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TEAM SUZUKI SET FOR MX1 OPENER The Belgian factory team, spearheaded by Flemish duo Joel Smets and Kevin Strijbos, will steer the RM-Z 450 four-stroke into only its second World Championship term. The opening Grand Prix of the year is the first of seventeen rounds in an extended calendar running for six months and visiting three continents. Joel Smets (35) is currently in excellent form heading to the first of four Benelux races that constitute a healthy section of the schedule, while his 18-year-old team-mate Strijbos is struggling for fitness. It is a strange reversal for the pair: Twelve months ago Smets had missed a large pre-season period after breaking ligaments in his right knee and arrived at Zolder under-prepared, eventually needing an operation that caused him to miss the latter half of 2004. Strijbos was fit and ready to go, even briefly leading the first ever MX1 moto and claiming third place in the second. Now the teenager is the rider lacking race time as Smets has looked once more like the individual who claimed five World Championships. Strijbos damaged the ankle ligament last weekend that he had originally ruptured while testing in America in February. He was ordered to rest for several days this week and has only completed two races since the start of the year. Smets in contrast has been going from strength to strength after kickstarting his career again at Mantova this year with third place overall and winning the Hawkstone Park International and the Easter trophy in Belgium last Monday. He has also scooped podium positions at meetings in Pernes Les Fontaines in France and Moerbeke-Waas for the first round of the Belgian Championship. Zolder is a motor-racing facility located less than 50 kilometres north east of the city of Maastricht and used to hold Formula 1 Grands Prix in the past. The venue hosted the 2003 Motocross of Nations and was also the World Championship curtain-raiser this time 12 months ago. The course is placed within a section of the road circuit. The terrain is a mix of sand and dirt and at several points crosses the asphalt. There have been several changes to the layout but the track should still provide the same tough and physical test as in 2004. The facilities are first-class with the giant paddock area and permanent building infrastructure providing a perfect setting for the inaugural race of the international season. Kevin Strijbos gained a second moto result of third place at Zolder in 2004 in what was the world-wide competitive debut for the RM-Z 450 machine. The weather forecast for the weekend predicts bright and sunny conditions. The team will be throwing open the doors to their impressive workshop in Lommel this Friday with Smets, Strijbos, Johansson and Sylvain Geboers all taking part in a press conference and photo session for the media. Team Suzuki will also hold their customary Saturday evening press conference in the Media centre at 5.45pm. 2004 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FACTS: Joel Smets: Races: 7 Kevin Strijbos: Races: 16 Joel Smets: ''The pre-season has gone well and I feel alright. I have been satisfied since the first race. The results have given me confidence and pushed me to keep on working. I am quite surprised actually how easy it has been to get back into the racing. I have been really enjoying it without really taking any risks; I guess that is what you might call experience and at my age I have enough! There has been plenty of hard work and sweat over the last two months but I have not been riding crazy. I still feel that I am improving every race; I am not at my best yet. I am not going to Zolder with my hopes too high because that can be dangerous. I will be satisfied with top five and top three would be good. ''The Suzuki is competitive and has the potential to win and this has not really altered from last year. The bike itself has not changed much but the main difference is the fact that I have become more used to it and I am able to get more from the 450 because of my condition.'' Kevin Strijbos: ''I am looking forward to Zolder but in another way I wish the race was not so soon! I came down from a jump last weekend and the bike was slightly sideways. My foot slipped off the peg when I touched the ground and I had pain in my ankle again. I went back to the doctor and nothing was broken but the ligament I hurt in America was damaged. I now have to wait two days before I can do any physical stuff like cycling or swimming. My preparation has been bad because of the injury. I have only done two races while the other guys have been to six or seven. ''It will be very hard this weekend and going full gas for the full 40 minutes will be difficult for sure. I actually like the track. Zolder is a fun place to ride. I just hope it stays dry and I will try to do my best.'' 2005 FIM MOTOCROSS CALENDAR: April 3: MXGP of Flanders - Zolder, Belgium
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