SMETS QUALIFIES 7TH AT WET NAMUR
07 May 2005 - Suzuki Racing

Joel Smets clocked the 12th fastest lap during a wet timed practice this afternoon at Namur for the Grand Prix of Belgium.

Team Suzuki''s home Grand Prix began today under dark clouds and frequent showers that turned the narrow, twisty course into a bumpy and technical prospect. The slushy mud forced a single fast line while making the terrain slippery and greasy.

Smets was second fastest in the first free practice session and made few modifications to the RM-Z450 only adjusting the tyre pressure of the Pirellis.

The 36 year old was holding a top ten position entering the last minutes of the half hour official chrono, but slipped off while pushing for a fast time and also ran into some slower traffic.

Motovision Suzuki racing Yoshitaka Atsuta struggled to get to grips with the circuit and was only able to register a lap-time that left him in 21st position.

Kevin Strijbos attended the meeting as a spectator having been diagnosed with thrombosis in his left arm and needs to rest for two weeks for the condition to clear. He is battling to be fit for Japan in three weeks time.

Further rain is forecast for tomorrow.

Joel Smets:

''The track was OK but it became tricky throughout the day. The dry line was much bumpier and centimetres off that line the mud was really wet. I think that I have good speed here. During qualifying the first two or three times I tried to make a fast lap and I got held up by slower guys. I was getting a bit stressed which shouldn''t be the case anymore at my age! I was trying too hard and making some mistakes, I couldn''t take a faster lap but I know I am quick enough and it is a matter of staying calm tomorrow. I don''t believe that my pick at the gate is that much of a disadvantage, I still believe I can take the holeshot from there.''

Yoshitaka Atsuta:

''Today there was rain and then more rain! There were a lot of ruts on the track and it was very slippery. I must try and get a good start tomorrow. The track will be difficult again and getting out of the gate well is important.''

MX1 Timed Practice: 1 Mickael Pichon, FRA (Honda) 2:50.600. 2 James Noble, GBR (Honda) 2:51.407. 3 Stefan Everts, BEL (Yamaha) 2:51.521. 4 Tanel Leok, EST (Kawasaki) 2:53.164 5 Joshua Coppins, NZL (Honda) 2:53.815. 6 Ben Townley, NZL (KTM) 2:54.224 7 Marvin van Daele, BEL (Honda) 2:54.580. 8 Steve Ramon, BEL (KTM) 2:55.399. 9 Kornel Nemeth, HUN (Suzuki) 2:55.860. 10 Ken de Dijcker, BEL (Honda) 2:56.023. 12 Joel Smets, BEL (Suzuki) 2:56.671. 21 Yoshitaka Atsuta, JPN (Suzuki) 3:00..220.

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