Kontakt
QR-Code für die aktuelle URL

Story Box-ID: 738147

SUZUKI Deutschland GMBH Suzuki-Allee 7 64625 Bensheim, Deutschland http://auto.suzuki.de
Logo der Firma SUZUKI Deutschland GMBH
SUZUKI Deutschland GMBH

Desalle aims for repeat spanish MXGP win

(PresseBox) (Bensheim, )
After a dark and damp fifth round of the FIM Motocross World Championship in Holland the teams and riders of the MXGP and MX2 classes are headed for sunnier climes this weekend with the sixth appointment of 18 on the 2015 schedule taking the series to Talavera de la Reina.

The second Grand Prix of Spain to occur at the undulating circuit south of Madrid this century will see Rockstar Energy Suzuki World MXGP back to full strength with Clement Desalle joined by Kevin Strijbos on the works RM-Z450s. Desalle has a 100% podium record in the championship so far and is chasing his first victory since Germany last summer which will add to his career tally of 19 wins so far. The Belgian owned both motos in a comprehensive sweep of the Spanish Grand Prix almost 12 months ago. Strijbos returns to the factory awning for the first time since opting for wrist surgery after the Grand Prix of Thailand in March.

A popular and 'old-school' track with hard-pack terrain, some challenging off-camber turns and small hilly rises, Talavera is a contrast to the bumpy sand of Valkenswaard upon which Desalle secured third position over a week ago. The presence of the European Championship classes with the EMX125 (round three of eight) EMX250 (third of nine and with Rockstar Energy Suzuki Europe's Brian Hsu and Bas Vaessen in action on the RM-Z250s) and EMX300, the Spanish soil is sure to take some punishment across a busy weekend programme.

Desalle conquered Talavera in 2014 and knows a similar outcome - and first triumph of 2015 after three runner-up positions - will give him his best chance of dealing with the marginal five point gap to Max Nagl in the premier class standings and possibly reclaiming the red plate as MXGP series leader.

"My last win feels like a long time ago and it would be good to have my 20th soon," he commented from his home this week. "I had a bit of trouble with my back and a rib after the crash on Saturday in Valkenswaard but nothing that will affect me for the weekend."

"After last year of course I have good memories of Talavera," he continued. "It is a narrow track but I didn't have too many problems to pass and - like all GP circuits these days - it is important to have that good start. What will also be good for me this weekend will be to come through Saturday without any problems. I had crashes in Italy and also Holland so one small goal will be to have an easier weekend all around."

Kevin Strijbos has decided to get back into the rhythm of Grand Prix after enforced recovery time in the wake of surgery on his right wrist. The 28 year old encouragingly won both motos at Jauer last weekend for the second round of the ADAC MX Masters German Championship.

"I'm ready to try," the Belgian says. "I had a good weekend in Germany and my wrist is still painful but not any more than it was before the weekend, so that's good. I've been riding the bike quite a bit and I think its time to get back into Grand Prix. Realistically my goal has to be to hope for a top-10 finish this weekend and then we will have another week to improve and get better before going to England."

At Jauer Strijbos was chased by brand-mate and Rockstar Energy Suzuki Europe's Glenn Coldenhoff on the RM-Z450 as the Dutchman took a solid second position overall in Germany and now fronts the competitive and well-supported national contest. The 24 year old heads to Talavera having missed out on MXGP's return to the venue in 2014 as '#259' was sidelined with a knee injury at the time. 'The Hoff' still has experience of battering the Castilla de la Mancha dirt through European Championship outings at the track and knows that his hard-pack speed on the 450 in his maiden MXGP campaign is pretty sharp after two strong rides at Arco di Trento in Italy last month.

"I've had a good week and I'm ready for the hard-pack," the former MX2 GP winner said. "I missed Talavera last year because of my knee surgery but I rode there before in the European Championship and I watched the race on TV last year to see how the track had been altered. I don't think there will be many more changes and I'm looking forward to it. I think it will be hot but I've got my ventilated kit from Fox so I'm sure I'll be good!"

Temperatures are expected to hit 30 degrees this weekend but the action will surely be as hot in the EMX250 Championship where Hsu and Vaessen are learning the demands of the feeder series to MX2 and also about pushing the limits of the RM-Z250. Vaessen is still coming up to pace and had a positive run to seventh overall in the Valkenswaard sand while Hsu is probing for his first podium finish on the four-stroke after a glittering career so far in the junior classes.

The 250 brigade is of course led by Jeremy Seewer on the works version of the Rockstar Energy Suzuki Europe machine. The Swiss still has fresh memories of his maiden podium result in Grand Prix in Argentina at the tail end of March and has been battling to get back into contention for some celebratory champagne. The 20 year old will be searching for a far better result than his 14th position overall at Talavera de la Reina in 2014. Then still a GP rookie, Seewer struggled after a rough start to the weekend with a crash in the qualification heat that left him battered and bruised for Sunday. For the GP motos he was unable to set an effective rhythm around the Spanish hills; a scenario he is confident won't occur again this time.

