strijbos. "I don’t know what happened in that first moto in Japan but things were not working right for me," the 20 year old said. "I need to get back on the podium and take third position again in the Championship. I have to start chipping away at second and I can’t afford many more races like Japan."Sevlievo is not a bad track it is just an easy one," Strijbos, who claimed 12th position on the RM 250 in 2003 as a fresh-faced 17 year old, continued. "There are many up and downhill straights and some nice jumps.

It is fast but not that technical. The important thing is that in the past there have been quite a few passing opportunities." Warm but wet and stormy weather is predicted in the region for the weekend.MX1 World Championship Standings (after 5 of 15 rounds): 1 Stefan Everts 242, 2 Tanel Leok 181, 3 Ken De Dycker 168, 4 Kevin Strijbos 165, 5 Steve Ramon 151, 6 Jonathan Barragan 150, 7 Cedric Melotte 105, 8 Sebastien Tortelli 99, 9 Manuel Priem 99, 10 Pascal Leuret 93.