"I like Talavera and the GP started well last year. I was third fastest in the first free practice but then I was caught in a big start crash in the Heat and then felt stiff and not very comfortable on Sunday. I think it was one of my worst results of the season," he recollects. "For sure I feel much different this time; stronger, more confident and faster on the bike. I'm hoping for the better and for sure better than 2014 this weekend."

Seewer, who has been testing a new chassis and some suspension parts this week, was also present at Jauer for the Rockstar Energy Suzuki Europe crew and undertook some decent training in the first moto on the way to sixth position (he would take a fourth place against the 450s in the second race). "I had a small start crash in that first Heat and found myself in 40th; so I was happy to pass a lot of 450s on a track where it was not easy with the 250 and work my way up to sixth. It was pretty good!"

MXGP World Championship standings (after 5 of 18 rounds): 1. Maximilian Nagl (GER, HUS), 214 points; 2. Clement Desalle (BEL, Rockstar Energy Suzuki), 209 p.; 3. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 184 p.; 4. Gautier Paulin (FRA, HON), 178 p.; 5. Romain Febvre (FRA, YAM), 156 p.; 6. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, HON), 138 p.; 7. Ryan Villopoto (USA, KAW), 124 p.; 8. Shaun Simpson (GBR, KTM), 98 p.; 9. Todd Waters (AUS, HUS), 92 p.; 10. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, Rockstar Energy Suzuki), 86 p.

MX2 World Championship standings (after 5 of 18 rounds): 1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 222 points; 2. Dylan Ferrandis (FRA, KAW), 185 p.; 3. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KTM), 148 p.; 4. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 137 p.; 5. Aleksandr Tonkov (RUS, HUS), 133 p.; 6. Valentin Guillod (SUI, YAM), 129 p.; 7. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Rockstar Energy Suzuki), 125 p.; 8. Julien Lieber (BEL, YAM), 121 p.; 9. Jordi Tixier (FRA, KAW), 115 p.; 10. Thomas Covington (USA, KAW), 102 p.

EMX250 Championship standings (after 2 of 9 rounds): 1. Adam Sterry (GBR, KTM), 92 points; 2. Nick Kouwenberg (NED, HON), 82 p.; 3. Maxime Desprey (FRA, KAW), 62 p.; 4. Damon Graulus (BEL, YAM), 61 p.; 5. Alvin Östlund (SWE, YAM), 57 p.; 6. Ander Valentin (ESP, YAM), 47 p.; 7. Brian Hsu (GER, Rockstar Energy Suzuki), 42 p.; 8. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, KTM), 42 p.; 9. Simone Zecchina (ITA, KAW), 39 p.; 10. Michele Cervellin (ITA, HON), 37 p.; 11. Ken Bengtsson (SWE, KTM), 34 p.; 12. Davy Pootjes (NED, KTM), 33 p.; 13. Nicolas Dercourt (FRA, KAW), 30 p.; 14. Bas Vaessen (NED, Rockstar Energy Suzuki), 29 p.

Website Promotion

Website Promotion
Für die oben stehenden Stories, das angezeigte Event bzw. das Stellenangebot sowie für das angezeigte Bild- und Tonmaterial ist allein der jeweils angegebene Herausgeber (siehe Firmeninfo bei Klick auf Bild/Titel oder Firmeninfo rechte Spalte) verantwortlich. Dieser ist in der Regel auch Urheber der Texte sowie der angehängten Bild-, Ton- und Informationsmaterialien. Die Nutzung von hier veröffentlichten Informationen zur Eigeninformation und redaktionellen Weiterverarbeitung ist in der Regel kostenfrei. Bitte klären Sie vor einer Weiterverwendung urheberrechtliche Fragen mit dem angegebenen Herausgeber. Bei Veröffentlichung senden Sie bitte ein Belegexemplar an service@pressebox.de.
Wichtiger Hinweis:

Eine systematische Speicherung dieser Daten sowie die Verwendung auch von Teilen dieses Datenbankwerks sind nur mit schriftlicher Genehmigung durch die unn | UNITED NEWS NETWORK GmbH gestattet.

unn | UNITED NEWS NETWORK GmbH 2002–2024, Alle Rechte vorbehalten

Für die oben stehenden Stories, das angezeigte Event bzw. das Stellenangebot sowie für das angezeigte Bild- und Tonmaterial ist allein der jeweils angegebene Herausgeber (siehe Firmeninfo bei Klick auf Bild/Titel oder Firmeninfo rechte Spalte) verantwortlich. Dieser ist in der Regel auch Urheber der Texte sowie der angehängten Bild-, Ton- und Informationsmaterialien. Die Nutzung von hier veröffentlichten Informationen zur Eigeninformation und redaktionellen Weiterverarbeitung ist in der Regel kostenfrei. Bitte klären Sie vor einer Weiterverwendung urheberrechtliche Fragen mit dem angegebenen Herausgeber. Bei Veröffentlichung senden Sie bitte ein Belegexemplar an service@pressebox.de.